It is ten years today since Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered a formal apology to Australia’s First Nations People and the Stolen Generation. As a nation we acknowledged the suffering of our First Nations People, and committed ourselves to remedying the legacy of grief and trauma which continues to impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

This lovely video below features Linda Burney MP, Senator Pat Dodson, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, Jenny Macklin MP and Labor leader Bill Shorten MP talking about the significance of that day.

Much work remains to address the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous wellbeing.  A stark gap remains in school attendance, literacy and numeracy, year 12 attainment, employment and life expectancy. Representation of indigenous voices in our national life is inadequate. The Government’s peremptory dismissal of the Uluru Statement is indicative of a broader failure to truly listen to our First Nations People.

Yesterday, Labor leader Bill Shorten announced that a Labor Government will commit to compensation for those impacted by the Stolen Generation. Labor will establish a Stolen Generations Compensation Fund to assist the victims of the Stolen Generation from the Commonwealth jurisdictions. In addition, Labor will deliver $10 million in funding for the Healing Foundation, to directly assist the descendants of the Stolen Generation. Labor will also establish a National Summit for First Nations Children to assist Aboriginal children today.

We have a responsibility to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and to right the wrongs of our country’s past.