By Rod Benson
It is 30 months since former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said sorry to the Stolen Generations, acknowledging the great harm done to children and their parents.
A large number of Australians strongly approved of the National Apology. They felt the right thing had been done, and they felt relieved and cleansed.
But many believe no further action needs to be taken. Lawyer and human rights activist Julian Burnside is not among them. He believes the harm done should be compensated, and advocates for the creation of a national compensation scheme focused on children removed from their parents by the state without welfare justification.
Will the original owners of this land receive justice in the form of compensation for the wrongs done to them? Will it heal our national wounds? Probably not, at least not until lone voices like that of Julian Burnside are joined by thousands of others who agree that saying sorry is not enough.
Broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 11 July 2010.
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