Introducing a Resolution to Commend the Australians' Unqualified Apology to Indigenous Australians and Torres Islanders

by Alcee Lamar Hastings

   INTRODUCING A RESOLUTION TO COMMEND THE AUSTRALIANS' UNQUALIFIED
         APOLOGY TO INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS AND TORRES ISLANDERS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 12, 2009

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce
legislation that commends the Australian government for apologizing for
its mistreatment of Indigenous Australians and Torres Islanders, and
for committing to fighting the disparities that continue to impact
Indigenous communities.
  Indigenous Australians first arrived on the continent more than
50,000 years ago, developed one of the oldest cultures on earth, and
made world renowned contributions to the arts, politics and athletics
despite the hardships that they faced at home.
  From the mass killings of Indigenous people by European settlers
during the 18th Century to restricting Indigenous Australians from the
right to vote until 1962, violence, discrimination and
disenfranchisement have however, played a significant role in European
and Indigenous relations for centuries. Perhaps Australia's most
notorious action against the Indigenous population during the 20th
Century was the Australian government's authorization of the removal of
tens of thousands of children of native and mixed ancestry from their
homes under the Protection Acts. These were inspired by racist and
pseudo-scientific notions of cultural and racial superiority, and
designed to eradicate Indigenous culture and the very existence of the
Indigenous people. The victims of this national atrocity are often
referred to as the Stolen Generation.
  Madam Speaker, the legacy of official and unofficial discriminatory
practices by the Australian Government has contributed to substandard
education, health, employment and lack of political power among
Australia's Indigenous population. On average, Indigenous Australians
die 17 years earlier than white Australians, and have higher instances
of infant mortality, unemployment and homelessness. These figures are a
jarring reminder that Australia's prosperity has yet to fully reach the
people who first inhabited the land.
  On February 13, 2008 millions of Australians of all colors and
ethnicities witnessed Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's formal apology--on
behalf of the Australian Government and its Parliament--to the
Indigenous and Torres Island community. The long awaited apology was
accompanied with a promise from the Council of Australian Governments
(COAG) to donate $4.6 billion to fund initiatives to improve life
expectancy, health, education and employment in Indigenous communities.
Nearly a year later, Prime Minister Rudd addressed the nation and
reported on the status of the initiatives that were implemented and
drafted after the apology, and reiterated the importance of change and
reconciliation.
  Madam Speaker, American Theologian [[Author:Tryon Edwards|]] said, "Right
actions in the future are the best apologies for bad actions in the
past." The value of Australia's apology is undoubtedly determined by
the Australian government's ability to aggressively address the
systemic inequalities that exclude most Indigenous people from the
standard of living that is held by the vast majority of non-Indigenous
Australians.
  Like Australia, racial disparities exist in the United States. As we
commend Australia on its willingness to confront its past, let us also
reflect on our history with the purpose of comprehensively targeting
the residual barriers that prevent some Americans from accessing
opportunities in this country.