Sunday 13 February - the anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations

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Published Feb 10 2022

Sunday, 13 February marks the anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations who suffered as a result of past government policies of forced child removal and assimilation.

After coming to office in 2007, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd began consulting with Aboriginal Australians about what form a national apology should take. On 13 February 2008, he offered a formal apology to members of the Stolen Generations on behalf of the Australian parliament.

The journey to national apology began with the Bringing Them Home report – the findings of an inquiry instigated by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission in 1995.

Find out how we are working towards closing the gap through respect, equity and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.


Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, 13 February 2008:

We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians. We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.