Reparations Tribunal could solve the compensation issue
The big unanswered question in yesterday’s apology to the Stolen Generation was whether there will be any form of financial compensation. Sure Prime Minister Rudd has promised a lot of money will be put into housing and education but to some the apology needs to be accompanied by money. One way this could happen without the need for lawyers and expensive court cases could be the setting up of a Reparations Tribunal. It’s an idea that’s worked in other countries and one that was heavily discussed in Australia just after the original Bringing them Home report came out. Alexis Goodstone is principal solicitor at the Public Interest Advocacy Centre and back in 2001 she worked on a proposal for a reparations tribunal – she explained to me how it would work in practice.