The Wire

Tasmanian Aboriginals who survived epidemics, malnourishment and bloody attacks often had their children removed under welfare orders, and have since had to fight to gain recognition of their Indigenous ancestry. But now it seems the Tasmanian government may soon lead the nation in reconciliation, by putting its money where its mouth is. Just 10 days from state elections, Premier Paul Lennon has announced that if the Labor party wins, they will make a formal apology and provide financial compensation, to the state’s stolen generations. Spokesperson Deb Hocking agrees that it’s necessary to address the the state’s dark past. Co-Chair of the National Sorry Day Committee, Brian Butler says that without recognition of Indigenous people in the fedral or state consitutions, he doesn’t expect to see a nationwide shift in support of compensation for the stolen generations.