The Wire

The National Sorry Day committee, this week, presented a petition to federal parliamentarians, again asking for the Government to recogonise and apologise for the suffering caused by the past practice of removing of Indigenous children from their parents. The petition comes as parliament votes today on legislation that will effect this generation of children in Northern Territory Aboriginal communities. It also follows the landmark victory for South Australian aboriginal man Bruce Trevorrow, who was last week awarded more than half a million in compensation for suffering inflicted when he was taken from his family 50 years ago. This the first time in Australia a member of the stolen generations has won a negligence claim against the governement. Although the case is seen by many as a substantial victory for those forcibly removed from their families, legal experts say it will not open the proverbial floodgates of litigation.