A New Beginning

'As Prime Minister of Australia, I am sorry. On behalf of the Government of Australia, I am sorry. On behalf of the Parliament of Australia, I am sorry. I offer you this apology without qualification.'' - PM Kevin Rudd.

"The essence of the message is: white Australia acknowledges the hurt that was imposed on black Australia and, by that acknowledgement, hopes that we can move to another stage in the quest for both reconciliation and tangible progress." - Michelle Grattan, The Age

"At The Body Shop we are delighted by the leadership Mr Rudd has shown around this issue, as we believe, it is the first of many steps towards reconciliation – and as a business we have campaigned and championed this issue of human rights for many years." - Polly Caldow, CEO - The Body Shop

"We all want reconciliation and we stand in support." - Carlo Santone, Blue King Brown

"If I want to continue to call myself an Australian I have to find something to take pride in," - Alex Michaela of Brunswick

"Sorry it's taken so long to say sorry." SMS from 'Coll' - Crowd member watching at Fed Square

"I can already feel the healing process has begun." - Yorta Yorta woman Deborah Cheetham, from Newport.

"It [the apology] should be from the Howard government: after all, it persisted with those failed policies for much of its time in office as a political holding strategy because it was afraid, until its last year or so, to really do something." - David Moore, Ex-chief of staff to then Aboriginal Affairs Minister Mal Brough.

Thanks to Megan from Imaginif for finding this great post from Aussie Blogger The Cerebral Mum...

"So this was me in the 90s, wearing my reconciliation armband; the armband which sold out within a day of appearing on the shelves at The Body Shop because I was not alone in my sentiments.

I cried today when that symbolic act took place. I cried to hear, finally, an official apology which was unequivocal and made no excuses. I cried to see someone stand up and speak the truth on behalf of all of us who have wanted it spoken for so long. Not because it expatiates our history’s wrongs, not because it absolves us of our guilt, but simply because, as Cathy Freeman said, It is the right thing to do.”


Adam Valvasori - Values Manager