Terri Butler (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Young Australians and Youth Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today marks the 11th anniversary of the apology to the stolen generations. I want to pay tribute to Kevin Rudd, my predecessor as the member for Griffith and, much more importantly, the then Prime Minister, for having made that apology. It seems uncontroversial now, but of course there'd been a long road to get to that apology. It was particularly important that there were members of the stolen generations here on the floor of the parliament as a way of the parliament paying its respect to those people who had suffered such pain and loss.

In marking the anniversary, I also want to mention Link-Up in my electorate, an incredible organisation that brings people back together with their loved ones. Sometimes they're graveside reunions; sometimes they're with living relatives. They're always incredibly difficult and incredibly moving. Thank you to Link-Up. In fact last year, on the 10th anniversary, they held a very large and well-attended commemoration at Hill End in my electorate. It was wonderful to see Kevin Rudd there and to hear him address the assembled group on the anniversary of the apology.

Like so many Australians, I was so proud to watch the apology when it was given, and to hear the then Prime Minister give the apology. But I have to say it was pretty regrettable that there was a frontbencher from the Liberals who did not attend. Of course, that frontbencher was the then and current member for Dickson, the Hon. Peter Dutton. It was a great shame, and I'm sure that he remains very upset by his shameful absence from the apology to this day. (Time expired)