Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Recently 42 stolen generation survivors got some closure when they settled a class action with the Commonwealth and the Catholic Church. They signed a compensation deal that was 40 years in the making for a lack of duty of care. Many of these survivors suffered appalling abuse in the Garden Point Mission on Melville Island, and many now live in my electorate. It means something to have the wrongdoings acknowledged and it goes a small way to attaining some sense of justice. I want to acknowledge all of those survivors. I also want to acknowledge the leadership of Bishop Charles Gauci, who, on behalf of the Catholic Diocese of Darwin, apologised to those who were abused at Garden Point. He said:

We cannot undo the wrongs of the past but I hope we can now walk together on a journey of healing.

I acknowledge Slater & Gordon, the law firm which took on the case pro bono, and all those who worked constructively to settle this important issue. Thanks to Sue Roman, herself a member of the stolen generations, for her work and support of the victims.

I'd especially like to applaud Maxine Kunde and Yvonne Dunn. They were resilient, patient, committed and spent much of their own money to achieve this outcome. Well done. It never would have happened without their work. Truth-telling is important. Agreement-making is important. Healing is never too late.