[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 44 (Thursday, March 12, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E662]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCING A RESOLUTION TO COMMEND THE AUSTRALIANS' UNQUALIFIED 
         APOLOGY TO INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS AND TORRES ISLANDERS

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 12, 2009

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce 
legislation that commends the Australian government for apologizing for 
its mistreatment of Indigenous Australians and Torres Islanders, and 
for committing to fighting the disparities that continue to impact 
Indigenous communities.
  Indigenous Australians first arrived on the continent more than 
50,000 years ago, developed one of the oldest cultures on earth, and 
made world renowned contributions to the arts, politics and athletics 
despite the hardships that they faced at home.
  From the mass killings of Indigenous people by European settlers 
during the 18th Century to restricting Indigenous Australians from the 
right to vote until 1962, violence, discrimination and 
disenfranchisement have however, played a significant role in European 
and Indigenous relations for centuries. Perhaps Australia's most 
notorious action against the Indigenous population during the 20th 
Century was the Australian government's authorization of the removal of 
tens of thousands of children of native and mixed ancestry from their 
homes under the Protection Acts. These were inspired by racist and 
pseudo-scientific notions of cultural and racial superiority, and 
designed to eradicate Indigenous culture and the very existence of the 
Indigenous people. The victims of this national atrocity are often 
referred to as the Stolen Generation.
  Madam Speaker, the legacy of official and unofficial discriminatory 
practices by the Australian Government has contributed to substandard 
education, health, employment and lack of political power among 
Australia's Indigenous population. On average, Indigenous Australians 
die 17 years earlier than white Australians, and have higher instances 
of infant mortality, unemployment and homelessness. These figures are a 
jarring reminder that Australia's prosperity has yet to fully reach the 
people who first inhabited the land.
  On February 13, 2008 millions of Australians of all colors and 
ethnicities witnessed Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's formal apology--on 
behalf of the Australian Government and its Parliament--to the 
Indigenous and Torres Island community. The long awaited apology was 
accompanied with a promise from the Council of Australian Governments 
(COAG) to donate $4.6 billion to fund initiatives to improve life 
expectancy, health, education and employment in Indigenous communities. 
Nearly a year later, Prime Minister Rudd addressed the nation and 
reported on the status of the initiatives that were implemented and 
drafted after the apology, and reiterated the importance of change and 
reconciliation.
  Madam Speaker, American Theologian Tryon Edwards said, ``Right 
actions in the future are the best apologies for bad actions in the 
past.'' The value of Australia's apology is undoubtedly determined by 
the Australian government's ability to aggressively address the 
systemic inequalities that exclude most Indigenous people from the 
standard of living that is held by the vast majority of non-Indigenous 
Australians.
  Like Australia, racial disparities exist in the United States. As we 
commend Australia on its willingness to confront its past, let us also 
reflect on our history with the purpose of comprehensively targeting 
the residual barriers that prevent some Americans from accessing 
opportunities in this country.

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