National Apology Anniversary Breakfast

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (14:28): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation. Can the minister inform the council how South Australia has celebrated the anniversary of the stolen generations apology for 2016?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (14:29): I thank the honourable member for his important question and also acknowledge and thank the many members of this chamber who were at the apology breakfast recently. More than 1,500 people gathered around sunrise for the annual apology breakfast, remembering and commemorating the historic day in 2008 when the federal government spoke on behalf of the nation and expressed deep sorrow for actions of the past towards Australia's stolen generations.

For any members who have never been to one of the apology breakfasts, it is an incredibly powerful and moving experience. The breakfast opened with a procession of survivors of the stolen generation. It was quite emotional, with many tears around the room, as the procession took place. It was a very strong acknowledgement of what was being commemorated. There were many members of the stolen generation who, with very quiet dignity, walked in to a very silent room, but also it was a physical reminder of the burden many of the members of the stolen generation have been carrying for so long.

Following the procession, the Welcome to Country was delivered by Katrina Power who spoke very powerfully. Katrina spoke of the recent passing, as many members did in this chamber yesterday, of Auntie Josie Agius whose passing was felt widely by the community. At previous breakfasts, Auntie Josie Agius had delivered the Welcome to Country. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Katrina Power on her strong and powerful words. Her presence on stage was very powerful, and it was a very moving and fitting handing over from Auntie Josie Agius to Katrina doing that Welcome to Country.

I also acknowledge Professor Peter Buckskin, the Dean of Indigenous Scholarship, Engagement and Research at the University of South Australia and, for many years, Co-convenor of Reconciliation SA. Professor Buckskin was the MC for the breakfast, a Narrunga man from Yorke Peninsula, who spoke eloquently throughout the event. I would like to congratulate him for his work that morning and also his work over many decades, particularly in the area of Indigenous education.

I was honoured to have the opportunity to address the audience. I spoke briefly about the importance of recognition, to recognise the hurt, the pain, the separation and the ongoing grief that far too many Aboriginal Australians have experienced because of past policies of governments right around the country. Towards the end of the breakfast, one of this country's most prominent Indigenous musicians and storytellers took the stage. The crowd of over 1,500 were absolutely silent as Archie Roach stepped up on the stage, supported by Nancy Bates and Ellie Lovegrove. Archie shared a number of songs with us, including at the very end his most powerful ballad from the very early 1990s, They Took the Children Away, which was a milestone in the fight for recognition of the stolen generations.

Archie spoke between the songs that morning and shared some exceptionally powerful personal stories, including his own story of being removed as a child. He talked personally about the disconnection from land, culture and families. There was a deep hurt that he and so many other people have carried with them all their life. He spoke to non-Indigenous Australians at that breakfast when he said this. He called for greater empathy, for the need for white Australians to better understand the hurts of Aboriginal Australians. He asked if, through empathy, our hearts would break for Aboriginal people, too.

I think a lot of people reflected that morning on how far Aboriginal people have to strive for this recognition and how too often that recognition is denied by non-Indigenous Australia. I think on reflection and from the speakers that morning, that is why the apology in 2008 was so powerful. It was that recognition that so many people in the Aboriginal community rightfully deserved, expressing the nation's regret and remorse—remorse for the forced removal of children from their families and communities, only to be placed in institutions around the country that led to lives of deprivation and hardship for many people.

That disconnection from culture, the oldest living culture in the world, a proud culture—and many people can trace their ancestry back, not just numbers of generations but for thousands of generations over tens of thousands of years. The theme for this year's breakfast was 'Heal our past, build our future, celebrating our heroes.' I think, as many people have acknowledged, Archie Roach was one of many people's heroes that morning.

I commend the work of Reconciliation South Australia—it has representatives from across the political spectrum who support it—for another phenomenally successful breakfast. I have been quite astounded over the last week at the number of people I have seen around Adelaide who have commented about how they were at the breakfast and how powerful and moving it was for them. I look forward to next year's breakfast and encourage honourable members of this chamber to attend if possible.