Stolen Generations Reparations Scheme

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (14:38): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation. Can the minister update the chamber on the Stolen Generations Reparations Scheme?

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) (14:39): I thank the honourable member for her question and ongoing interest in this area. Last month marked the 9^th anniversary of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's apology speech, and I pay tribute to that speech and those who marked the occasion. Once again, Reconciliation SA organised a special breakfast to commemorate that important day and it was attended this year by over 1,000 people, including many from this parliament.

Like last year's apology breakfast, members of the stolen generations came through the standing audience and stood on stage, and it was a moment that I think made a deep impact on all who were there: the members of the stolen generation standing on stage in front of the assembled guests showed a quiet dignity and courage.

I also take this opportunity to thank Eva Johnson for sharing some of her powerful poetry and the members of the stolen generations from Cootamundra Girls and Kinchela Boys Homes for sharing their stories with everyone at the breakfast.

As I have informed the chamber before, last year $11 million was committed to the creation of the Stolen Generations Reparations Scheme. I can advise the chamber that, of the $6 million individual reparations component of the scheme, over 300 applications already have been received, with the applications to close later this month, after having been opened for 12 months.

Also, at this year's apology breakfast I was able to announce that the state government is accepting expressions of interest until later this month for the community fund portion of the Stolen Generations Reparations Scheme for projects of up to $100,000. The fund has been established to support projects and programs that promote healing for members of the stolen generations, their families and communities.

Ideas that have already been put forward for the community reparations part of the fund have included things such as: oral histories; Aboriginal family history; healing programs; arts and culture; community education and research; memorials; and, education awards and scholarships. I thank everyone who has provided feedback already on the community reparations scheme: it has been a great insight into what sort of projects may assist communities to heal, remember and learn.

Of course with these grants it will be up to different communities and organisations to determine what sort of applications they wish to put in. We will be open to further ideas and will remain ready to listen to the community. I look forward to updating the chamber on the community reparations component of the Stolen Generations Reparations Scheme over the next few months.

I also wish to speak briefly about a meeting I had last week with Rosalyn Sultan, a proud Eastern Aranda/Gurindji woman, and her family. She asked at that meeting that I talk about her story. Rosalyn was born in the Northern Territory, and for the first seven years of her life lived with her five siblings on country around Yuendumu near the Tanami Desert.

In 1960, Rosalyn's mother, Loretta, reached out to government, asking for assistance with her children, an incredibly brave move for an Aboriginal woman, but her utmost priority was making sure her children were taken care of. What followed was decades of forced separation between a mother and her children. Loretta agreed to move to Port Augusta to allow her children to be in the care of the government for a period of two years, and the very next day her children were shifted to Adelaide.

Upon learning of this news, Loretta sent a letter requesting her children be returned to her care. The response came back from the protector of Aborigines that her children would not be returned, and she was threatened with prosecution should she try to involve herself in their upbringing. Loretta wrote many, many letters to government, pleading to have her children back. All of these were ignored.

Rosalyn was told different things over the years: her mother didn't care, her mother was dead. Instead of a lifetime of memories with a mother and siblings, all Rosalyn has of her mother is a small black and white photo. It was with great strength and dignity that Rosalyn told me her story and the continuing effect it has had on her life and her family's life.

I was able personally to say sorry to Rosalyn: sorry that the policies and actions of the past have caused this sort of irreversible damage to her and to so many Aboriginal families; and, sorry that for her and so many other Aboriginal families governments of the past have wilfully, deliberately and unnecessarily separated children from their connection to culture.

I pay tribute to Rosalyn for her strength; despite all the trauma inflicted she has raised two fine sons who are proud Aboriginal men. This is the greatest example of her and her people's resilience. As I said, Rosalyn wanted me to share what we talked about. We need to remember that sometimes sharing the stories of the past, however painful, ensures we never forget.

Rosalyn spoke particularly of the hurt that is caused by members of the community who choose to deny the reality of the stolen generations. There are some who deny the basic fact that Aboriginal children were removed at all, and others who say it was always done in the best interests of those children. The reality is that in Australia's not so distant past there was policy that attempted to destroy the world's oldest living culture. For example, in 1933, Dr Cecil Evelyn Cook, the Chief Protector of Aborigines in the Northern Territory, wrote that:

Generally by the fifth and invariably by the sixth generation, all native characteristics of the Australian Aborigine are eradicated. The problem of our half castes will be quickly eliminated by the complete disappearance of the black race and the swift submergence of their progeny in the white.

These sorts of comments, in the decades before and after, were not unique. Men whose title suggested that they ought to be protecting Aboriginal people said very similar things right around this country. The fact that there are people in our community who purport that the stolen generations, the forced removal of Aboriginal children, are exaggerated stories or myth, tells us we need to do more in our journey of reconciliation.

I again want to thank Rosalyn, her family and all members of the stolen generations, organisations who work with and support them, and the ALRM, who have taken the time to share their stories and experiences with me over the last couple of years.