The 42nd Parliament of Australia opened on February 13, 2008, with a 'Welcome to Country' speech by The Prime Minister of Australia, the Honourable Kevin Rudd, MP. Mr Rudd then moved a motion in the Federal Parliament offering an apology to Australia's Indigenous people.

Speeches to Parliament

• Prime Minister Kevin Rudd - speech
• Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson - speech

Media Releases

• Stolen Generations invited to Canberra for the national apology
• Special arrangements for national apology day
• Australian Government to Apologise to Members of the Stolen Generations

Background

• Reconciliation Australia
• Information on the Australian Aboriginal flag – Awards and National Symbols Branch, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
• "Bringing Them Home": The Stolen Children report 1997 - Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.
• 'Sorry': the unfinished business of the Bringing Them Home report – Background Note, Australian Parliamentary Library, posted online 4 February 2008.
• Order of Business, Opening of Parliament (Word document)

Other useful links

• The Prime Minister of Australia

Photographs

• Photographs of the National Apology