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Media Release
Release - 24 May
2007
Statement by SNAICC Chairperson
Ms Muriel Bamblett for National Sorry Day and the Tenth Anniversary
of the Bringing Them Home Report on 26 May 2007.
National Apology and
National Commitments Still Needed
Ms Muriel Bamblett, AM, Chairperson of SNAICC, said today, ‘It
is shameful that ten years after the Bringing Them Home Report was
released, the Stolen Generations are still waiting to hear ‘Sorry’
from Prime Minister Howard.’
‘A greater injury to the Stolen Generations,’ she said,
‘is their anguish at seeing the over representation of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander children in the child protection system
continue.’
‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are six times
more likely to be placed in out-of-home care than non-Indigenous
children. Our communities are hurting, our families are in pain,
and our children are still being taken away at unacceptable levels,’
Ms Bamblett said.
For this year’s federal elections, SNAICC calls on all political
parties to make key commitments to support Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander children. ‘Make Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander children’s needs a priority at this election –
and every year,’ Ms Bamblett said.
These priorities include a national apology to the Stolen Generations,
improving access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
to culturally appropriate early childhood education programmes and
a National Strategy for child protection and welfare reforms.
‘On the tenth anniversary of the Bringing Them Home Report’s
release, SNAICC renews its call for a national apology that acknowledges
the injustices of past child removals, and the ongoing impact of
these on the health, happiness, and parenting skills of current
generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This
is a foundation upon which the success of many other initiatives
will depend,’ Ms Bamblett said.
‘We call on the Federal Government to fully implement the
recommendations of the Bringing Them Home Report, particularly the
recommendations for national legislation to coordinate the protection
and welfare of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, culturally
appropriate wellbeing and parenting programmes for our communities,
and increased counselling support for the Stolen Generations.
SNAICC, the national peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander children and families, was the first national Indigenous
organisation to call for an inquiry into the removal of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander children from their families. SNAICC’s
priorities for the 2007 federal election are online here.
For media inquiries,
contact:
Muriel Bamblett
– SNAICC Chairperson (03) 9489 8099
Julian Pocock
– SNAICC Executive Officer (03) 9489 8099
You
can download the full text pdf version of this media release here
(28 KB)
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