Fed: PM may talk on national apology after court ruling

AAP General News (Australia)
08-11-2000
Fed: PM may talk on national apology after court ruling

CANBERRA, Aug 11 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard says he may address the issue of
a national apology after today's Federal Court ruling on the stolen generation.

A landmark court decision was due to be handed down in Darwin this afternoon after
two Aboriginals sued the government for damages.

Justice Maurice O'Loughlin was to broadcast his decision live from the Federal Court
at 2.28pm today.

"I have no idea which way the court will go," Mr Howard told ABC radio in Launceston.

"And I will wait and hear the decision like everybody else and then if it's appropriate
I'll have something to say on the broader issue of a national apology."

Lorna Cubillo, 62, and Peter Gunner, 53, have sued the commonwealth for damages for
trauma, distress and continued isolation from the cultural and spiritual lives of their
Aboriginal mothers.

They have also sought punitive damages against the Commonwealth. Such damages are awarded
when the court thinks that the actions of a defendant require punishment by extra damages.

The test cases affect 700 other stolen generation members, who have already lodged
writs, and thousands more who were forcibly removed under a policy that lasted until the
1960s.

Mr Howard has repeatedly refused to offer a formal apology to indigenous people for
past wrongs, instead opting for a national statement of regret.

"I keep hearing as late as this morning, people like (former ATSIC chair) Lowitja O'Donoghue
saying that I won't utter the word sorry," Mr Howard said.

"I utter the word sorry on numerous occasions, it's just that I have a firm view which
many Australians share, not all, a lot of people agree with me, a lot of people don't
agree with me, that a formal apology in relation to past deeds sanctioned by law of the
time is not appropriate.

"Now that doesn't mean that I'm not personally very sorry for any injustices that people
may have suffered under earlier policies.

"That doesn't mean that I believe that they're policies that should be in vogue today."

AAP lm/mfh/wjf/cjh/bwl t

KEYWORD: STOLEN HOWARD

2000 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.