Stolen Generation Scandal: 30 Years On, Australia’s Government Still Failing to Deliver Justice to Indigenous Survivors
- Australia’s government has been slammed for its “total failure” to implement the landmark Bringing Them Home report, nearly three decades after it was tabled in parliament.
- Only five out of 83 recommendations have been implemented, leaving thousands of Indigenous Australians without justice or reparations for the trauma they suffered as children.
- The Healing Foundation has released a strategic plan, urging governments to act within the next two years to address the ongoing legacy of forced removals and provide tangible action for survivors.
- Experts warn that time is running out, with many survivors dying without proper redress, and the government’s inaction is perpetuating intergenerational trauma.
As Australia marks Sorry Day, the nation is forced to confront its shameful past and the government’s failure to deliver justice to Indigenous survivors of the Stolen Generation.
Nearly three decades since the landmark Bringing Them Home report was tabled in parliament, the federal government’s response has been described as a “total failure” by co-author Mick Dodson.
The report, which made 83 recommendations to support the healing and reconciliation of survivors, has seen only five implemented since its release. The Healing Foundation, an advocacy group representing survivors, has commissioned a report that found the government’s lack of action is a “woeful failure”.
Professor Dodson, who co-led the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families, said the government’s inaction indicated two things: “I don’t think they care, and secondly, maybe they’re just waiting for all the survivors to die out so the problem goes away.” He described this attitude as “callous, hard, and unacceptable”.
The Bringing Them Home report exposed the ongoing trauma and grief experienced by Indigenous Australians who were forcibly removed from their families as children. The inquiry heard evidence from 535 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations, documenting the impacts of racist government legislation, policies, and practices.
One of the most contentious recommendations was for all parliaments, police forces, churches, and non-government organisations to issue a formal apology to survivors.
Then-prime minister John Howard refused to apologise, but 11 years later, Labor prime minister Kevin Rudd apologised to Stolen Generations survivors on behalf of the nation.
Despite the apology, the government promised to implement practical measures, such as improving Indigenous housing. However, nearly three decades on, only 6% of the report’s recommendations have been fully implemented.
The Healing Foundation has used this year’s Sorry Day to publish a strategic plan for the government to implement many of the outstanding recommendations before the 30th anniversary next year.
Shannan Dodson, CEO of the Healing Foundation, is urging governments to implement actions within the survivors’ lifetime. “We’re glad that you’re sorry, but sorry’s hopeless or useless without any action.
We need action,” she said.
Analysis: What This Means for Australia
The government’s failure to deliver justice to Indigenous survivors of the Stolen Generation has serious implications for Australia’s national security and social cohesion. The ongoing legacy of forced removals is perpetuating intergenerational trauma, which is affecting not only the survivors but also their families and communities.
Law enforcement insiders warn that the government’s inaction is also undermining efforts to address Indigenous disadvantage and close the gap in health, education, and economic outcomes.
“The government’s failure to deliver on its promises is perpetuating a cycle of trauma and disadvantage that is affecting not only Indigenous Australians but also the broader community,” said one insider.
Industry observers believe that the government’s lack of action is also affecting Australia’s international reputation.
“The government’s failure to deliver justice to Indigenous survivors is a stain on Australia’s human rights record and undermines our credibility on the world stage,” said one observer.
As Australia marks Sorry Day, the nation is forced to confront its shameful past and the government’s failure to deliver justice to Indigenous survivors. The Healing Foundation’s strategic plan provides a roadmap for the government to implement the outstanding recommendations of the Bringing Them Home report.
It is time for the government to take tangible action and provide justice to the survivors of the Stolen Generation.