PACIFIC: Region welcomes apology to Australian indigenous
Updated
Last week's apology by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to his country's indigenous population for the policy of previous governments of removing children from family and communities. It has been described as a turning point in Australia's history and a new start to the relationship between Australia's indigenous and non-indigenous communities. the apology is also expected to improve perceptions of Australia on the international stage, and improve its relations with Pacific neighbours.
Presenter: Pacific Correspondent Campbell Cooney
Speakers: Doctor Richard Herr from the University of Tasmania
RUDD: As prime minister of Australia, I am sorry. On behalf of the government of Australia, I am sorry. On behalf of the parliament of Australia, I am sorry. And I offer you this apology without qualification.
COONEY: In Australia, Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd's apology to the indigenous population has been seen as a positive signal about how it will conduct the business of running a country. But Australia is also the biggest player in the Pacific region, providing most of the aid funding and assistance. And while the apology by Mr Rudd was aimed at the Australian population, there's a strong feeling it's one more sign his government is serious about its stated aim of being more inclusive in its dealings with the Pacific Island countries. Doctor Richard Herr is the head of the School of Government at the University of Tasmania.
HERR: It certainly will help to reaffirm in a very symbolic way for the region that the government is clear about keeping its priorities. It is saying that the government does feel that compassion and a sense of responsibility for righting the wrongs of the past is a genuine concern for it and that it will take the hard edge off some of the more security focused emphasis on failing states and the like that did get up the noses of some of the leadership in the Pacific. The government has also made it clear that it isn't going adopt a kind of "Whitlamesque" crash- through approach to things. It intends to be fairly sober, fairly sensible, practical in its orientation. And as a consequence, some people who want dramatic change may be disappointed and have to wait for the changes to be thought through and to be dealt with in a more considered way. The labour and mobility question is likely to be a serious issue that will take much longer for the government to move on or at least the initial indications are that it will than the Pacific would have been hoping. And in that sense, the leadership in the region are looking for the new policy in the Pacific to emerge, will have to pick the ground as to what are the issues that it can get quick answers on and those which it might have to negotiate over a more measured and longer period of time.
