Fed: Stolen generation reps positive after meeting Herron

AAP General News (Australia)
04-10-2000
Fed: Stolen generation reps positive after meeting Herron

CANBERRA, April 10 AAP - Representatives of Aborigines removed from their families
today expressed hope that the government would reconsider its assertion that past assimilation
policies did not affect a whole generation.

Five representatives of children taken in the Northern Territory met Aboriginal Affairs
Minister John Herron about the issue in Parliament House today.

Spokesman Maurie Ryan Japarte said the group gave Senator Herron some material about
the stolen children and the minister promised to consider the issue.

Senator Herron's comments on the children, in a submission to a Senate inquiry, angered
indigenous leaders and set back hopes of reconciliation.

The submission, put together by Senator Herron's office and the Prime Minister's Department,
said one in 10 Aboriginal children taken from their families under past assimilation policies
did not constitute a generation.

Mr Japarte said the group today found Senator Herron was a decent man with a commitment
to the issue.

But they condemned Prime Minister John Howard and Reconciliation Minister Philip Ruddock,
who refused to meet the delegation.

"I find Senator Herron a decent man, and I find a few other people within who've got
the guts to stand up and say things," Mr Japarte told reporters.

"I'd like to slam dunk the Reconciliation Minister Philip Ruddock for not meeting with
us, and also the Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, who has not shown any leadership
at all on anything.

"The reconciliation process is back - way back."

Mr Japarte said the main thing Aborigines wanted was for the government to acknowledge
the truth of history.

"The truth is there were generations of people who were removed in the Northern Territory,"

he said.

"We want our history documented. We are all a part of Australian history."

AAP jg/mfh/pjs/bwl

KEYWORD: STOLEN JAPARTE

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