Sorry is a Start

An even fortnight ago, Kevin Rudd made his historic apology to Indigenous Australians. Rudd’s motion to the parliament was perhaps the most important of our generation, signaling a fresh start for the long failing reconciliation efforts of our nation. In the days leading up to the speech, I was skeptical of its impact – all too often politicians have promised change and fallen pitifully short. Ultimately, though it really was a “where were you when…” moment, rivaling the moon landing and JFK’s demise. I didn’t doubt the necessity of an apology – it was long overdue and a welcome development – but there are powerful symbols and then there is political pandering; there are apologies and there is lip service. Instructively, we were given a look at both on the day.

Rudd was gracious and thorough in his delivery of an unqualified apology. He drew particular attention to the Stolen Generation, both acknowledging the wrongs of the past and looking forward to a shared future. He headed to the opposite end of the old governments policy spectrum; disregarding Howard’s settlement on ‘regret’ and refusal to actually say ‘sorry’- in emphasis, Rudd punctuated his opening remarks with three “we say sorry”(s). Over the course of about 30 minutes, Rudd moved many in the audience to tears and was unanimously applauded for his sincere and complete apology. I was left with an undeniably positive feeling that the Reconciliation train was finally pulling out of the station.

That was of course until the Opposition Leader took his turn to speak. In equivalent time, Brendon Nelson went a long way to spoiling the mood with a display of Dickensian Bah, humbug-ery. After seeking to perpetuate Howard’s no-apology stance, and “cause a mentality of victimhood among indigenous Australians” – he begrudgingly agreed to support Rudd’s gesture. Instead of swallowing his pride and graciously getting all aboard, he sought to draw a series of fine lines, qualifying the Opposition’s involvement in the apology (most controversially: “it is reasonably argued that removal from squalor led to better lives…”) and emphasizing colonial good intentions. It was neither the time nor the place and by speech end, Nelson was talking to the backs of many protestors.

So, what have we learned? First, I think our choice of PM has so far been vindicated – his first act as leader has been to usher in a new era of atonement. Nicely done. He's a man of substance and of action and I hope his reign is long. Second, I think apologies are binary: you make them or you don’t. The minute that qualifying statements are made, the apology is dead in the water and you've wasted your time trying. The Opposition have been petty and bitter in the last few weeks, and the apology was no exception.

Finally, Rudd’s gesture is a strong symbol – but a symbol nonetheless. It needs to be followed up with meaningful change culminating in real improvements to the lives of Aboriginal people. That means continuing to consult with Aboriginal leaders and ultimately to invest real money in proposed solutions. Encouragingly, for the first time in a long time, I feel like we have a leader who will follow up his words with deeds.