Survivors of the Stolen Generations from the Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory, and Jervis Bay Territory will have an extra 18 months to apply for compensation after the federal government agreed to extend the redress scheme until mid-2028.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made the announcement during a speech marking the 17th anniversary of former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s national apology to the Stolen Generations.
“The process of healing that began with the Apology goes on, a process we are assisting by extending the Territories Stolen Generations Redress Scheme to June 30, 2028,” Albanese said.
The National Redress Scheme provides compensation, support, and an apology to survivors of the forced removal of First Nations children.
Established after Kevin Rudd’s 2008 National Apology, it offers up to $150,000 (US$94,000) based on the severity of harm, along with practical assistance and a chance to share their story.
At a breakfast event in Parliament House on Feb. 13, Albanese reflected on the significance of the apology.
“Of all my days in parliament, it is the day of the national apology of which I am proudest,” he said. “It was a day that mattered in the life of our nation.”
Albanese reaffirmed his government’s commitment to working with Indigenous Australians, stressing the need for equal opportunities and self-determination.
Rudd’s Legacy and Political Undertones
The prime minister paid tribute to Rudd, who delivered the apology in 2008, calling it a moment of leadership and courage.“And whilst it was Kevin Rudd who had the courage and the conviction to utter the words that we were told, for so many years before, that would be divisive,” Albanese said.
“It was an act of leadership, the first action of the incoming Rudd Labor Government, and it remains my proudest moment to be a member of the House of Representatives.”
The Albanese also acknowledged Brendan Nelson, the then-Liberal leader, for his bipartisan support of the apology.
“When you’re elected to this place, you can either make a decision to try and enlarge the nation, or you can make a decision to try and make it small,” he said.
Albanese appeared to take a veiled swipe at Opposition Leader Peter Dutton, who recently announced his plans to remove the Indigenous flag from media conference backdrops and other official settings if elected.
“To look at how can we create a division and an argument, about a flag, about a word.”
He also stressed that the apology was never intended as a final chapter but the beginning of a path toward self-determination.
Dutton Acknowledges Apology, Urges ‘Practical’ Action
Dutton also addressed Parliament, recognising the significance of the national apology while maintaining his party’s focus on practical solutions for Indigenous communities.“I also acknowledge those members of the Stolen Generations and their families who are watching this broadcast from home. And I pay my respects to those members of the Stolen Generations who are no longer with us,” Dutton said on Feb. 11.
In a speech underscoring his conservative values, he argued that acknowledging history does not mean condemning a nation’s past but rather learning from it.
“What distinguishes Australia from many other countries is that, among our overwhelming achievements as a nation, we do not shy away from our dark chapters. We have accepted those chapters, apologised for them, and continue to learn from them,” he said.
Referencing the 2008 apology, he quoted former Rudd’s words: “For us, symbolism is important but, unless the great symbolism of reconciliation is accompanied by an even greater substance, it is little more than a clanging gong. It is not sentiment that makes history; it is our actions that make history.”
He then pointed to the latest Closing the Gap Annual Report, revealing that only five of 19 socio-economic targets are on track.
“Australians want to see changes on the ground for those Indigenous communities where safety, housing, health, education, and employment are critical issues. But by maintaining the status quo, we will not bring about the drastic improvements we all yearn for.”
Dutton concluded by calling for a renewed commitment to the practical changes that would address the disparities Indigenous Australians continue to face.
“Let’s bring to bear that ‘new beginning’ which Prime Minister Rudd spoke about so optimistically 17 years ago. A ‘new beginning’ which has eluded us for far too long.”
