The Apology (National Apology to the Stolen Generations)

The Apology, delivered by then Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on February 13, 2008, acknowledged the profound suffering caused to Indigenous Australians, particularly the Stolen Generations—Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children forcibly removed from their families by the government from the late 19th century to the 1970s. This formal apology recognized the pain and trauma inflicted on these children and their communities, expressing deep regret for the injustices and seeking to foster healing and reconciliation. It reaffirmed the importance of acknowledging past wrongs to promote a better future for all Australians.