lepra kolonies op koppertjesmaandag

Staff reporters with AAP
January 07, 2008 10:16am

ABORIGINAL leaders want $1 billion compensation for members of the stolen generation
and have threatened a legal fight if governments do not pay up.

Indigenous Affairs Minister Jenny Macklin has ruled out establishing the fund, playing down calls that an apology, which the federal government has promised to make to the stolen generation, would be hollow without compensation.

Stolen Generation Alliance chairwoman Christine King today said such a fund would have a wide variety of uses. "We believe that there is a fund that should be set up, it's not just about compensation ... some people want a healing centre, some people want cultural centres,'' she told ABC Radio.

"We are not trying to claim anything other than what is the right of the Aboriginal peoples that were a part of and are are part of the stolen generations.''

"I understand there's a wide range of views and I've certainly spoken to many many people about these issues but we recognise that for many people the apology is extremely important,'' Ms Macklin said.

"It's a way of making clear that we do recognise the terrible things that have been done in the past and also really enables us to make the apology and then move forward into the areas where people really do want to see progress.''

Ms Macklin said it was more important to focus on closing the gap in life expectancy between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

"It's a way of making clear that we do recognise the terrible things that have been done in the past and also really enables us to make the apology and then move forward into the areas where people really do want to see progress.''

Ms Macklin said it was more important to focus on closing the gap in life expectancy between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. "We won't be creating a compensation fund - what we will be doing is putting the funding ... into health and education services,'' Ms Macklin said.

Stolen Generation Victoria chair Lyn Austin said she believed that victims should consider suing. "If people wish, they could take class action against the states or the Commonwealth," she said.
"It's something we are chasing at the moment, to find a legal firm that would do it.

"Victims of crime qualify so why shouldn't we?"
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redactioneel commentaar zelfde krant
Sorry comes at a high price

AS predicted by some commentators, it seems that saying sorry to members of the so-called stolen generation will come at a price.
Aboriginal activists claim that up to $1 billion will be needed to compensate the 13,000
people who were forcibly removed from their parents as children.
Failure to come up with an appropriate funding package could trigger a huge legal action,
Stolen Generations Victoria chairwoman Lyn Austin has warned.
By voting for Labor at the recent federal election, Australians presumably endorsed Kevin Rudd's policy of apologising to indigenous groups.
However, this does not mean they necessarily support a publicly funded payout for past child removal practices.
"Stolen generation" members may have a strong argument for compensation, but it is vital that a rational and considered response to this highly emotional issue is found.
All parties should lay their cards on the table. Prime Minister Rudd should make his position on compensation unequivocal.
Indigenous Affairs minister Jenny Macklin has ruled out a payout. But if the Government does change tack, there will need to be wide discussion about the best way to deliver the benefits to those concerned.
Australians are a generous people who are willing to look after those who deserve it.
But they are unlikely to support compensation for the "stolen generation" unless the case
is made out clearly and validly.
We should not be in the business of signing open cheques for the deeds of our forefathers.

05-01-2008 13:34:14
Broer en zus na 67 jaar herenigd
BIRMINGHAM - Een broer en zus hebben elkaar na 67 jaar teruggevonden in een klein dorpje in het Engelse graafschap Suffolk. De 67-jarige Jack Allen sloot in Rendlesham vriendschap met de plaatselijke kruidenier, die de dochter van zijn 75-jarige zuster Pat Collins bleek te zijn.
Allen werd in februari 1940 als Joseph McIver geboren als kind van Josephine McIver en Douglas MacDonald. Hij werd een maand na zijn geboorte geadopteerd door Frank en Christine Allen. Op zevenjarige leeftijd kreeg ook Jack de achternaam Allen, aldus de zaterdageditie van de krant The Daily Telegraph.
In 2004 verhuisde Jack Allen naar Rendlesham, waar hij de winkelierster Carole Dzierozynski leerde kennen. Pas drie jaar na de eerste kennismaking besefte Jack Allen dat de kruidenierster zijn nicht was en Pat Collins zijn zus. Dit werd duidelijk toen Jack Allen vertelde dat hij eigenlijk Joseph heette en net als Pat Collins in het oosten van Londen was geboren. Van zijn zuster kreeg Jack te horen dat hun in 2002 overleden moeder in totaal tien kinderen had, zes zonen en vier dochters.