Children of stolen generation part of payout deal: [1 All-round Country Edition]
Matthew Denholm, Additional reporting: John Stapleton, Michael Davis, Alana Buckley-Carr, Jeremy Roberts. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 19 Oct 2006: 3.
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Abstract
He joined Aboriginal and reconciliation leaders in urging other states to consider adopting his compensation model, which — as revealed in The Australianyesterday — will see an independent assessor appointed to allocate ex gratia payments.
NSW immediately called for a national compensation deal, but other states, including South Australia and Victoria, were non- committal. NSW Aboriginal Affairs Minister Milton Orkopoulos vowed to push the issue at a meeting of Aboriginal affairs ministers later this year.
Full Text
THE first compensation package for members of the stolen generation will extend to the children of victims now deceased as well as to those taken from their parents for good reasons.
Tasmanian Labor Premier Paul Lennon yesterday apologised to Aborigines taken from their parents as the result of assimilation policies, and unveiled a $5 million scheme to compensate them.
“Reconciliation is about more than returning land — it’s about recognising that in Tasmania’s history, Aboriginal people were dispossessed from their land, severed from their culture and taken from their families,” he said.
“It’s about saying that we are sorry this happened.”
He joined Aboriginal and reconciliation leaders in urging other states to consider adopting his compensation model, which — as revealed in The Australianyesterday — will see an independent assessor appointed to allocate ex gratia payments.
NSW immediately called for a national compensation deal, but other states, including South Australia and Victoria, were non- committal. NSW Aboriginal Affairs Minister Milton Orkopoulos vowed to push the issue at a meeting of Aboriginal affairs ministers later this year.
Mr Lennon revealed the package would be more generous than initially thought, extending to the children of those no longer alive.
Government officials also conceded some Aborigines taken from their families for good reasons would receive compensation because of the difficulty in separating these cases from those where action was unjustified.
The open nature of eligibility may leave the legislation open to amendment, with the Opposition and independent upper house MPs not ruling out changes.
Under the deal, children of deceased members of the stolen generations will receive $5000 each, up to a maximum of $20,000 per family.