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Firstly, with respect I acknowledge that I am here on the Country of the Tharawal People and I say thank you to Marg Cook and other Tharawal members for their warm welcome to participants of this conference on Reparations. A special welcome to my Stolen Generation brothers and sisters and to Commissioner Brian Butler, ATSIC's Social Justice Commissioner who has for many years worked tirelessly…

Tena koutou katoa. I have no expert knowledge of the legal or political context in Australia insofar as it applies to indigenous peoples here and even less on the issue of the controversial topic of the stolen generations. It would be utterly inappropriate therefore for me to express any view on the issues particular to this country. What I can do is talk to you a little bit about the process…

The French version of this speech is available from the offices of the Law Commission of Canada, 473 Albert Street, 11th floor, Ottawa, K1A 0H8, and will be available on the web site www.cdc.gc.ca.ù

The first is that the title UNFINISHED BUSINESS happens to be the title of a book in whose authorship I have collaborated. The book's title is UNFINISHED BUSINESS : SOUTH AFRICA, APARTHEID AND TRUTH. You can order the book from a website, details of which you can get from Terry Bell at belnews@wn.apc.org. For every book purchased, the author and I have agreed a free copy will be donated to an NGO.

At the outset, I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land we are meeting on here today the Tharawal people. I acknowledge their ancient and continuing cultures, and the role they play in the life of this region. I also acknowledge those gone before us and those here today, who have suffered at the hands of assimilation policies.

Having said that, I thank the organisers for the opportunity to put to you an honest explanation of the government's position on these important matters.

Acknowledgement of guests from overseas, Parliamentary colleagues, Social Justice Commissioner Mr Bill Jonas, Justice Elizabeth Evatt, ATSIC Commissioners, distinguished guests.

I am pleased to be here today at the Moving Forward: Reparations for the Stolen Generation Conference. I have been following the Moving Forward project by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre, ATSIC and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission closely and look forward to hearing the outcomes from this project.

I would like to thank the Minister, Philip Ruddock, his Opposition counterpart, Bob McMullan, and Australian Democrats deputy leader, Senator Aden Ridgeway, for their contributions today. It is now my task, on behalf of ATSIC, to give a response to the plans outlined by the major political parties as to how they would move the stolen generations issue forward.

APPENDIX A Court Outcomes for Offences Against The Aboriginal Land Act (NT) Sections 4 and 8 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Convicted Not Guilty Withdrawn Convicted Not Guilty Convicted Withdrawn Convicted Withdrawn Withdrawn Indigenous GOULBOURN ISLAND . . . . . . . . . . MANINGRIDA . . . . . . . . . . PORT KEATS . . . . . . . . . . RAMINGINING . . . . . . . . . . YULARA . . . . . . . . . …

Information concerning Australia and the United Nations International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLE 9 OF THE CONVENTION Concluding observations of the Committee on AUSTRALIA CERD/C/AUS/CO/14 March 2005 COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION Sixty-sixth session 21 February -…

The ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ has received an application pursuant to section 44 of the Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth)(ADA) from the State of New South Wales – Department of Human Services, Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) for an exemption from section 28 and 29 of the ADA.

The Applicant sought an exemption under section 44 of the ADA so that it may impose a requirement that only persons over the age of 50 years can reside at Caloundra Gardens. The Applicant sought an exemption from the ADA for a period of five years. The Applicant states that the purpose of applying for an exemption is for the Commission to confirm and clarify the legal status of Caloundra Gardens…

By this instrument, under section 44(1) of the Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth)(ADA), the ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ grants an exemption to the State of New South Wales - Department of Family and Community Services, Ageing Disability and Home Care (the Applicant) from the operation of sections 28 and 29 of the ADA. The exemption is granted for a period of one year from the date of this…

By this instrument, the ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ (‘Commission’) grants the application of Carnival plc (trading as Carnival Australia) for a temporary exemption pursuant to s 44(1) of the Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth) (‘ADA’).

By this instrument, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (‘HREOC’) declines to grant to University of Western Sydney (‘UWS’) a temporary exemption pursuant to s 44(1) of the Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth) (‘ADA’).

By this instrument, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) declines to grant to MOSEDG Inc. trading as Youth Connect (Youth Connect) a temporary exemption pursuant to s 44(1) of the Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth) (ADA).

Update Information 1 May 2009 Back to index This table lists changes to FDL Online to assist regular users keep track of developments in the law. Updated section(s) of FDL Online Case name Chapter 5: The Disability Discrimination Act 5.1.2: Limited application provisions and constitutionality Australia ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities …

Update Information 12 January 2009 Back to index This table lists changes to FDL Online to assist regular users keep track of developments in the law. Updated section(s) of FDL Online Case name Chapter 3: The Racial Discrimination Act 3.2.2(a)(iii): 'Based on' and intention to discriminate House & Anor v Queanbeyan Community Radio Station [2008] FMCA 897 3.6: Vicarious liability House …

Update Information 26 September 2008 Back to index This table lists changes to FDL Online to assist regular users keep track of developments in the law. Updated Section(s) of FDL Online Case Name Chapter 3: The Racial Discrimination Act 3.1.1(b): The right to equality before the law in s 10 Bropho v State of Western Australia [2008] FCAFC 100 3.2.2(a)(iii): ‘Based on’ and intention to…