Kevin Rudd delivered his Formal Apology to the Stolen Generations on 13 February this year.
Unlike previous Prime Minister John Howard, Rudd assumed responsibility for the actions of past governments.
It was a move that was symbolic to so many Indigenous peoples of Australia, because of the word ‘sorry’.
To many it was much more than what Former Prime Minister John Howard ever did, with his plan on practical reconciliation.
Kevin Rudd apologised for the acts of previous governments on the treatment of Indigenous persons from the 1930s into the 1970s.
However, it is in particular for what is known as the "Stolen Generations", where Aboriginal children were forcibly removed from their families, that he was sorry for.
It was Australia’s "White Australia Policy", where the plan was to gradually extinguish the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander race.
Tens of thousands of Indigenous people have been and still are affected by the removal.
The "Bringing Them Home" report in 1997 outlined key recommendations to help "fix" the outstanding issues.
Now that the formal apology has been properly delivered, the next item on the agenda is compensation.
Canada had a similar situation and in 2005, their government announced a $2.2 billion compensation plan to pay out those affected.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights for Indigenous persons article 10 states, "Indigenous peoples shall not be forcibly removed from their lands or territories. No relocation shall take place without the free, prior and informed consent of the indigenous peoples concerned and after agreement on just and fair compensation, and where possible, with the option of return"
The Federal Opposition leader Dr. Brendon Nelson argues that no amount of money can heal those Indigenous persons affected.
Western Australia and Tasmania have compensation plans outlined, and an inquiry to the Stolen Generations Compensation Bill 2008 found that it would be "sensible" for other states and territories to do so.
Indigenous leaders and academics strongly want compensation to eventuate.
Academic Jackie Huggins said, "Any decent Australian would say yes, I want compensation".
Similarly, Aboriginal leader Mick Dodson hoped during the Howard government that it would happen under another government.
All lights are shining a welcoming green for Kevin Rudd to deliver a compensation plan for those affected by the Stolen Generations.
The only question is: when?
And I believe that Kevin Rudd will do it sometime during his term in leadership.
He had the courage to deliver the apology, knowing it does not directly relate to compensation.
He made history delivering the apology, and he can furthermore take the next step to help Indigenous Australians and non-Indigenous Australians reconcile.
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