Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion no. 707, standing in my name for today, relating to the stolen generations.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a) recognises that 13 February 2018 marks the 10 year anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations and Indigenous people of Australia;

(b) acknowledges:

  (i) the ongoing impact and intergenerational trauma of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples caused by the removal of their children from their families, their communities and their country,

  (ii) the ongoing healing needs of members of the Stolen Generations, and

  (iii) the Government's response to the Bringing them Home Report 20 years on: an action plan for healing report and its funding to the Healing Foundation to research the emerging needs of the members of the Stolen Generations and their families; and

(c) calls on the Federal Government to provide needs-based funding and a financial redress scheme to members of the Stolen Generations, and carry out a national study into intergenerational trauma to ensure that there is real change for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the future.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government recognises the grief and loss suffered by the stolen generations. Since the apology, governments have invested in practical actions that support the stolen generations and their families. The government is already funding the Healing Foundation to complete an assessment of the contemporary and emerging needs of stolen generation members and their families. The government will not support any measure that pre-empts or undermines the Healing Foundation's work.

Question agreed to.