Update on campaign for Stolen Generations reparations

26 October 2016

The NSW Parliament has resumed debate on an inquiry into Reparations for the Stolen Generations in New South Wales.

In June, a NSW Parliament Committee released a report - Unfinished Business - containing 35 recommendations to support Aboriginal peoples dealing with ongoing trauma caused by racially-based child removal policies.

The Committee visited institutions including Cootamundra, Kinchela and Bomaderry and heard from men and women who shared their stories.

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) also made a submission to the Inquiry with Deputy Chair Anne Dennis outlining the Land Rights network's position on how to support members of the Stolen Generations.

NSWALC Chair Roy Ah-See said NSWALC had written to the NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Leslie Williams to endorse a number of the Committee's recommendations.

"In particular, NSWALC supports the recommendation to establish a monetary compensation scheme to assist Stolen Generation survivors to help alleviate some of the pressures they face today.

"NSWALC also urges the Government to work closely with Stolen Generations survivors and representative groups as well as Aboriginal organisations and communities as it develops its response to the Committee's report.

"NSWALC also thanks the Committee - in particular Chair Jan Barham - for its professional and compassionate approach to what is an appalling episode in Australia's history.

"The Committee's report is one of the first extensive reviews of the Stolen Generations since the landmark Bringing Them Home report published in 1996.

"NSWALC looks forward to the NSW Government's response to this important report."