❓ The Premier provides an update on the WA Stolen Generations Redress Scheme, highlighting its recent launch, eligibility criteria, support services, and the government's commitment to reconciliation.
AnsweredQoN 617Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Stolen Generations Redress Scheme
617. Ms Divina D'Anna to
the Premier:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to supporting survivors of the stolen generations.
(1) Can the Premier update the house on the work
that this government is undertaking to address this past wrong?
(2) Can he advise of any recent developments?
617. Ms Divina D'Anna to
the Premier:
I refer to the Cook
Labor government's commitment to supporting survivors of the stolen generations.
(1) Can the Premier update the house on the work
that this government is undertaking to address this past wrong?
(2) Can he advise of any recent developments?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) I thank the member for the
question. It is an honour to respond to her. I want members to imagine for just
one moment that one of their very first memories is the trauma of being removed
from their family as a three-year-old, being placed in the back of a car with
strangers and watching out of the rear window as the image of their mum and
grandparents crying gets further and further away. That is the first core
memory. That trauma is a reality for Tony Hansen. Tony is a proud Noongar man,
a dad, a role model and a survivor of the stolen generations. And, for the
record, Tony is not an elderly man. His first memory that I just relayed to the
house was from 1970. He would not see his family again until 1985. As Tony puts
it, it is not ancient history; it is recent history, and he is not alone. There
are many stories just like Tony's—decade after shameful decade in
Western Australia.
Right up until 1972, Aboriginal
children were taken from families and sent to missions as part of a deliberate
and racially motivated act of Parliament. In fact, more than a third of
Aboriginal kids born in WA before 1972 were forcefully removed from their
families and their homeland—their country. It was wrong; it was unjust.
That is why the WA Labor government has introduced the WA Stolen Generations
Redress Scheme. The scheme opened on Monday. It is available to Aboriginal
people who were removed from their families as children in Western Australia
before 1 July 1972. Eligible applicants will receive a redress payment of
$85,000 and, if they choose, a personal acknowledgement. Importantly, we have partnered
with Aboriginal organisations to develop the scheme, ensuring that it is trauma
informed, culturally respectful and responsive to the needs of those affected.
I want to thank those organisations for their invaluable input.
Going forward, three
organisations have been engaged to provide free, confidential assistance
throughout the application process. They are Yokai, Healing our Spirit; the Kimberley
Stolen Generation Aboriginal Corporation; and Yorgum Healing Services.
Members, I want to be clear on
this point: no amount of money could ever make up for the experiences of members
of the stolen generation and their families, and the ongoing effects on people's
lives. These payments are an acknowledgement of past injustices. They seek to
tell the truth about a sorrowful and shameful part
of our history, the impacts of which continue to be felt across families and
communities. Although these payments will not correct what has happened,
they offer a path forward. For survivors like Tony, it means that we have
listened, we understand and we want to continue this journey of reconciliation.
It is a program of which we should all be very proud.
question. It is an honour to respond to her. I want members to imagine for just
one moment that one of their very first memories is the trauma of being removed
from their family as a three-year-old, being placed in the back of a car with
strangers and watching out of the rear window as the image of their mum and
grandparents crying gets further and further away. That is the first core
memory. That trauma is a reality for Tony Hansen. Tony is a proud Noongar man,
a dad, a role model and a survivor of the stolen generations. And, for the
record, Tony is not an elderly man. His first memory that I just relayed to the
house was from 1970. He would not see his family again until 1985. As Tony puts
it, it is not ancient history; it is recent history, and he is not alone. There
are many stories just like Tony's—decade after shameful decade in
Western Australia.
Right up until 1972, Aboriginal
children were taken from families and sent to missions as part of a deliberate
and racially motivated act of Parliament. In fact, more than a third of
Aboriginal kids born in WA before 1972 were forcefully removed from their
families and their homeland—their country. It was wrong; it was unjust.
That is why the WA Labor government has introduced the WA Stolen Generations
Redress Scheme. The scheme opened on Monday. It is available to Aboriginal
people who were removed from their families as children in Western Australia
before 1 July 1972. Eligible applicants will receive a redress payment of
$85,000 and, if they choose, a personal acknowledgement. Importantly, we have partnered
with Aboriginal organisations to develop the scheme, ensuring that it is trauma
informed, culturally respectful and responsive to the needs of those affected.
I want to thank those organisations for their invaluable input.
Going forward, three
organisations have been engaged to provide free, confidential assistance
throughout the application process. They are Yokai, Healing our Spirit; the Kimberley
Stolen Generation Aboriginal Corporation; and Yorgum Healing Services.
Members, I want to be clear on
this point: no amount of money could ever make up for the experiences of members
of the stolen generation and their families, and the ongoing effects on people's
lives. These payments are an acknowledgement of past injustices. They seek to
tell the truth about a sorrowful and shameful part
of our history, the impacts of which continue to be felt across families and
communities. Although these payments will not correct what has happened,
they offer a path forward. For survivors like Tony, it means that we have
listened, we understand and we want to continue this journey of reconciliation.
It is a program of which we should all be very proud.
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