Fed: ATSIC supports call for tribunal

AAP General News (Australia)
08-15-2001
Fed: ATSIC supports call for tribunal

By Krystyna Pollard

SYDNEY, Aug 15 AAP - ATSIC today backed calls for the federal government to establish
a reparations tribunal as an alternative to litigation for the stolen generations.

An interim report released today by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) outlines
new draft recommendations for a reparations tribunal, originally developed by the centre
in 1997.

The report says that a tribunal offers a preferable alternative to litigation and would
address many of the inadequacies of government responses to reparations.

"People affected by forcible removal policies could approach the tribunal to seek reparations
measures appropriate to their needs," the report states.

"The measures might include the opportunity for people to tell their story, funding
for stolen generations groups, and individual monetary compensation."

The report was released at the first day of the Moving Forward conference in Sydney,
hosted by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission (HREOC), ATSIC and the Public
Interest Advocacy Centre to foster public debate about reparation for the stolen generations.

Addressing the conference this morning, South Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Commission (ATSIC) zone commissioner, Brian Butler, said the proposals had his
organisation's full support.

"ATSIC believes that the reparations and compensation should be made to those who were
separated through a reparations tribunal to avoid the unnecessary trauma and expense of
seeking redress through the courts," he said.

Mr Butler also used the conference to repeat calls for the Australian parliament to
apologise to the stolen generations.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Bill Jonas told the
conference that victims of forcible removal policies were being painted as a threat to
the federal government's financial position while an urgent need for reparations was ignored.

"This characterisation sees victims of forcible removal policies being painted as threats
to the financial position of the government and the broader society," Dr Jonas said.

"It is all based on an assumption, a very, very false assumption, that the members
of the stolen generation are only interested in monetary compensation."

"While we're hung up on that false assumption we can't do anything because it will
cost the nation too much money, we won't move anywhere."

The head of a Canadian reconciliation foundation, who is also attending the two-day
event, said the Australian government should follow his country's example and say sorry
to the indigenous population.

Canada's Aboriginal Healing Foundation executive director Mike DeGagne said saying
sorry, like the Canadian government did in 1998, would be a critical place to start for
reconciliation in Australia.

AAP kp/jjs/las/bwl

KEYWORD: RECONCILE CONFERENCE NIGHTLEAD

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