What happened
On 13 February 2008, the newly elected Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered an apology to Indigenous people at the opening of federal parliament.
Background
Repeating the word sorry, he formally apologised on the government’s behalf to the Stolen Generations who had been taken from their families and for their suffering. The speech was broadcast nationwide and watched by people across the country.
Consequences
Though it carried no legal compensation, the apology was seen as a symbolic and important step toward reconciliation, moving the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians into a new stage.