Comparisons between the holocaust and the so-called stolen generation are quite unjustified. Such silly comparisons as this don't encourage me to feel sorry. I am not responsible for the actions of my ancestors, and I am not sorry for them.

There is no future in the past. Let's all just move on!

Having a legal background, I am very interested to know exactly what the ramifications would be if ‘sorry’ was actually said. For example, in what already is an over litigious society, would ‘sorry’ translate to ‘class action’ etc? At university I was constantly told by activist lecturers that there would be no ramifications as such, but they were never able to evidence this position. My reading of the situation in both Canada and America is that saying ‘sorry’ has done nothing to improve relations nor stifle welfare dependency, but has led to huge ‘compensation’ payouts.

On a personal note, I have never understood the need to say ‘sorry’. Why is it so different to ‘deep regret’ or ‘profound injustice’? Furthermore, does anyone seriously believe that ‘sorry’ will be the magical word that fixes years of welfare dependency and lack of accountability? The whole situation is magnified by the fact that an official apology in effect wouldn’t mean much given that only a small proportion of the population is generations removed from the events that took place. Surely the aboriginal leadership should have more important focuses.

not responsible for your ancestors is certainly true, but that doesn't mean the problems they left behind are not your responsibility.

our masters in canberra might, just for instance, offer to hand back land to the original owners if they have remained on it, and maintained some cultural cohesion. it has been done in the united states, and the local autonomy does a lot for native american morale. it also improves their standard of living. it won't happen here- without a bill of rights, without democracy, the pollies have no reason to move.

Shame on Reynard, and thank you Harry for this fine and moving piece.

I am sure that Kevin Rudd has said sorry to our indigenous people, and many times, in his personal capacity as an Australian citizen and Labor politician. For example, he was implicitly saying sorry sorry in his article in The Monthly, "Faith in Politics". I am sure he will say it again in appropriate ways during the election campaign.

The issue is that Rudd has pledged to say sorry as Prime Minister on behalf of the Government of Australia, but Howard still cruelly refuses to do so. There is a real difference here, and any voter with a smidgeon of shame for what our white forefathers did to mistreat aboriginal people in building the rich society we have now, will remember that difference when they vote. It is a big part of the reason why so many Australian voters have finally turned off Howard. The man has no love or compassion in him.

I also wonder about the legal ramifications of saying "sorry" and suspect that it is precisely because of those that the present Government has not done.
What is more I would be deeply disturbed if someone endeavoured to offer a "sorry" on my behalf. I have nothing to be "sorry" for and my ancestors certainly have nothing to be "sorry" for. To the contrary they did much to support indigenous rights.
I regret what happened in the past and I also say it was wrong but the idea that we should now be held responsible for actions over which we had no control is to open a Pandora's box - far better to concentrate on current problems and giving the current generation assistance so it does not happen again.
All Rudd is doing is playing politics - those asking for "sorry" are, after all, more likely to vote in his favour.

Kevin Rudd announced he'd make an official apology to Aboriginal Australians for the dreadful treatment so many received, upon being elected PM. The apology on behalf of a nation needs to come form the elected leader, not from any other. He has already apologised as Opposition Leader, as an MP, and as a citizen....as have thousands of others: State Premiers, local councilors, myself.. all across Australia.

Germany apologised for treatment of jews and others during WW2....most Germans living today were not alive then, yet they understood and appreciated what was happening, and why.

Canada, the govt apologised for treatment of its indigenous people, and in many provinces has established far ranging treaties.

South Africa, likewise.

Britain recently apologised, officially and as a nation, for their role facilitiating slavery. Notwithstanding that Britain helped end the practice, and nobody alive today played any part.

Any mother will tell you....saying sorry is important, but it needs to be sincere....and needs to be made by somebody who either did the deed, or is empowered to speak for, and by, the perpetrators and/or their beneficiaries, ie, us. The whole Aussie nation. Therefore it MUST be the elected leader who speaks, and who offers the chosen words to the history books.

John Howard could never do that because it would mean admitting that he's been heartless, or cruel, or just plain wrong, and that many who placed their trust in him and gave him their vote would look bad....in some cases, very bad. This makes many people nervous as they fear the judgement of history. Any comments regarding legalities are no more than code for 'cover my ass'.

BTW, will you be sending the sherrif out again to deal with those pesky noisy drunken dusky faced fellows who hang out at the back of the town rubbish dump and get into fights with the coppers? Lets lock em up, eh? Problem solved....until tomorrow.