FED: Crean says Labor will await wording of sorry motion

AAP General News (Australia)
08-26-1999
FED: Crean says Labor will await wording of sorry motion

CANBERRA, Aug 26 AAP - Labor will wait to see the wording of a parliamentary motion to
apologise to the so-called stolen generation before deciding whether to support it.

Deputy Opposition Leader Simon Crean praised Australian Democrats reconciliation spokesman
Aden Ridgeway, who yesterday used his maiden speech to propose a compromise wording on an
apology to Aboriginal people forcibly removed from their families.

His proposal, which would not contain the word sorry but would express deep and sincere
regret for the hurt and trauma suffered by indigenous peoples, is expected to be accepted by
the government which has so far rejected a formal parliamentary apology.

But Mr Crean told ABC radio Labor would await the wording of the motion.

"Let's see what the prime minister is prepared to indicate and we will determine our
position but I think there has been a very important start made last night," Mr Crean said.

"The problem in all of this has been the prime minister's stubbornness, let's hope he can
rise above it. Let's see what he has to say and Labor will determine its position
accordingly."

Labor had long supported an apology.

"We have been in favour of saying let's say sorry, let's make the important start to the
reconciliation process. The one person who has been stopping that is the prime minister, it's
his stubbornness, let's hope he can get above it this time for the first time," Mr Crean said.

Former National Party leader Tim Fischer would not be drawn today on whether his party
would support a motion of apology.

He told Radio National, as he prepared to leave for East Timor, that the issue was a matter
for new National Party leader John Anderson and the party.

"These are matters for my colleagues and my new leader and deputy leader, let's see the
process unfold and remember there was quite considerable discussion on the matter at the party
meetings last Tuesday," Mr Fischer said.

Asked if he would personally be prepared to express deep and sincere regret, he said he had
already expressed these sentiments as an individual.

"I as an individual have already made that and recently reiterated a personal sorry,
apology," he said.

AAP msl/it/br

KEYWORD: SORRY CREAN

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