Democrat Senator Andrew Bartlett says he is disappointed the Senate's Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee report into his Stolen Generation Compensation Bill has not recommended the adoption of a national system of compensation.
However, Senator Bartlett said he was pleased that the Committee has recommended that representatives of the Stolen Generations advise the government on the unimplemented recommendations from the Bringing Them Home report, which includes those relating to compensation.
Senator Bartlett referred his Bill to the committee for consideration in March this year. The Bill sought to implement a reparations process for the victims of the Stolen Generations, based on the recommendations from the decade old Bringing them Home report.
"Past Government policies of removing children from their homes, families and country has had a devastating effect not only on those directly removed, but on their families through generations and on whole communities both Indigenous and non-Indigenous," Senator Bartlett said.
"My aim in getting this legislation examined by a Senate Committee was to put the issue back on the political agenda and provide some much needed focus to the debate. This has certainly been achieved."
"It is a positive move that the Committee has heard the overwhelming evidence provided to the Inquiry about the importance of reparations and has taken a broader look at what needs to be done to address the needs of the Stolen Generations"
"Evidence provided to this Inquiry produced a superior model of reparations to the one contained in my Bill, and I wholeheartedly endorse this measure and encourage those who support proper compensation to adopt it as part of continuing to campaign on the issue."
