ABSTRACT

This chapter concentrates on the second major theme of the reconciliation period: the Stolen Generations. It begins with a brief history of the child removal policies and then moves on to discuss the 'Bringing Them Home' (BTH) report and its role in the reconciliation process. The chapter discusses the BTH conclusion that genocide was committed in Australia and the 'implicatory denial' of the Howard government and influential public intellectuals. It examines the implications of this 'denialism' and evaluates its compatibility with the spirit of the reconciliation legislation's preamble. Tatz suggests that the Aborigines considered the Stolen Generations as one of the most serious issues in their lives; it is regarded as an issue that must be addressed in a genuine attempt at reconciliation. The exploitation of indigenous children, forcibly separated from their families and communities, occurred from the very first days of the European occupation of Australia.