Anniversary of Tasmania’s 1997 Apology to Aboriginal People

13 August 1997

Content note: This article discusses the Stolen Generations and the forced removal of Aboriginal children.

An apology and an Aboriginal response

On 13 August 1997, Premier Tony Rundle moved Tasmania’s parliamentary apology for past policies under which Aboriginal children were removed from their families and homes. The apology followed the Bringing Them Home report.

Aunty Annette Peardon addressed the House of Assembly in response. Her contribution placed an Aboriginal survivor’s voice within a parliamentary event that might otherwise be remembered only through the government’s statement.

Recognition of harm and survival

The Tasmanian Government’s historical calendar records the date and the apology’s context. The Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery recognises Peardon’s speech as a significant parliamentary first in Tasmania.

The date belongs to the history of Stolen Generations survivors and families who pressed for recognition. Their advocacy and testimony should remain central, rather than being absorbed into a story about political leaders choosing to say sorry.

The apology acknowledged past actions and affirmed support for reconciliation. Such an acknowledgement matters, while survivors’ needs, access to records, family connections and the consequences of removal continue beyond a parliamentary motion.

What follows an apology

Tasmania later established a compensation scheme through legislation in 2006. This was a separate step and should not be attributed to the 1997 apology date. Distinguishing these milestones makes it possible to examine both words and subsequent action.

The national apology of 13 February 2008 is also recognised elsewhere in this calendar. Tasmania’s earlier apology adds a local history and gives appropriate space to the people who spoke and campaigned here.

For school or workplace reflection, read the apology alongside public accounts of Aunty Annette Peardon’s response. Ask whose experiences shaped the event and what an institution must do after acknowledging harm.

Provide advance notice that material concerns child removal, and allow people to choose how they participate. Do not ask Aboriginal participants to disclose family histories or speak for all survivors. Respectful remembrance recognises strength and continuing community life while taking the responsibilities arising from an apology seriously.

Sources and further reading

• 13 August 1997 apology and response — Tasmanian Department of Premier and Cabinet
• Annette Peardon’s speech: a parliamentary first — Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
• Apology to Aboriginal People, Government of Tasmania — Find & Connect

Our related products and resources

We do not currently offer products or learning resources specifically for this date. The reading links above are provided for background and further learning. Suitable items from our range will be added here as they become available.