NT: Fraser calls for political settlement for stolen generation

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-2000
NT: Fraser calls for political settlement for stolen generation

Eds: Embargoed until 2130 (AEST) today, Aug 24



By Rod McGuirk

DARWIN, Aug 24 AAP - Former prime minister Malcolm Fraser called for a political settlement
for the stolen generation today in a blistering attack on the government's indigenous
policies.

The former Liberal leader criticised the coalition for fighting the stolen generation
in the courts, failing to overturn mandatory sentencing and rejecting United Nations criticisms
in his delivery of the annual Vincent Lingiari memorial lecture.

Mr Fraser also called for Australia to adopt a bill of rights since common law had
failed to protect indigenous rights.

"Through much of my political life, I accepted the view of noted lawyers that our system
of law derived from Britain and the development of common law best protected the human
rights of individuals," Mr Fraser said.

"I now believe that our system has so patently failed to protect the rights of Aboriginals
that we should look once again at the establishment of a bill of rights in Australia."

He urged the government to find a political settlement as an alternative to the courts
for dealing with the stolen generation's demand for justice.

Mr Fraser attacked the government's claims of vindication in a Federal Court test case
this month in which a judge found the commonwealth had not failed in its duty of care
for two Aborigines taken from their mothers and abused in institutions in the 1940s and
1950s.

He accused the commonwealth of failing in its duty of care to ensure that the conditions
and management of the institutions where the children were sent were appropriate.

"When I first read of the happenings in Darwin's Federal Court and noted the statements
made on behalf of the commonwealth, I wondered what we had learnt," Mr Fraser said.

"Unless the court's decision can be reversed on appeal, any settlement which is to
be lasting, which contributed to reconciliation, will have to be a political settlement.

"Thus the commonwealth should seek alternative approaches which would do much to advance
reconciliation and overcome the injustices of the past."

Mr Fraser, a co-president of the Stolen Generation's Journey of Healing, repeated his
call for a national apology for the racist destruction of families.

He praised Aboriginal activist Mick Dodson's keynote address at Corroboree 2000 in
May which cut down Prime Minister John Howard's argument that Australians today were not
responsible for past injustices.

Mr Fraser said he was more than a little sad that Mr Howard had failed to reach an
agreement with the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation that would have assured the future
of reconciliation.

He said the UN should not be condemned for its gentle criticisms of Australia's treatment
of indigenous people.

"Our activities in recent times have diminished Australia and damaged the United Nations,"

Mr Fraser said.

"On both counts it is unfortunate."

The lecture commemorates Mr Lingiari leading the Gurindji people off Wave Hill Station
on August 23, 1966, in a stockman's strike which became Australia's first successful land
rights claim.

AAP rmg/apm/bwl

KEYWORD: STOLEN FRASER (EMBARGOED)

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