Monday 3rd April 2000

Herron must go!

Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR) today called for the resignation of the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, Senator Herron, following his proactive, hurtful and unnecessary comments regarding the Stolen Generations.

ANTaR National Spokesperson, Phil Glendenning, said today:

"It is evident that the Government is in the process of abandoning the Reconciliation process. These sorts of attacks make a mockery of the Prime Minister's election night pledge. It is a disgrace that a Minister charged with responsibility for Aboriginal people would act against his mandate in this way, by attacking them and aggravating the hurt which they have to live with each day. Such attacks are unconscionable and inhumane.

"Whether the figure actually taken away was 10%, or 30% or 40% is not the issue. The issue is that this happened to Australian people. Very few Aboriginal people were untouched by this tragedy, even if it only involved living in fear that it would happen to them.

"The great sadness of Australia at this point is that leaders like the Prime Minister and Senator Herron are incapable of understanding what it would be like if it happened to them.

. "Senator Herron himself has ten children. Even if only one of the ten had been taken away, does he imagine that would not hurt or affect the other nine? That their grandparents would not be affected? That the family would not be doing everything they could to right the wrong?

Mr Glendenning continued:

"Tragically, the Prime Minister and Senator Herron see compassion as weakness, and empathy for the vulnerable as "unAustralian". The truth is that trying to deny another's pain is what is unAustralian.

"It is this reason that ANTaR calls for Senator Herron's resignation."

Mr Glendenning concluded:

"We also call on the Prime Minister to stop cruelly provoking Aboriginal people. Deliberate provocation is an old bully's tactic. He should unequivocally apologise"

Contact Phil Glendenning: 02 9764 1330 or 0419 013 758