TODAY member for Indi Cathy McGowan will make an apology in the Federal Parliament to the nation’s indigenous people on behalf of her electorate.
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Ms McGowan’s decision is in direct response to the refusal by former member for Indi, Sophie Mirabella, to support the national apology made in 2008 by former prime minister Kevin Rudd.
She says she had spoken with Indi constituents during last year’s election campaign who told her of their disappointment that they were not represented in 2008.
Ms McGowan believes saying sorry six years after that apology will put a “full stop” on the issue at a local level, and acknowledge the importance of the region’s Aboriginal population.
She has met with several indigenous groups in Indi ahead of her speech this morning, and while the groups have welcomed Ms McGowan’s move, they say their focus is now the issue of constitutional reform.
There will be those in Indi who believe Ms McGowan’s move is unnecessary, but obviously there are others from all sectors of the community who believe it is a gesture of goodwill that will be seen as an opportunity to move on during this National Reconciliation Week.
