While Howard did venture somewhat down the path of reconciliation, he vehemently refused to use the word 'sorry'.

Who can forget the famous speech made by Howard at the 1997 Reconciliation Convention in Melbourne, when he banged the lectern, shouting at the audience that symbolism will deliver nothing!

In August 1999, Howard issued a national apology for members of the Stolen Generation expressing 'sorrow' and 'sincere and deep regret', but never daring to use the word 'sorry'.  John Howard was deeply worried that by using the word 'sorry' it admitted ownership for himself and the government and made them liable for paying some form of compensation. While some Indigenous leaders said that the government was slowly making its way towards reconciliation, the lack of the word 'sorry' made their attempts meaningless.

It is now more than 10 years since the shocking Bringing Them Home report was released and the government refused to say anything more than expressing 'sincere and deep regret'. Mr Howard agreed that the report was very shocking and his government attacked it as legally flawed. He said that to apologise would be to hold present generations responsible for the past and that compensation would be impractical and divisive. Howard stated that "Australians of this generation should not be required to accept guilt and blame for past actions and policies over which they had no control."

Furthermore, the government argued that forced removals were sanctioned by the laws of the time, and "were believed to be in the best interests of the children concerned" and that "a formal unqualified apology does, according to the legal advice…have certain legal implications".

John Howard and the Liberal Government are not alone in their convictions. While many supported current the apology by incumbent Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, a Morgan poll found that 37 per cent of Australians surveyed agreed with the former Prime Minister.

On the 13^th of February, now known as Sorry Day, the Liberal Party overturned Mr Howard’s policy of refusing to support a formal apology by the Federal Government or Parliament to the Stolen Generations by supporting Kevin Rudd’s words to the Indigenous population of Australia.

However, despite the formal supporting of the apology, many Liberal MPs were still unhappy about the word 'sorry' and the implications it held.

Even Brendon Nelson said he personally had a "bit of concern about the idea that one generation should be held responsible for things that happened in the past."

He added Aboriginal people were still facing lower than average life expectancy and unacceptable levels of sexual abuse in their communities, stating that it is important that  we make sure we focus on the real issues facing Aboriginal people.

Other MPs were more outspoken about their concerns. West Australian Liberal MP Wilson Tuckey said that this was not what Parliament is for. He had been seething for weeks over the decision to issue an apology but it was the 'Welcome to Country' ceremony that really got under his skin.

"I'm horrified and concerned that we're going to turn the Parliament of Australia into a dance parlor," he said, exhibiting his outrage.

"Why not put neon signs on the top of Parliament? You know, dances every Friday night."

Mr Tuckey was present in the chamber for the prayer but left before the Prime Minister delivered the apology.

“I thought there was a better chance for the Aboriginal people if I said a prayer on their behalf and relied on the efforts of a higher being because I have no confidence whatsoever that Kevin Rudd is going to do anything for them,” Mr Tuckey said.

"I'm there to say hallelujah. Tomorrow there will be no petrol sniffing. Tomorrow little girls can sleep in their beds without any concern. It's all fixed," he added.

Western Australian Liberal Dennis Jensen also said he and his constituents have profound difficulties supporting the apology.

"Despite the Prime Minister talking about the righting of the wrongs of the past, he appears ignorant of the fact that it is impossible to right the wrongs of the past," he stated.

Furthermore, Dr Jenson revoked the argument that saying sorry to the Aboriginals will open up the flood gates to having to apologise to many other groups. He suggested that that apologies could be warranted for other groups of disadvantaged Australians, citing those of Italian origin who had been put in internment camps during World War II.

"If you go right back, everyone's got to say sorry to everyone else," he said.

Another politician to express their disdain for the Prime Ministers actions, is New South Wales MP Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, who said that she feared the apology would leave future generations "financially responsible for past actions towards Indigenous Australians."

It would seem that there are still those that still agree with John Howard and view the apology as a mistake. But what does the former Prime Minister think of the apology?

Well while all living former Prime Ministers graced Parliament on the 13^th with their presence, John Howard was absent. He didn’t even send his apologies.

Image by jthommo101
Courtesy of Creative Commons