As excitement builds ahead of Friday night’s Marn Grook clash at the SCG we wanted to take the time to acknowledge the significance of today, May 26, which marks National Sorry Day.

National Sorry Day reminds the nation to remember the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, many of whom were forcibly removed from their families to be assimilated into white Australian culture. They are known as the Stolen Generations. 

The first National Sorry Day was observed in 1998, a year after the “Bringing Them Home” report was tabled in parliament. The report documented the forcible removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from the families and made recommendations to take steps towards healing and reconciliation.

A formal apology finally came in 2008 from, then Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd and parliament later adopted the goals of the “Closing the Gap” movement, which focused on the health and equality of First Nations Peoples of all generations.

National Sorry Day is a day to acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generations survivors and reflect on how Australians can all play a part in the healing process.

Below is the transcript of former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s apology to First Nations Peoples:

"Mr Speaker, I move:

That today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.

We reflect on their past mistreatment.

We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations – this blemished chapter in our nation's history.

The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia's history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.

We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.

We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country. 

For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.

To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.

And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.

We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.”