FED: Ridgeway turns Aboriginal groups around Allison

AAP General News (Australia)
08-26-1999
FED: Ridgeway turns Aboriginal groups around Allison

CANBERRA, Aug 26 AAP -Australian Democrats Senator Aden Ridgeway had turned around the
attitudes of Aboriginal groups to the preamble and reconciliation, Democrats Senator Lyn
Allison said today.

"He has turned them around in terms of their attitudes to the preamble," Senator Allison
told reporters.

"And also (Aboriginal leader) Lowitja O'Donoghue said something I thought was very moving
and that is that she, too, has looked at her remarks and behaviour in relation to
reconciliation and that Aden has turned her around in that respect."

There were messages of regret for having said words which were not helpful in the
reconciliation process, Senator Allison said.

Senator Ridgeway's maiden speech to parliament last night called on the government to
express deep and sincere regret for the hurt and trauma suffered by indigenous Australians.

Australia's only Aboriginal federal MP omitted the word sorry in a compromise Prime
Minister John Howard seems likely to accept.

Senator Allison said it was clear Mr Howard wanted to proceed with an expression of regret
as soon as he could but there was no hurry.

"I am not sure whether it's today or next week but I don't think there's any great rush,"
she said.

"There's a lot to be done."

Words of reconciliation would not instantly fix racist attitudes in the community, Senator
Allison added.

AAP lm/mfh/it/br

KEYWORD: SORRY ALLISON

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