Fed: Herron to face Senate committee today

AAP General News (Australia)
08-18-2000
Fed: Herron to face Senate committee today

Aboriginal Affairs Minister JOHN HERRON is expected to face tough questions about the
government's denial of the stolen generation when he fronts a Senate inquiry today.

Senator HERRON sparked uproar earlier this year when he authorised a government submission
to the inquiry which questioned the existence of a stolen generation of Aborigines.

Australian Democrats Senator ADEN RIDGEWAY will ask Senator HERRON to amend his submission,
and to explain what reparations the government plans for indigenous children taken from
their parents.

Senator HERRON'S controversial submission to the inquiry, revealed in April, said stories
of widespread removal of Aboriginal children from their families were exaggerated.

It caused outrage in the indigenous community, which was already frustrated by the
HOWARD government's persistent refusal to say sorry for past mistreatment of Aborigines.

The community was dealt a further blow last week when LORNA CUBILLO, aged 62, and
53-year-old PETER GUNNER, who'd been taken from their families as children, failed in
their Federal Court bid for compensation.

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KEYWORD: STOLEN (CANBERRA)

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