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[[File:Firstruddministry.jpg|thumb|The Rudd Government's first ministry|300px]]
[[File:Firstruddministry.jpg|thumb|The Rudd Government's first ministry|300px]]


Revision as of 23:51, 3 November 2009

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The Rudd Government's first ministry

The Rudd Government refers to the federal Executive Government of Australia during Kevin Rudd's prime ministership. It is made up of members of the Australian Labor Party.

The Rudd Government commenced on 3 December 2007, when Rudd was sworn in along with his ministry. This took place nine days after the defeat at the 2007 federal election of the Howard Government, which had consisted of John Howard and members of the Liberal and National parties.[1] The Rudd Government has not yet faced reelection, and the next Australian federal election may be held as late as April 2011.

Australia 2020 Summit

In February 2008 Rudd announced the Australia 2020 Summit, held from 19-20 April 2008, which brought together 1000 leading Australians to discuss ten major areas of policy innovation.[2] The summit voted in favour of a plebiscite on Australia relinquishing "ties" to the United Kingdom followed by a referendum on the model for an Australian republic,[3] a bill of rights and the re-formation of an Indigenous peak representative body similar to ATSIC, which was abolished by the Howard Government in 2005.

In April 2009, Rudd announced that of the 962 recommendations of the summit, the following nine would be adopted[4]:

  • a civilian regional disaster response organisation
  • an indigenous cultural centre
  • a national workplace mentoring program
  • bionic eye research
  • asian scholarship program
  • childrens' television channel
  • business and school's roundtable
  • carbon emission skills program
  • tertiary education broadband network

See also: Australia 2020 summit final report, Government response to the Australia 2020 Summit

Economy

Kevin Rudd (back row, fourth from right) at the G-20 Leaders Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy.

Treasurer Wayne Swan delivered the Rudd government's first budget in May 2008, which he said was designed to fight inflation.[5] Total expenditure, as a share of gross domestic product (GDP), was lower than at any time of the previous government, despite including many of the expensive election promises for "working families".[6] The projected surplus of 1.8% of GDP, or $21.7 billion, exceeded the 1.5% target set by the government in January. Labor further distanced itself from Costello's solar rebate scheme, and the budget itself was presented in favour of wind[failed verification] energy.[7] Labor supported improving the federal-state funding process through a reform of the Council of Australian Governments.[8] Three nation-building investment funds were established—the infrastructure fund, "Building Australia", was earmarked $20 billion of federal funding. Education received $10 billion as part of Rudd's "education revolution", while health also received $10 billion.[9]

As part of its response to the financial turmoil, the Rudd government announced in October 2008 that it would guarantee all bank deposits. A number of large non-bank lenders, including mortgage funds, subsequently froze billions of dollars worth of deposits as investors sought to transfer their funds to the now guaranteed bank deposits. The government subsequently announced a premium would be required for deposits over $1 million.[10] Australian state governments found it more difficult to borrow funds as a result, because their bonds were not guaranteed.[11]

Wayne Swan

With the economy facing its biggest slowdown since the early 1990s and facing recession, in October 2008[when?] the government announced an economic stimulus package worth $10.4 billion. This included bonus lump sum payments to seniors, carers and families to be provided in December 2008. An increase in the first home buyer grant for established homes ($14,000) and for new homes ($21,000) until 30 June 2009, and $187 million to create new trading jobs. Other measures included $6 billion for boosting the automotive industry, and $300 million for local councils and shires to boost jobs and growth in local governments. [12][13][14]

A second economic stimulus package worth $47 billion was announced in February 2009. It comprises an infrastructure program worth $26 billion, $2.7 billion in small business tax breaks, and $12.7 billion for cash bonuses, including $950 for every Australian taxpayer who earned less than $80,000 during the 2007-8 financial year, to be paid in March and April 2009. It was announced[who?] on the same day[when?] that the Reserve Bank cut official interest rates by 1 percent to 3.25 percent, the lowest since 1964. The effect of the stimulus packages, and the predicted reduction in tax receipts to $115 billion over four years, will probably send the budget into a $22.5 billion deficit for the 2008/09 financial year.

The Australian unemployment rate for the 12-month period from September 2008

The package was welcomed by state governments and many economists, as well as the OECD. The Malcolm Turnbull-led coalition opposed the package, stating they believed further tax cuts on top of current tax cuts planned for each financial year over the next few years was a better way to prevent a recession.[15][16][17][18][19] The package was passed in the Senate on 13 February with support from minor parties and independents following amendments that included a $50 reduction in cash bonuses to fund investment in the environment and water.[20]

National accounts released on 4 March 2009 which correspond to the December quarter showed that Australia's non-farm economy was in recession, according to the government's definition of the term.[21]

The 2009 Australian federal budget was released on the evening of 12 May 2009. Labor decided not to extend the investment allowance after it is scaled back on June 30 and stopped on December 31. Other measures to support employment—augmenting a first-home buyer's scheme— were initiated.

The March quarter national accounts showed that the Australian economy grew by 0.4%[22], a number not foreseen by many until the positive balance of trade statistics released the day before. The main contributors to this result were the large fall in the current account deficit and increasing household consumption. This means that as of the March fiscal quarter, the Australian economy has avoided a technical recession. The March quarter national accounts however did show a sharp drop in private capital investment.

Industrial relations

Julia Gillard, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations

WorkChoices, the industrial relations regime introduced by the Howard government, is being overhauled.[23] Rudd's 2007 policy included the phasing out of Australian Workplace Agreements over a period of up to five years, the establishment of a simpler awards system as a safety net, the restoration of unfair dismissal laws for companies with under 100 employees (probation period of 12 months for companies with less than 15 employees), and the retention of the Australian Building and Construction Commission until 2010. It retains the illegality of secondary boycotts, the right of employers to lock workers out, restriction of union right of entry to workplaces, and restrictions on workers' right to strike.[24] Rudd also outlined the establishment of a single industrial relations bureaucracy called Fair Work Australia, which will play a far more interventionist role than the Howard Government's Fair Pay Commission.[25]

Some unions claim it to be "WorkChoices Lite", although the most fundamental elements will be reversed[26] and since then, changes have been made to the legislation which accommodate union demands. This has led to employer concern over the legislation, as more rigid and expensive wage and other outcomes with employees will be particularly difficult for many businesses to afford during an economic downturn [6]. Business groups have argued that this will contribute to job losses and negative growth in the near future.

Communications

Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy

Construction of a national fibre to the node National Broadband Network (NBN) was a key ALP promise ahead of the 2007 election. The government advertised for requests for proposal to build the network on 11 April 2008 and the tendering period finished on 26 November after being extended from 25 July. The expert panel selected to assess the tenders found that none of them met the Government's requirements. As a result, the Government announced on 7 April 2009 that it was establishing a joint public-private company to build the NBN. Construction of the first stage of the network was planned to begin in July with the project being estimated to take 13 years to complete and cost $A43 Billion.[27]

Defence

In December 2007 the Minister for Defence, Joel Fitzgibbon, ordered the Department of Defence to develop a new white paper to guide Australia's defence policy. While the white paper was originally due to be completed in December 2008, it was delayed until 2009 due to the volume of work required.[28] The white paper, entitled Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030, was released on 2 May 2009 and outlines a significant expansion to the Australian Defence Force, intended to maximise the military's capacity to act independently in Australia's region.[29]

Other defence policies enacted by the Rudd Government include canceling the contract to purchase 11 Seasprite helicopters in March 2008,[30] and beginning the process of planning the replacement for the Navy's Collins class submarines.[31]

John Faulkner

The Rudd Government has altered the number of Australian troops deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. The 550 combat troops[32] deployed on an overwatch mission in central southern Iraq were withdrawn in mid-June 2008, fulfilling an election promise. This reduced the Australian Defence Force presence in the region to 800-900 support personnel, including 440 either on the ground in Iraq or patrolling the coastline.[33] As of early 2009 around 150 support personnel remained in Iraq.[34] In contrast, the Australian force in Afghanistan is being expanded, with Rudd announcing in April 2009 that it will be increased from 1,100 to 1,550 personnel.[35]

Fitzgibbon became the first Rudd Government minister to resign on 4 June 2009. He quit after he admitting that meetings held between his brother, the head of the health fund NIB, and defence officials concerning business opportunities had breached the Ministerial Code of Conduct.[36]

The current Minister for Defence is John Faulkner.

Environment and energy management

Main article: Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme

In opposition, Rudd called climate change "the greatest moral, economic and social challenge of our time" and called for a cut to greenhouse gas emissions by 60% before 2050.[37]

Penny Wong, Minister for Climate Change and Water

In October 2007, the then Prime Minister John Howard said that Labor's policy on climate change negotiations had no significant differences to the Liberals' policy.[38] At the time, econometric research suggested that providers of carbon credits which had been accredited under the voluntary Australian Greenhouse Office trading scheme were capable of stabilising emissions, such was the demand from households for carbon-neutral products.[39]

On 3 December 2007, hours after being sworn in, Rudd signed the Kyoto Protocol.[40] Rudd stated that:

Australia's official declaration today that we will become a member of the Kyoto Protocol is a significant step forward in our country's efforts to fight climate change domestically - and with the international community.

After a year of accounting, the government published its climate change policies in a White Paper released on 15 December 2008. The White Paper maps out a plan to introduce an emissions trading scheme in 2010 and recommends a target range for Australia's greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 of between 5% and 15% less than 2000 levels. It drew criticism from environmental groups[who?] and the Federal Government's climate change advisor, Professor Ross Garnaut. Garnaut said the government's conditional 2020 emission targets were too low, and said the planned assistance measures for Australian emissions intensive industries pose "profound" financial risk for the Government.[41] In May 2009, Rudd announced an increase of the scheme target to 25% of year 2000 levels, but that the introduction of the scheme would be delayed until July 2011.[42]

The government articulated its stance on energy management in general in October 2009. Writing in the Australian Financial Review, the resources minister, Martin Ferguson, acknowledged that withholding resources such as coal (either black or brown) is unlikely to do much to assist in reducing emissions or alter demand. Instead the government hopes to become a world-leading investor in carbon capture and storage technologies, and is expanding Australia's natural gas production, while continuing to support a raft of new coal mining projects worth about $11 billion.[43] The government also has plans to build up the whole of the renewable energy industry: its clean energy strategy "doesn't pick winners [solar energy options were favoured by previous governments] yet acknowledges the need to make technological breakthroughs across a wide variety of energy options."[44]

Foreign relations

The Rudd Government is attempting to increase Australia's influence internationally.[45] Prime Minister Rudd announced in March 2008 that Australia would seek a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for 2013-14. Australia last held a seat on the body in 1985-86.[46]

Immigration

In mid May 2008, the Rudd government said that skilled immigration under the 457 visa will dramatically increase, which is aimed at relieving skills shortages, lift productivity and prevent an inflationary wages breakout.[47] However, due to the Global Financial Crisis, the government has indicated that it may cut the number of immigrants allowed into the country if the global crisis raises unemployment levels.[48]

In May 2008, the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre said the Department of Immigration and Citizenship was rejecting asylum seeker applications at a higher rate than under the previous government, saying 41 of 42 applications had been rejected.[49] The minister responsible, Chris Evans, claims a denial rate of 77 percent, based on his acknowledgment that of a caseload of 730 appeals, he has intervened in 170.[50]

In July 2008, the Government announced changes to mandatory detention policies, ceasing the detention of children and making legal advice available to unauthorised arrivals.[51][52][53] In April 2009, responding to an increase in illegal entry vessels and a fatal accident on one of these vessels, the government announced a new strategy of offering financial support to Indonesia to assist in their efforts to reduce people smuggling to Australia.[54][55][56]

In response to an increase in the arrival of boat people during 2009, Rudd had a conversation with the President of Indonesia to intercept refugee vessels bound for Australia. [57] During this period, demountable housing originally intended for Indigenous Australians was repurposed to house refugees on the Christmas Island facility, which was reaching capacity.[58]

Despite an election promise to process 90 percent of claims for protection visas within 90 days, Immigration Department figures in October 2009 showed no improvement in the speed of processing claims since the change of government.[59] As a proportion of the immigration intake, Australia accepted fewer refugees in 2009 than it did at any time under the Howard government.[60]

Social Policy

Indigenous affairs

Kevin Rudd on screen in Federation Square, Melbourne, apologising to the stolen generations.

As the parliament's first order of business, on 13 February 2008, Rudd read an apology directed to Indigenous Australians for the stolen generations. The apology, on behalf of successive parliaments and governments, passed as a motion by both houses of parliament, and was publicly well received; most criticisms were of Labor for refusing to provide victims with monetary compensation as recommended in the Bringing them Home report, and that the apology would not alleviate disadvantage amongst Indigenous Australians.[61][62] Rudd pledged the government to bridging the gap between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australian health, education and living conditions, and in a way that respects their rights to self-determination.[63]

One year after the apology, Michael Mansell, Amnesty International and stolen generations victim Marjorie Woodrow called for the government to provide reparations as recommended in the Bringing them home report.[64][65][66][67] In the first of the government's promised annual 'indigenous report cards', Rudd said that 80 houses for indigenous Australians had been completed during the previous year.[68]

A participant of the "Homelands Movement" protests against the Rudd government's decision to hand some powers back to the Territory government, in front of the State Library, Melbourne.

One of the government's first reforms was to the maintenance of Indigenous housing, 95 per cent of which was federally administered. Many Indigenous housing organizations are being wound down, with state and territory governments responsible for managing of all fields of community housing.[69] Currently, community housing in the Northern Territory has a life cycle of less than ten years.

LGBT rights

In April 2008 the government proposed greater recognition of LGBT rights in Australia by announcing reforms to the recognition of same-sex relationships in taxation, health, employment, superannuation, aged care and other areas. However, these changes would not affect marriage, IVF access, and adoption rights. Originally, 58 Commonwealth laws where gay couples faced discrimination were identified in HREOC's year-long inquiry, "Same-Sex: Same Entitlements Inquiry", which was tabled in Parliament in June 2007.[70] An audit conducted by the government in early 2008 found around 100 Commonwealth laws where gay couples faced discrimination. [71][72] The last of the legislation to remove the discrimination that was identified in the reviews passed the Senate in November 2008.[73]

Legislation enacted

The following is a partial list of legislation enacted by the Rudd Government.[74]

  • Cross-Border Insolvency Bill 2008 Enacted 26 May 2008 - Implements the Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency adopted by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law by: establishing access to local courts by persons administering a foreign insolvency proceeding; establishing conditions for recognition of a foreign insolvency proceeding and granting relief to its participants; permitting participation by foreign creditors in such proceedings; enabling cooperation between courts and practitioners from different countries; enabling coordination of proceedings to take place concurrently in different countries; and empowering the Governor-General to make regulations under the Act.
  • Financial Sector Legislation Amendment (Review of Prudential Decisions) Bill 2008 Enacted 26 May 2008 - The Financial Sector Legislation Amendment (Review of Prudential Decisions) Bill 2008 amends the several Prudential Acts to improve the efficiency, transparency and consistency of the process for disqualifying individuals from operating financial sector entities and enhance the accountability of the regulator for administrative decision-making under the Prudential Acts, RSA Act and FSCODA. The amendments introduce a court-based process for disqualifying an individual from operating an entity regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), streamline APRA’s directions powers where appropriate, and remove ministerial consent from, and expand the availability of merits review for appropriate administrative decisions made by the regulator under the Prudential Acts and FSCODA.
  • A New Tax System (Luxury Car Tax Imposition) Amendment 2008 (3 Bills - Customs, Excise, General) Enacted 3 October 2008
  • Aged Care Amendment (2008 Measures) 2008 (2 Bills) Enacted 18 February 2008 (No. 1) and 9 December 2008 (No. 2)
  • Appropriation (Drought and Equine Influenza Assistance) (No. 1) 2007-2008 Enacted 18 February - Appropriates $506,905,000 to provide assistance for drought relief and equine influenza measures.
  • Appropriation (Drought and Equine Influenza Assistance) (No. 2) 2007-2008 Enacted 18 February - Appropriates $545,127,000 to provide assistance for drought relief and equine influenza measures.
  • Appropriation (Economic Security Strategy) No. 1 2008-2009 Enacted 1 December 2008 - Appropriates $146,054,000 for the Economic Security Strategy
  • Appropriation (Economic Security Strategy) No. 2 2008-2009 Enacted 1 December 2008 - Appropriates $1,184,833,000 for the Economic Security Strategy
  • Appropriation 2007-2008 (4 Bills) Enacted 8 April 2008 (No. 3, No. 4) and 24 June 2008 (No. 5, No. 6)
  • Appropriation 2008-2009 (2 Bills) Enacted 30 June 2008 (No. 1, No. 2)
  • Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) (No. 1) 2008-2009 Enacted 30 June 2008
  • AusLink (National Land Transport) Amendment 2008 Enacted 18 October 2008
  • Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority 2008 Enacted 8 December 2008
  • Australian Energy Market Amendment (Minor Amendments) 2008 Enacted 30 June 2008 - Amends the law relating to gas

See also

References

  1. ^ AAP (2007-12-03). "Rudd sworn in as PM". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2009-01-08.
  2. ^ "2020 summit not just another talkfestwork = The Australian". News Limited. 4 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
  3. ^ "Law Library > Global Legal Monitor > News and Events > Summit Recommends Republic". Law Library of Congress. Retrieved 10 March 2009.
  4. ^ Nine ideas adopted from Rudd's 2020 Summit
  5. ^ Buget speech
  6. ^ Swan outflanks Turnbull - National - smh.com.au
  7. ^ Boland, John (July–September 2008), "Questioning the solar change", ReNew, no. 104, pp. 30–32, Power engineering [and] instigating market signals [were not] considered in the budget deliberations.{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date format (link)
  8. ^ 29 November 2008 Communique
  9. ^ Swan confident stockpile will help fight inflation | smh.com.au; Swan has reprised election promises, though doesn't go much beyond that | theage.com.au; A real son of the ALP - Opinion - theage.com.au
  10. ^ Rudd forced to amend bank guarantee
  11. ^ Swan under growing pressure to guarantee states' debtThe Australian 23 March 2009 page 2
  12. ^ Rudd unveils $10.4 billion stimulus plan: The Age 14/10/2008
  13. ^ The Australian
  14. ^ Growth slumps: it's a recession The Australian Financial Review, 5 March 2009 Page 1
  15. ^ Rudd's $42 billion 'nation building' plan: Canberra Times 3/2/2009
  16. ^ States welcome Rudd's stimulus package: ABC 3/2/2009
  17. ^ Don't let debt become permanent - OECD: The Australian 3/2/2009
  18. ^ Turnbull bombshell: we'll oppose $42b package: SMH 4/2/2009
  19. ^ Australia govt faces upper house fight on stimulus: lse.co.uk 3/2/2009
  20. ^ Deal reached on stimulus package: SMH 13/2/2009
  21. ^ Harsh reality for Kevin 09 The Australian Financial Review, 5 March 2009 Page 1
  22. ^ [1] Australian Bureau of Statistics, 3 June 2009
  23. ^ Sid Marris (25 January 2008). "Labor pushes for national system". The Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  24. ^ Ross Gittins (2007-09-03). "Coalition and Labor narrow industrial relations gap". The Age. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  25. ^ "PM promises not to extend Work Choices". The Age. Fairfax. 2007-10-15. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
  26. ^ WorkChoice Lite? That's a load of emotive nonsense: The Age 29/11/2008
  27. ^ Grubb, Ben (8 April 2009). "Broadband network an expensive task". Opinion and Analysis. ABC News. Retrieved 2009-04-08.
  28. ^ Walters, Patrick (2008-11-14). "Defence Department defies Kevin Rudd on white paper". The Australia. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  29. ^ "Govt plans massive Defence boost to keep eye on region". ABC News. 2 May 2009. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
  30. ^ Maiden, Samantha (2008-03-05). "$1bn defence contract axed". The Australian. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  31. ^ Stewart, Cameron (2007-12-26). "Navy's new lethal subs". The Australian. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  32. ^ Rudd, Kevin (2008-06-02). Ministerial Statement on Iraq. Official Hansard for the Forty-second Parliament of Australia, House of Representatives, First Session – Second Period 7: pp. 3942-3948.
  33. ^ Unattributed (Winter 2008). "Downsizing: Australia draws down its forces in southern Iraq". Australian & NZ Defender. No. 62. pp. 22–28.
  34. ^ Ian Munro (27 January 2008). "Iraq withdrawal to go ahead, says Smith". The Age. Retrieved 2008-01-31.; Unattributed (Autumn 2009). "Iraq Ops". Australian & NZ Defender. No. 65. pp. 16–22.
  35. ^ Dodd, Mark (30 April 2009). "Expect more Afghanistan deaths says Kevin Rudd as force boosted to 1550". The Australian. Retrieved 4 May 2009.
  36. ^ Rodgers, Emma (4 June 2009). "Fitzgibbon resigns as Defence Minister". ABC News. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
  37. ^ Rule of reckless vows The Weekend Australian December 27/28 2008 page 20
  38. ^ "Rudd's renewable 2020 vision". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2007-10-31. Retrieved 2007-11-01.
  39. ^ Grose, Simon (September 2007). "The Great Carbon Trading Swindle". Australasian Science. Vol. 28, no. 8. pp. 37–38. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  40. ^ "Australia ratifies Kyoto Protocol". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2007-12-03. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
  41. ^ Garnaut, R. (2008-12-20). "Oiling the squeaks". Retrieved 2008-12-24.
  42. ^ Govt delays introduction of ETS
  43. ^ The $11 billion figure is derived from ABARE data published in:
    Garvey, Paul; Hepworth, Annabel; Forrestal, Luke (2009-10-13). "Skills shortage poses risk to recovery". The Australian Financial Review. pp. 1, 10. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
  44. ^ Ferguson, Martin (2009-10-22). "Preparing for a breakthrough in coal". The Australian Financial Review. p. 71. Retrieved 2009-11-01.
  45. ^ Mercer, Phil (31 March 2008). "Australia Seeks UN Security Council Seat". Voice of America. Retrieved 2009-04-08.
  46. ^ Shanahan, Dennis (2008-03-31). "Rudd pursues global role". The Australian. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 2009-09-22.
  47. ^ "Migrants the ALP isn't game to crow about". News Ltd. 16 May 2008.
  48. ^ Australia warns on migrant cuts: BBC News 26/10/2008
  49. ^ Rudd tougher on asylum seekers than Howard | The Courier-Mail
  50. ^ Labor 'tougher' on asylum seekers - National - theage.com.au
  51. ^ New Directions in Detention, Restoring Integrity to Australia's Immigration System: Hon Chris Evans Speech
  52. ^ Sweeping changes to mandatory detention announced: ABC News 29/7/2008
  53. ^ Australia abandons asylum policy: BBC News 29/7/2008
  54. ^ Rudd funds smuggler fight
  55. ^ Slow boat to tragedy
  56. ^ Sixth boat belies strong border claim The Australian 08-12-2008
  57. ^ [2]
  58. ^ [3]
  59. ^ Labor all at sea on asylum promises
  60. ^ Megalogenis, George (2009-10-24). "Labor in hold on refugee numbers". The Weekend Australian. p. 4. Retrieved 2009-10-30.
  61. ^ Text of the apology
  62. ^ Steve Lewis (28 January 2008). "Rudd in a hurry to say sorry". The Daily Telegraph. News Limited. Retrieved 2008-01-31.; "Tears in Melbourne as PM delivers apology". The Age. Fairfax. 13 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-13.; [4]; [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25049084-12377,00.html Kevin Rudd's apology to stolen generations 'a shield' over indigenous failures]; AAP (27 January 2008). "Apology will bridge indigenous gap: Rudd". The Age. Fairfax. Retrieved 2008-01-31.; "Govt sets Stolen Generations apology date". ABC News Online. ABC. 30 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-31.; "Thousands greet Stolen Generations apology". ABC News Online. ABC. 13 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-13. Kevin Rudd's apology to stolen generations 'a shield' over indigenous failures; One year anniversary of apology, but reparations still far off; Reconciliation prospects ride on first-anniversary Rudd report card; Rudd under fire a year after apology to Aborigines
  63. ^ "Govt promises action after apology". ABC News. ABC. 13 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-13.; Calma, Tom (2008-09-24). "UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Australia should sign". Koori Mail. No. 435. Lismore, NSW: Budsoar. p. 27.
  64. ^ Kevin Rudd's apology to stolen generations 'a shield' over indigenous failures
  65. ^ One year anniversary of apology, but reparations still far off
  66. ^ Reconciliation prospects ride on first-anniversary Rudd report card
  67. ^ Rudd under fire a year after apology to Aborigines
  68. ^ Rudd defends progress on closing the gap
  69. ^ Memmott, Paul (September/October 2008). "Delivering culturally appropriate Aboriginal housing". Architecture Australia. 97 (5): 61–64. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  70. ^ HREOC - Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Equality
  71. ^ Bryant, Nick (30 April 2008). "Australia to improve gay rights". BBC. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  72. ^ Schubert, Misha (30 April 2008). "Law reforms for gay couples". The Age. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  73. ^ Another win for gays: The Age 25/11/2008
  74. ^ [5]
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