Dutton apologises for boycotting Rudd’s apology to stolen generations

Opposition leader says he ‘failed to grasp’ significance of 2008 apology but insists those questioning Indigenous voice are not ‘hardhearted’

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The opposition leader, Peter Dutton, has expressed his regret directly to members of the stolen generations for not attending the Rudd government’s 2008 apology, saying he failed to grasp “the symbolic significance” of the moment at the time.

But Dutton said those questioning the Indigenous voice to parliament were “not hardhearted” after the prime minister, Anthony Albanese, used the 15th anniversary of the stolen generations apology to argue the referendum was the next stage in Australia’s reconciliation process.

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