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.

For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.

We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.

A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.

A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.

A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed.

A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.

A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia.

Lawmaker Advocates "Taking Out" Mecca

Once more government officials demonstrate that they have absolutely no understanding at all of this conflict.

"On Friday, Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., was asked by a talk show host how the United States should respond if terrorists struck several of its cities with nuclear weapons.

"Well, what if you said something like — if this happens in the United States, and we determine that it is the result of extremist, fundamentalist Muslims, you know, you could take out their holy sites," Tancredo answered.

"You're talking about bombing Mecca," said talk show host Pat Campbell of WFLA-AM in Orlando, Fla.

"Yeah," Tancredo responded."

Sure, Tancredo, that'll work. Moron.

Now Here's a Fair Cop

"A private developer contacted the local government in Supreme Court Justice David Souter's hometown in New Hampshire yesterday asking that the property of the judge who voted in favor of a controversial decision allowing a city to take residents' homes for private development be seized to make room for a new hotel."

World Net Daily

For those who are unaware of the recent supreme court decision, city governments now have the right to evict you from your home for minimal compensation and bulldoze it to make way for private, not public, eminent domain. (CNN)

I am personally hoping for developers to knock down each of the five justices' homes who voted in favor of this insane bit of legislation and replace them with a McDonald's or Subway, or some other wonderful example of American "progress".

The developer only needs three of the five votes on the city council to build the hotel. If you live in Weare, NH, contact your city council today and let them know how your town is in dire need of this hotel.