Kevin Rudd Sorry Speech

Kevin Rudd Sorry Speech

In this speech by Kevin Rudd (The Prime Minister of the time) from Parliament House on February 13th 2008 made an apology to “the stolen generation” His contention was to inform the indigenous community of the governments ‘wrong doings’ to their people in the past. Using an apologetic tone other elements to form a cohesive, formal speech.

Kevin Rudd argues that “this apology will right many wrongs in Australian history’ when using a remorseful tone about the way he “mistreated” those who were the “stolen Generation”. He goes on and comments about how he wants to make amends to the aboriginal that were treated badly by most Australian and himself. He uses a metaphor “A new chapter” wanting to start fresh from all the wrongdoings that was caused. “We apologies for” has been repeated in his speech where he says sorry on behalf of Australia for moving the Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islander for taking away their children and their own country. This repetition of “We apologise for”, continuously reinstates the previous Prime Ministers contention to the audience, to making sure his message is successfully conveyed.

The Prime minister goes on about how “we need to say sorry for many, many wrongs and justice committed towards the Indigenous Australian”. He admits on behalf of Australian “we say sorry” to all the “pain and suffering” that have been caused towards the indigenous people. Using emotive language, pain and suffering Kevin convinces the audience of his contention, which is to make up for all the wrongs that have been done by the government in the past. He continues in inclusive language when saying “we” representing the Parliament of Australia, which he wants the aboriginal’s forgiveness to so that we could start a “new healing of nation”. By using inclusive language Kevin Rudd wants the audience to know that on behalf of the Parliament of Australia he is truly sorry.