To listen to the Apology or to watch video, click here

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's apology motion has been tabled in Parliament:

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.

The Apology on the ABC

South-east NSW to hold 'sorry' ceremonies

Today's formal apology to Aboriginal Australians will be marked by a series of ceremonies across south-east New South Wales.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd used the word sorry three times when he made the apology to the Stolen Generations in Federal Parliament this morning.

Shire councils, schools and TAFE colleges on the far south coast, Monaro, and high country will mark the occasion with flag raising ceremonies.

Representatives of the region's Aboriginal lands councils are already in Canberra to hear the apology read out.

The federal Member for Eden-Monaro, Mike Kelly, says today's apology will usher in a new era of reconciliation in Australia.

"This is a wonderfully historic day and we are all very excited about it," he said.

"The community I think has really gotten behind this event because of what it symbolises. Yesterday was magnificent as well in having the 'Welcome to Country' ceremony for the first time in the history of the Parliament.

"Now is really a perfect illustration of the difference between the dark years we have been through and now the situation that we can move on."

Meanwhile, an Aboriginal leader is calling for compensation for the Stolen Generations.

Bega Land Council's David Dixon says today's apology from the Prime Minister is the first step toward reconciliation.

He says many Yuin-Monaro people had their children taken away and want to see the Federal Government make amends.

"There was something wrong done to people, there was a lot of hurt and it's still affecting generations of people and, yes, there should be compensation for the Stolen Generations," he said.

"I think it was a pretty systematic thing that was done. It was Australian government policy, so it affected a lot of families from all over Australia, including south-east NSW."

The federal Liberal Member for Gilmore, Joanna Gash, says she supports the apology, but will be addressing Parliament tomorrow to outline her personal position on the topic.

She says she agrees that an apology should be made, but would like the right to speak.

"I believe there is some time set aside for the following day which I'll be making use of, I've already put my name on the list to do so and I'll forward that speech to my constituents in the electorate," she said.

"I understand the apology and I agree with the apology, but I want to put some personal issues into it as well."

From the ABC