The Motion of Reconciliation was a motion to the Australian Parliament introduced on 26 August 1999. Drafted by Prime Minister John Howard (Liberal Party) in consulation with Aboriginal Senator Aden Ridgeway (Democrat), it dedicated the Parliament to the "cause of reconciliation" and recognised historic maltreatment of indigenous Australians as the "most blemished chapter" in Australian history.
Labor Party Proposed Amendment
Kim Beazley, leader of the opposition Labor Party, unsuccessfully proposed an amendment stating that the Parliament: "unreservedly apologises to indigenous Australians for the injustice they have suffered, and for the hurt and trauma that many indigenous people continue to suffer as a consequence of that injustice; and calls for the establishment of appropriate processes to provide justice and restitution to members of the stolen generation through consultation, conciliation and negotiation rather than requiring indigenous Australians to engage in adversarial litigation in which they are forced to relive the pain and trauma of their past suffering".
Upon taking office in 2007, the Government of Kevin Rudd (Labor Party) did offer a "National Apology", however without proposing a compensation or restitution process. The 2007 motion passed through Parliament with the bi-partisan support of the Liberal-National Party Opposition.