This page contains current and previous news items from the homepage.

2009

2008

April 08: ABC Series “History Under Siege”

February 13: Stolen Generations – Historic Apology

On 13 February 2008 the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, and opposition leader Brendon Nelson addressed Parliament with an official apology on behalf of the Government and Parliament to the Indigenous People of Australia for the previous policies of forced removal of Aboriginal children from their families.

Prime Minister of Australia – Apology to Australia’s Indigenous Peoples

“—I move:
That 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. … ”

Read transcript of the Prime Minister’s full address

The Hon Dr Brendan Nelson MP, Leader of the Opposition: We Are Sorry

“Mr Speaker, members of this 42nd Parliament of Australia, visitors and all Australians.
In rising to speak in support of this motion, I recognise the Ngunnawal, first peoples of this Canberra land.
Today our nation crosses a threshold.
We formally offer an apology to those Aboriginal people forcibly removed from their families through the first seven decades of the twentieth century.
In doing so, we reach from within ourselves to our past, those whose lives connect us to it and in deep understanding of its importance to our future.
We will be at our best today – and every day – if we pause to place ourselves in the shoes of others, imbued with the imaginative capacity to see this issue through their eyes with decency and respect. … ”

Read transcript of the full Brendan Nelson address

2007

September 12: Open letter to Hon Ms Julie Bishop and Hon Mr Stephen Smith
President of the HTAA, Nick Ewbank addresses an open letter to Hon Ms Julie Bishop and Hon Mr Stephen Smith, regarding the Australian History Curriculum.

August 12: Australia – China Project

June 27: Response to History Curriculum Review Panel
President of the HTAA, Nick Ewbank is cautiously supportive of the reference panel announced earlier this week by Commonwealth Education Minister Julie Bishop.

June 27: Reviewing history: Whose interpretation do we go by?
President of the HTAA, Nick Ewbank reflects on the Crikey website about the appointment of a panel to review the draft model Australian History curriculum.

June 5: HTAA Annual Conference 2007
HTAA Annual Conference in SYDNEY 2007 from Tuesday 2nd – Friday 5th October, Shome School Blue Street, North Sydney

June 1: Asia Education e-alert
Linking Latitudes India – a conference that will take you places
September 30 – October 4, 2007

2006

October 8: Response to Education Minister’s Speech
HTAA President Nick Ewbank responds to the Education Minister Julie Bishop’s opening speech at the Association’s 2006 National Conference.

October 8: Pushing Boundaries not Pushing Barrows
“Telling Tales Inside of School” (HTAA Conference 2006) by Bill Leadbetter, Edith Cowan University

September 19: History Teachers push the boundaries
Announcement of the History Teachers’ of Australia (HTAA) 2006 National Conference at The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Fremantle Campus from October 5 – 8.

September 13: 2006 Anzac Day Schools’ Awards Winners
Media Release by the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs

August 31: The Australian History Summit
One Participant’s View of Proceedings, Outcomes and Implications of the Australian History Summit at Parliament House, Canberra 17 August 2006

August: Support History Teaching
Authored by Nick Ewbank, President of the History Teachers’ Association of Australia

September 12: HTAA National Journal 2006
The Australian History Teacher, National Journal of the HTAA 2006