At the Apology

So we managed to make it to the apology this morning, with plenty of time thanks to a bit of parking-fu and managing to get both the boy and I organised in time.

We went to the Parliamentary forecourt first, to see the big queue of people wanting to get in.

Parliamentary forecourt queue

Parliamentary forecourt queue 2

I always knew that wasn't going to be possible in time given how long it can take to get through security, so headed down to where the big screens were between Old Parliament House and the new one.  There was sort of an expectant feeling about the place, almost tense.  It filled up pretty quickly, with families, indigenous people who'd travelled here for it, and a number of public servants from the local buildings.

Once things got underway a feeling of relief and joy was pretty evident, with a wonderful bit of spontaneous laughter from the crowd when, as Rudd announced a joint commission between the Government and the Opposition, the camera cut away to a clearly uncomfortable Brendan Nelson.  Long and prolonged applause, plus a few tears about the place, came at the end of Rudd's speech. 

As speeches go it wasn't quite one of the best pieces of Australian political oratory we've heard, but, suiting Rudd's style, it struck me as functional and covering all the bases it needed to without any overtly rhetorical flourishes.  He's no Paul Keating working with Don Watson, put it that way.  The occasion, however, will put it down in history.  There should be a full copy of the Parliamentary speech available soon, I haven't been able to locate a copy yet (will update this with a direct Hansard link tomorrow).

Then Brendan Nelson started speaking.  I'm not exactly sure at what point people started turning their backs to the screen (it may have been around the bit about compensation seguing into the clumsy ANZAC link), but it sort of seemed to sweep across the gathering - independent of the same thing occurring in the Great Hall at the same time.

Nelson finished speaking and, as the Speaker received a gift from the indigenous elders present and Anthony Albanese took care of the adjournment machinations, the crowd started breaking up and going their separate ways, with the boy and I again walking up to the forecourt before heading home. 

I'm tremendously glad I went, and that I took my son with me (noting that he spent most of the time charming those around us).  There's something to be said for the collective experience of warmth, gratitude and relief that was there.  But now the hard work begins - Rudd made a number of commitments which his Government now will be under deserved pressure to achieve.  The apology wasn't really ever going to be the end of the issue.  As he noted, it's more of a beginning.  This is a good day.