FED: Snr govt figure says stolen apology could pass = 2

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-1999
FED: Snr govt figure says stolen apology could pass = 2

Senator Ridgeway helped Mr Howard work out a compromise position on the constitutional
preamble for the November republic referendum to provide recognition to indigenous people.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported Senator Ridgeway would call for a conscience vote but
Senator Heffernan said this may not be required.

"I would have thought that given the right, correct form of words that a conscience vote
shouldn't be necessary because I would have thought that all Australians would support the
right form of words to reflect what has gone on in the past," he said.

He also said there were a lot of games being played on the apology issue and some people
did not want a solution.

But he believed a parliamentary motion would reflect goodwill in the wider community and a
desire to come to terms with what had happened in the past.

"I think Aden Ridgeway has certainly come to the parliament with a lot of goodwill and I
think the government is going down the path of reflecting the goodwill of the community and I
think the evolution of goodwill will eventually lead to a solution on the stolen generation."

It is not the first time Senator Heffernan has been involved with indigenous issues,
earlier this year he ensured dozens of ceremonial spears confiscated by police were returned
to an indigenous protest outside Parliament House.

AAP msl/arb/br

KEYWORD: SORRY HEFFERNAN 2 CANBERRA

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