Last 27 December I wrote of the importance of symbols. On 3 December 2007, the same day Kevin Rudd was sworn in as Australia’s 26th Prime Minister, his first act as PM was to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. Only blind Freddy wouldn’t deem that a highly symbolic gesture. But then Mr Rudd topped it with an even more symbolic one: he said Sorry to the Stolen Generations. So humbly and graciously and eloquently, there wasn’t a dry eye in the House – or outside it. I’m not a bleeding heart lefty liberal, but I truly thought we’d unearthed a PM who understood the importance of symbols, and who was demonstrating genuine empathy and sympathy. Wrong, Farmdoc. Mr Rudd’s Sorry speech was exactly one year ago today, and since then there’s been no public evidence of any superstructure being built on its foundation. Veteran aboriginal activist and lawyer Mick Dodson is the 2009 Australian of the Year. That’s another symbol, folks. But it’s not superstructure. Professor Dodson immediately proposed a symbolic move of Australia Day from 26 January, which indigenous Australians call Invasion Day. PM Rudd and Opposition Leader Turnbull both summarily dismissed that symbolic proposal – no debate, no discussion, no nothing. Makes me think Mr Rudd’s Sorry was a sham. But perhaps all this doesn’t matter, because a poll’s shown most Australians don’t know what 26 January commemorates anyway.
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