Federal Opposition MPs are furious that Mr Rudd has frozen their salaries for the next 16 months in an effort to contain inflation. The former minister Tony Abbott says politicians are struggling to make ends meet on a backbencher’s base salary of $127,060.

“We have mortgages to pay, in many cases we have school fees, we have medical expenses, we have all the normal expenses that families have, and the only source of meeting those expenses is our parliamentary salaries,” Mr Abbott said. (Source)

I am afraid I have no sympathy for Mr Abbot. If Mr Abbot was a base backbencher he would earn two and a half times the average salary. If he can’t cope, how do those who less than the average cope with their families and children?

Most Australians only have their wage or salary. Very few have investments that do anything more than make sure they will be comfortable in their retirement. Mr Abbot, you are out so out of touch.

A sea of umbrellas gathered in Martin Place to watch our new Prime Minister say Sorry to the first Australians on behalf of the government, the parliament and the people of Australia. The motion was put:

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.

We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.

For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.

To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.

And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.

We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.

For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.

We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.

A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.

A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.

A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed.

A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.

A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia. Source

The motion was accompanied by a great and moving speech and some very practical propositions. Not only has Rudd said Sorry, but he has also committed to bring the quality of life for Indigenous Australians in to line with the non-indigenous Australians.