HERITAGE Minister Peter Garrett’s Saturday refusal to consider the possibility of an apology to the victims of the Aboriginal Wars at Myall Creek was disappointing.

The call had been made by Myall Creek Memorial Trust co-chairman – and massacre survivor descendant – Lyall Munro Senior.

It came at the same time consideration is being given to a memorial to the indigenous victims of the Aboriginal wars on Anzac Parade in Canberra.

Mr Garrett, arguably one of the less straight-jacketed members of the Federal Cabinet, could have been expected to indicate some sympathy – to take the idea on board and say he would investigate further.

The former composer of anthems to truth and justice chose not to do so – although he was more than happy to use the television media presence at Myall Creek to send a very different message to that of his Prime Minister on the Henson photo debate.

He argued police should not be knocking on the doors of art galleries – regardless of what images they

contained.

Mr Garrett initially told The Leader the apology of February 13 and Saturday’s announcement of Myall Creek as a National Heritage site effectively covered Mr Munro’s apology call.

Australians should follow the reconciliation process to see where it led.

Asked if the reconciliation process could lead to an apology of the type being sought by Mr Munro, Mr Garrett and his minders indicated the conversation was over.

This is not good enough.

The February 13 apology was, quite clearly, an apology to the Stolen Generations with some motherhood statements on the fringe.

It was not an apology for the physical act of dispossession of the Aboriginal peoples.

By keeping the terms of the first apology quite specific the Rudd Government left the door open for further claims such as Mr Munro’s.

Mr Garrett, by highlighting the significance of the massacre at Myall Creek in the Aboriginal Wars through the National Heritage listing, has himself put this issue on the table.

He shouldn’t walk away from it.