Darwin - An Australian court ruled yesterday that two "Stolen Generation" Aborigines, who were part of a government assimilation policy that saw thousands of children removed from their parents and sent to church missions or white families, could sue the government.
Federal Court Judge Maurice O'Loughlin dismissed an attempt by the Australian government to have the case struck out on the grounds that too much time had passed. He said the law suit of Ms Lorna Cubillo (60) and Mr Peter Gunner (51) was too important to dismiss.
"These cases are of such importance, not only to the individual applicants and to the larger Aboriginal community, but also to the nation as a whole, that nothing short of a determination. . . is warranted," Judge O'Loughlin said.
There are about 700 "Stolen Generation" Aborigines seeking damages from the government and 30,000 others who could take action if the two Northern Territory Aborigines are successful.