Australia's only Aboriginal bishop has called on his people to apologise for killing white settlers in the past. The Rt Revd Arthur Malcolm, Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of North Queensland, has said that both sides needed to apologise. He was speaking after Australia's Prime Minister and Federal Government had refused to respond to calls for a formal national apology for the so-called "stolen children". Aboriginal children removed forcibly from their parents over many decades.

A report recently tabled to Parliament by the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission had called for an apology for this policy, as well as for compensation.

But though the Prime Minister, John Howard, told a reconciliation convention that he, personally, was sorry for what had happened, he has so far refused to countenance a national response.

Bishop Malcolm says that in the early days of settlement, Aborigines, as well as white people, committed atrocities. Aborigines would apologise for this, when white people did: "Both groups have to come to agreement, and then we'll say sorry."

This has fuelled controversy. Other black leaders, and historians, have pointed out that killings by black people were few, in comparison with killings by whites.