The Australian Greens say the Apology to the Stolen Generations rings hollow on its anniversary today because of policies which continue to penalise Aboriginal people.

"The Rudd Government's approach to Aboriginal Australia has not met the promise of the Prime Minister's strong statement a year ago today," said Australian Greens Indigenous Affairs spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert.

"The racist Northern Territory Intervention continues, and we have seen expansion of its punitive welfare quarantining elements into the Kimberley and the roll-out of school truancy trials."

"There is no direct funding for Aboriginal job programs in the Government's stimulus package. This is an opportunity where a lot could be achieved with very little effort."

"We are deeply concerned that the Government is axing the Community Development Employment Program (CDEP) at a time where jobs are being lost across the economy. It simply makes no sense to cut thousands of useful jobs in Aboriginal communities and force people onto welfare benefits."

"The Government need to ensure that CDEP positions are not lost, that services that are not being lost, and that the support in those communities at least continues or is replaced with real jobs," said Senator Siewert.

"When I've visited communities in the Northern Territory, I'm also told some children have been checked up to three times for their hearing, with no actual treatment or follow-up checks."

"It is clear that the divide between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians is still a wide obstacle for achieving equality. Reconciliation Australia's recently released biennial ‘barometer' found 72% of Australians felt specific help was needed to reach equality."

"The Greens have offered clear direction forward on righting the wrongs of previous generations, with our Stolen Generations Reparations Bill and measures to restore the Racial Discrimination Act in the NT. I call on the Government to bring on the debate in the Senate."

"To truly close the gap in inequality between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians, we will need a decade of real investment in services and programs. One year on, the apology is fading from a national milestone to an international embarrassment," she concluded.

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