It's the dirt they don't like

I have often wondered why it is that the Australian government won't apologise for the Stolen Generation. I have always thought it must have to do with not admitting responsibility for the actions of previous government and thus leaving themselves open to litigation. Or why they don't want to apologise for the stuff-up of AWB or the Iraq War, or admit to any meddling in the Haneef case.

Perhaps it's the Howard government taking the lead of the Republicans in America where they don't admit to anything, no matter how blatant it is.

Finally the cat it out of the bag, and it's really not that conspiratorial. They just don't like the taste of dirt.

Dr Haneef's lawyer, Peter Russo, said the government owed Haneef an apology and signalled there might be legal action over damage to his reputation.

But Mr Downer said the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions and the Australian Federal Police had said all they wanted to say about the matter.

"What do you expect them to do - fall on the ground and grovel, eat dirt? I mean, get real," he told reporters at Sydney airport.

See, obviously when you apologise, you don't vocalise the word "Sorry", that would be for the common, normal people. None of this nancy-boy "I'm sorry for meddling in the affairs of the AFP for political gain". No, proper apologies involve grovelling and eating dirt, cause let's face it, the last time someone apologised to me, they grabbed a handful of A-grade topsoil and munched away till it made them sick. It was obviously the only form of apology I will accept as Mr Downer rightly notes.

You wouldn't apologise either if that's what you had to do. It's all very reasonable and not at all over the top to deflect the question, if you think about it...