I'm always saying sorry for something, usually when making a comment to the sprogs or the

Redhead before activating the brain.

Australians are big on saying sorry. The Brazilian parents of News reporter Flora Cauchi noted this while visiting over Christmas. ''We don't know any other place in the world where people are always saying sorry, without actually bumping into anyone,'' they said.

Historically, by uttering that simple word, one among just 361 in a healing statement of conciliation to all indigenous Australians, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has shown his

statesmanship.

No John Howard copycat here. He has proved that his consensus government will tackle the tough issues, free of ideology. Mean spiritedness did indeed go out the door with the Coalition's demise.

Even most of the familiar stragglers from that decimated right wing have joined Rudd in saying sorry to the Aborigines and others, especially those forcibly removed from their

families, for their pain, suffering and humiliation.

Mitchell federal MP Alex Hawke (Liberal) said he ''happily voted for the apology,'' noting it was a watershed event and he hoped

everyone would be better off.

For the temporary Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson it was touch and go. Just a week before finally joining Labor in mouthing the 'S'

word, he'd been dithering, reckoning grocery prices had a higher priority.

Not smart for a ''leader'' by so few votes over a cocksure and far more successful rival.

When Nelson criticised how long it took Saint Kevin to come up with the exact form of words, I thought it pretty rich coming from a bloke who helped the previous government thwart a national apology for more than 11 years.

Had Brendan and his mates not snubbed and patronised Aborigines for so long, an apology

would have come much sooner.

Now, if ''sorry'' didn't turn out to be the hardest word after all, it is only the beginning of a future, to use Rudd's words, ''based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual

responsibility.''

Responsibility carries a price. of course. The push for compensation has started already and it will be relentless.