Office Pro 2010 Key Lib candidate to acknowledge R

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A Liberal candidate seeking to be the first indigenous member of the House of Representatives has pledged to acknowledge Kevin Rudd in his maiden speech if elected.

Ken Wyatt, a former director of Aboriginal Health in Western Australia and NSW, is fighting to win the marginal seat of Hasluck in Perth,Office 2007 Professional Plus, held by Labor with a margin of 0.9 per cent.

Mr Wyatt's mother Mona Phyllis Abdullah was taken from her parents when she was about five and placed into Roelands mission, south of Perth.

The candidate said despite being on the other side of politics, one of the first things he wants to do if elected is acknowledge former Labor prime minister Rudd for his apology to the stolen generation in 2009.

"When he delivered his address to the house that day, being a typical macho male I really didn't think the emotions would impact me as much as they were," Mr Wyatt told AAP.

"I must admit I was sitting there with tears because I knew what my mother and her brothers and sisters had gone through,Office 2010 Professional, particularly knowing the abuse that happened to her.

"I wish my mother was alive and (could have) have seen."

Mr Wyatt said when the tears flowed down his face,Microsoft Office 2007 Standard, he was probably feeling the relief that the pain of her experiences were being acknowledged.

He said he would use his maiden speech if elected,Office Pro 2010 Key, to recognise Mr Rudd for what he did.

"I think he is a man whose worthy of such consideration."

Several Liberal MPs,Office 2010 Professional Plus Key, including West Australians Wilson Tuckey and Don Randall were absent from the house when Mr Rudd delivered the apology.

Mr Tuckey said on that early morning he had come to "say hallelujah".

"Tomorrow there will be no petrol sniffing. Tomorrow little girls can sleep in their beds without any concern. It's all fixed."

Mr Wyatt said he had been asked by a friend how he could stand for a party that refused to apologise and had MPs who chose to snub the apology.

"My response was, unless you become part of an organisation you cannot change it from the outside," he said.

"By virtue of being a member you can have the debate. Periods occur when people have to be reminded their behaviour and comments are inappropriate.

"I have no reservations about challenging and standing up to them on that issue."

Deputy Liberal Leader Julie Bishop said Mr Wyatt was an outstanding individual whose lifestyle experiences and story were inspiring.

Ms Bishop said he would bring a wealth of expertise to areas of indigenous health and education, something that was "very dear to Tony Abbott's heart".

Mr Wyatt said that if he was elected he would push for a scheme in which young indigenous people in prison could undertake adult education and come out with a qualification.

He said it would encourage indigenous people leaving prison to seek employment and enhance their job prospects.

Mr Wyatt would also push for stronger links between the education and health sectors to fill the likely job shortages in hospitals which will occur in the coming years.

"I can't see when the education system is not talking to health saying `What type of classes do you need? Great, we will now train 50 Aboriginal kids to become competent in those areas'," he said.

"Or we will start them on the journey to become a physiotherapist or a nurse."