The former governor-general, Sir William Deane, has urged all non-Aboriginal Australians to apologise for the injustices against indigenous people in the past.

Sir William helped open stage one of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture in Canberra.

He stressed the importance of reconciliation to the future of the nation.

"As we stand on the threshold of our second century as a nation, let us heed the call of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation's final declaration, let those of us who are not indigenous, acknowledge all the injustices of the past and apologise and express our sorrow and sincere regret," he said.