Developments in Developments in government government

policies towards policies towards AboriginalsAboriginals

CHANGING POLICIESCHANGING POLICIES

Protectionism 1886-1938 ?Protectionism 1886-1938 ? Assimilation1938- ?Assimilation1938- ? Integration1962-1967 ?Integration1962-1967 ? Self Determination1967- ?Self Determination1967- ? MulticulturalismMulticulturalism ReconciliationReconciliation

ProtectionProtection This was government policy This was government policy

during the second half of the during the second half of the 1800s and into the early 1900s. 1800s and into the early 1900s.

Aboriginal people were removed Aboriginal people were removed from their traditional lands and from their traditional lands and placed on reserves (government-placed on reserves (government-run) or missions (church-run). run) or missions (church-run).

The government argument was The government argument was that this was done ‘for their own that this was done ‘for their own protection’, as they were a protection’, as they were a ‘dying race’. ‘dying race’.

It was really a policy of It was really a policy of segregation where Aboriginal segregation where Aboriginal culture could be replaced by culture could be replaced by white culture under the control white culture under the control of the authorities and they could of the authorities and they could be ‘civilised’ and ‘christianised’. be ‘civilised’ and ‘christianised’.

It also allowed land previously It also allowed land previously occupied by Aborigines to occupied by Aborigines to become pastoral land. become pastoral land.

Aboriginal children at an outback Aboriginal children at an outback missionmission

ProtectionProtection Aborigines had to seek Aborigines had to seek

permission to marry, to work permission to marry, to work or to move somewhere else or to move somewhere else to live. to live.

‘‘Mixed blood’ or ‘mixed race’ Mixed blood’ or ‘mixed race’ children were removed from children were removed from their families, the Stolen their families, the Stolen Children, and brought up with Children, and brought up with white families and taught white families and taught ‘useful’ skills such as ‘useful’ skills such as domestic work and simple domestic work and simple trades. They were labelled as trades. They were labelled as neglected and destitute and neglected and destitute and Australian governments had Australian governments had had a long policy of removing had a long policy of removing children ‘at risk’ from their children ‘at risk’ from their families. It happened on a families. It happened on a large scale with Aboriginal large scale with Aboriginal children.children.Stolen childrenStolen children

AssimilationAssimilation This government policy was This government policy was

introduced in 1951 by Paul introduced in 1951 by Paul Hasluck, Federal Minister for Hasluck, Federal Minister for Territories. Territories.

Aborigines were encouraged Aborigines were encouraged to ‘think white, act white, be to ‘think white, act white, be white’ with the intent that white’ with the intent that they would eventually live they would eventually live like white Australians. like white Australians.

It forced Aborigines to It forced Aborigines to totally abandon their totally abandon their traditional way of life if they traditional way of life if they wanted to gain access to wanted to gain access to what was offered such as a what was offered such as a degree of freedom from the degree of freedom from the intrusions of the intrusions of the government in their lives on government in their lives on the reserves and missions. the reserves and missions.

Training to be white: Kinchella Training to be white: Kinchella boys homeboys home

AssimilationAssimilation However, discrimination However, discrimination

continued in all areas continued in all areas including housing, education, including housing, education, health and employment. health and employment.

Even returned Aboriginal Even returned Aboriginal soldiers were denied the same soldiers were denied the same rights as their fellow, white, rights as their fellow, white, soldiers. soldiers.

In 1962 all Aborigines were In 1962 all Aborigines were given the right to vote in given the right to vote in federal elections, which federal elections, which consolidated their voting consolidated their voting rights in the states which had rights in the states which had been given to them at various been given to them at various times between 1949 and 1961 times between 1949 and 1961 and had made them citizens and had made them citizens of Australia. of Australia. Training to be white: Cootamundra Training to be white: Cootamundra

girls homegirls home

IntegrationIntegration Occurred 1962-1967Occurred 1962-1967 Although assimilation still Although assimilation still

remained the words defining remained the words defining ‘assimilation’ were changed in ‘assimilation’ were changed in 1965 which seemed to allow 1965 which seemed to allow Aborigines to retain some of Aborigines to retain some of their cultural ideas, beliefs and their cultural ideas, beliefs and customs, and implied a greater customs, and implied a greater acceptance of their culture and acceptance of their culture and relationship with the land. The relationship with the land. The granting of the vote in 1962 to granting of the vote in 1962 to all Aborigines embraced this ideaall Aborigines embraced this idea

The 1967 referendum, which The 1967 referendum, which gave the federal government gave the federal government power over Aboriginal affairs power over Aboriginal affairs (instead of the states), was (instead of the states), was passed with a massive majority. passed with a massive majority.

The referendum also passed for The referendum also passed for Aboriginals to be counted in Aboriginals to be counted in census.census.

Self DeterminationSelf Determination It was introduced during the first Whitlam government It was introduced during the first Whitlam government

in 1972. in 1972. Racial Discrimination Act had wider implications for all Racial Discrimination Act had wider implications for all

future Aboriginal policy makersfuture Aboriginal policy makers Aborigines were to have full control over all aspects of Aborigines were to have full control over all aspects of

their lives. ATSIC was established to help formulate their lives. ATSIC was established to help formulate policy. It was disbanded by John Howard.policy. It was disbanded by John Howard.

They were no longer seen as a dying race. They were no longer seen as a dying race. They no longer had to be protected. They no longer had to be protected. They were no longer expected to assimilate or They were no longer expected to assimilate or

integrate. integrate. They were now full and equal citizens in the eyes of the They were now full and equal citizens in the eyes of the

law. law. Land rights and native title to traditional lands now Land rights and native title to traditional lands now

became the major issues. became the major issues.

1975 Racial Discrimination Act1975 Racial Discrimination Act In 1976 the Fraser government passed the Aboriginal In 1976 the Fraser government passed the Aboriginal

Land Rights Act. Aboriginals were allowed to claim Land Rights Act. Aboriginals were allowed to claim ‘crown land’ that was not being used by other people. ‘crown land’ that was not being used by other people. The Aboriginal Lands Council was set up to control this The Aboriginal Lands Council was set up to control this land. Several state governments passed their own Land land. Several state governments passed their own Land Rights Acts which recognised Aboriginal claims to land.Rights Acts which recognised Aboriginal claims to land.

In 1980 a National Federation Land Councils was set up. In 1980 a National Federation Land Councils was set up. Organisations such as this helped to bring the issue of Organisations such as this helped to bring the issue of land rights to the attention of white Australia.land rights to the attention of white Australia.

In 1985 Aboriginal people were given ownership of In 1985 Aboriginal people were given ownership of Ayers Rock, now known by its traditional name of Uluru.Ayers Rock, now known by its traditional name of Uluru.

MULTICULTURALISM

MulticulturalismMulticulturalism 1986 Eddie Mabo begins his 1986 Eddie Mabo begins his

case for Native title. In 1992 case for Native title. In 1992 the High Court determines the High Court determines that the Meriam people hold that the Meriam people hold native title to their land.native title to their land.

Native Title Act of 1993 was Native Title Act of 1993 was passed and National Native passed and National Native Title Tribunal was established Title Tribunal was established

Many people feared Native Many people feared Native Title and it was incorrectly Title and it was incorrectly believed that Aboriginals believed that Aboriginals would be able to claim would be able to claim peoples “backyards” under peoples “backyards” under the act. This led to legislation the act. This led to legislation changes in some states.changes in some states.

Eddie MaboEddie Mabo

ReconciliationReconciliation In 1997 The Native Title In 1997 The Native Title

Amendment Act was introduced Amendment Act was introduced making it more difficult to register making it more difficult to register a claim and limiting the areas that a claim and limiting the areas that can be claimed under Native Title.can be claimed under Native Title.

In 1998 the first "National Sorry In 1998 the first "National Sorry Day" was held, and reconciliation Day" was held, and reconciliation events were held nationally, and events were held nationally, and attended by millions people.attended by millions people.

In May 2000, a "Walk for In May 2000, a "Walk for Reconciliation" was staged in Reconciliation" was staged in Sydney, with up to 400,000 people Sydney, with up to 400,000 people marching across the Sydney marching across the Sydney Harbour Bridge as a gesture of Harbour Bridge as a gesture of apology. apology.

2008 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd 2008 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologizes.apologizes.

Impact of Kevin Rudd’s Apology “We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.

We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.

For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their

descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKWfiFp24rA