Australia through Aboriginal Eyes

Australia’s wealth and development are, unfortunately, not equally enjoyed by all of its people. Today, indigenous communities in Australia are denied equal treatment and are gravely excluded from access to basic services and opportunities. World Policy Journal has compiled a set of key events and facts that portrait the struggle of the aboriginal people of Australia, and that could pave the road towards a new dialogue in the following months.

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1915-10-01 00:00:00

Introduction

Since the arrival of the first British settlers in the 17th century, Australian aborigines and their communities have been excluded from state dynamics and denied basic rights. For two centuries, settlers and aborigines were in constant violent confrontation. Some cases such as the Richmond Hill battle in 1795 and the Black War of Tasmania in 1803 have been defined as genocide attempts by many experts. It was until 1802 that natives were protected from cruelty and injustice by a royal proclamation. However, this statement had limited effect on improving the living conditions of aboriginal communities. The Commonwealth Constitution established in the twentieth century explicitly denied indigenous people’s rights and labeled them “not slaves nor citizens.” These events have shaped the complex relation between aborigines and non-aborigines is still source of tension today. Click on the following link to read Pauline Moullot's piece Whither the Aborigine on World Policy Journal's fall issue.

1918-09-28 11:03:42

The Northern Territory Aboriginal Ordinance Act

As a preamble to the creation of the Commonwealth administration in Australia, the South Australian Parliament passed the Northern Territory Aboriginals Act. This document segregated abrogines and confined them to reserves in remote territories. It also established a system of aboriginal employment.

1962-10-01 00:00:00

Right to vote

The Commonwealth Electoral Act gave the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people the right to vote.

1967-10-01 00:00:00

Steps towards recognition

Two references in the Australian Constitution which discriminated against aboriginal people were removed. Indigenous were included in the national census for the first time.

1998-10-01 00:00:00

10 Point Plan

The Native Title Amendment Act or 10 Point Plan was a Native Title Law proposed by Prime Minister John Howard that placed restrictions on native claims over land. It created the National Native Title Tribunal and claimed that state governments have the power to extinguish Native Titles for matters of "national interest" at any given time. This opened a debate around land titles that is still a main issue between aboriginal communities and the government.

2004-04-15 00:00:00

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) disappears

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) was the goverment body through which aborigines carried out political affairs that concerned their communities. In 2004 the government abolished ATSIC under corruption allegations and rape scandals. This limited aboriginal representation in the government. The agency was later replaced by smaller offices and departments that did not properly represent the aborigines.

2007-07-21 00:00:00

National Emergency Response in the Northern Territory

Prime Minister John Howard launched a military intervention in the Northern Territories in response to a child abuse scandal.

2007-09-13 00:00:00

U.N Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People

The United Nations adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.

2012-09-04 21:33:13

First Indigenous person in the House of Representatives

Ken Wyatt became the first indigenous person elected to the House of Representatives.

2014-03-25 11:32:45

Ratification of U.N Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People

Australia's Liberal government ratified the U.N Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.

2014-11-01 15:48:28

Closing 150 communities

Premier Colin Barnett announced the closing up of 150 remote aboriginal communities in Australia.

2015-03-10 15:48:28

Abott supports Barnett

Prime Minister Tony Abbott visited Kalgoorlie, a town of under 30,000 people in Central Western Africa and commented that the government “can’t endlessly subsidize lifestyle choices,” which infuriated many.

2015-09-10 10:15:38

Tony Abbot's resignation

Tony Abbott resigned after being defeated by Malcolm Turnbull in the Liberal leadership ballot. Turnbull became the new Prime Minister.

2015-09-30 15:48:28

Ken Wyatt became Minister

Ken Wyatt became the first indigenous person to be sworn in as a Minister and to make it to the Federal Parliament.

2017-05-31 15:48:28

Referendum due

Tony Abbot vowed to grant constitutional recognition for indigenous people through a referendum due on May 2017.

Australia through Aboriginal Eyes

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