-
Day of Mourning
The 'Day of Mourning' occured on the 26th of January 1938 and occured on a day which was the 150th anniversary of the landing of the First Fleet in Australia. For this day there was a parade and partying. The mourners were forced to wait untill the parade at finished before they could march a silent protest to the Australian Hall. The mourners were not even allowed to enter the hall by the front door. This is important because Aboriginals were understanding they could achieve civil equality. -
Warburton Ranges Controversy
A report of a select committee whose role was to observe the state of Aborigines, was tabled in the Western Australian Parliament in December 1956. This committee made the case that the Commonwealth should fund their recomendations. The Commonwelath refused, saying that this was not possible under the Constitution. This controversy led to the first of the Civil rights campaigns. This is why this event is important. -
Period: to
Civil Rights Campaigns
Reconciliation is about the unity between the Aborignal, Torres Strait Islanders and non-indigenous. This theme of unity is why these campaigns are significant in the acheivement of indigenous rights. These campaigns were inspired by the efforts of the African American's protests in the same time period for their equality with the 'whites'. Aborigines took a peaceful approach to these protests. -
Period: to
A Campaign for Equal Wages
Campaign for equal wages in the 60's led to the Concilation and Arbitration Commission ruling on equal wages in the cattle industry in 1968 -
Period: to
Right too Vote Federally
The Commonwealth Electoral Act provided the right to vote and enroll in federal elections to the indigenous people. Despite the amendment, it was still illegal under the Commonwealth to encourage indigenous people to enrol to vote. Also during this year Western Australia allowed Aboriginal people to vote in the state election. Voter education began in the Northern Territory for Aborigines. -
The 1967 Referendum
On the 27th May 1967, 90.77% of the Australian voting block recorded the largest ever 'yes' vote in a referendum to alter the Australian constitution. Aborigines were to be counted in the national census and followed Commonwealth laws rather then state laws. The reason this is significant is because many Aboriginal people considered that changing the constiution would be essential in "...gaining formal recognition of their existance as people of their own country..." -
Goth Whitlam Passes the 'Racial Discrimination Act 1975'
The Whitlam government began to make laws such as the 'Racial Discrimination Act' for the Indigenous Australians. During this period of time the government also increased funding for Aboriginal affairs and created a commission to investigate land rights. This event is important because it is vital that the government should respond to the discrimination the Aboriginals faced. -
Goth Whitlam gives Land to the Gurandji People
On the 16th August 1975, Goth Whitlam handed over a lease of traditional land of Daguragu to the Gurindji people.This hapened after many years of Aboriginees fighting for their rights. This event is important because the government was finally responding to the injustices that the Aboriginal people faced. The famous photograph to the left is significant for Indigenous peoples' struggle for land rights because the Indigenous people had been fighting for their rights after such harsh injustices. -
Mabo v. Queensland Case
After a decade, the high court ruled that the land title of the Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders is too be recognised under common law. This event is vital for the movement because before this event the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders land ownership prior to the Mabo judgment was quite simply not fair. -
Paul Keating Responds to Mabo Descision
On the 15th of November, 1993, the Hon. Paul Keating gave a speech, responding to the High court case between Mabo and Queensland. To anyone listening to his speech it is clear that his primary aim was to dissolve any uncertainty amongst non-Indigenous Australians concerning the Mabo descision. Keating urged the Australian public to give "a fair go" and vividly decribed the Indigenous' roles and abounding connection to the land. Mabo was fiercely determined in this case againest Queensland. -
The Bringing Them Home Report
The Report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families was tabled in Federal Parliament. The report revealed to the public the devastation and the extent of the forcible removal policies which happened for over one hundered and fifty years. This event is important because people could finally recognise the hardship and sadness that the stolen generations had to go through. -
Little Children are Sacred
The Northern Territory government released the 'Ampe akelyernemane meke mekarl' (Little Children are Sacred' report). This report resulted in an inquiry into the sexual abuse of children within remote Aboriginal communities. It also discussed the violence and alcoholism in these communities. This report was important because it showed the general public that we should be concerned about the welfare of the Aboriginees. It also showed us that we should help and this led to the 'Intervention'. -
The Apology to the Stolen Generations
The apology to the Stolen Generations occured on the 13th of Febuary 2008. This apology delievered by the Australian Parliament was one of the most powerful and memorable moments in the nation's history. For far too long, prime ministers had ignored or frankly refused to apologise (most notable was John Howard who said there was "...nothing to say sorry for..." Saying sorry to the stolen generations is the closest to closure these sufferers can get.
