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Federation
Furthered neglect of Aboriginal and TSI people. -
Immigration Restriction Act
Promoted "White Australia Policy" due to concern about immigrants being not of European descent. Reinforced exclusion on TSI and Aboriginal people. -
Commonwealth Franchise Act
Denies Aboriginal and TSI people right to vote in federal elections -
Period: to
World War I
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Australian Aboriginal Progress Association [AAPA] established
Est. by Fred Maynard -
Period: to
Great Depression
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Australian Aborigines League
Est. by William Cooper alongside others from Cummergunja Station in Melbourne -
Petition sent to Federal Govt.
From the AAL, containing 2000 signatures detailing the mistreatment of Aboriginal and TSI people, to be forwarded to King George VI. -
Aborigines Progressive Association
Est. in Dubbo, NSW by William Ferguson. Successful in campaigning to get the NSW Govt. to look into policies and administration of Aborigines Protection Boards. -
Day of Mourning [150th Anniversary of British Settlement]
William Cooper proposed day to be known as Day of Mourning. Committee [Cooper, Ferguson + Patten] produced statement "Aborigines Claim Citizenship Rights" to be presented to PM Joseph Lyons. -
Cummeragunja Walk-Off
200 of 300 people on Cummeragunja Station walked off in protest of the inhumane working conditions and lack of pay and adequate rations. First strike in Aboriginal history. -
Period: to
World War II
Aborigines conflicted over whether to fight or not. Over 3000 Aborigines fought in war. Segregated units only earned 1/3 of what mixed units did. Post-war benefits for returned soldiers not given to Indigenous soldiers. -
Able to apply for citizenship
Pros - right to vote, education
Cons - abandon communities and kinship groups, give up traditional culture -
Period: to
Commonwealth benefits include Indigenous people
eg. child endowment, aged and invalid pension. -
Aborginal segregated units go on strike
Refused to continue service, so govt. raised pay. Still not as high as mixed units. -
Period: to
Cold War
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Nationality and Citizenship Act
Aboriginal and TSI people are citizens by law, however there is not much change in circumstances for them. -
Strike in Darwin
250 Aboriginal workers employed in govt. departments went on strike, demanding better pay and working conditions. North Australians Workers Union gave support. Strike failed, two leaders were imprisoned. -
Petition by FCAATSI
Attempt to draw attention to Indigenous trials. Demanded change in the Constitution. -
Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders
est. 1958 in order to achieve civil rights for Indigenous Australians. -
Commonwealth Electoral Act
Specified that all Indigenous Australians can apply to vote but it not compulsory. -
Yolngu Bark Petition
Petition mounted on bark sent to govt. to proclaim Yolngu rights to the land. -
Freedom Rides
Led by Charles Perkins and organised by the SAFA to increase awareness of poor Aboriginal treatment in rural towns -
Wave Hill Walk-Off
200 Aboriginal stockmen + their families walked off Wave Hill Station led by Vincent Lingari. Camped on their traditional lands and protest soon morphed into land rights. Gained support from Brian Manning and others, who started a strike fund. -
Petition for land rights
500 square m run co-op as cattle farm and mining lease -
Referendum
Let Aboriginals utilize voting rights and let them be counted in the census and allow laws to be made for Aboriginals at a federal level -
Tent Embassy
Protest for land rights fueled by the conflict between mining company NABCO and the Millirrpum people over land. -
PM Gough Whitland visits site of Wave Hill Strike
He pours dirt into Vincent Lingiari's hand, symbolising the transfer of land rights from the govt. to the Gunrindji people. -
Aboriginal Land Rights Act NT
Provided legal way for Aboriginals to claim their land without fighting over it with other people/companies.