Indigenous Rights Movement

Commonwealth of Australia formed.

1901

Commonwealth of Australia formed. Indigenous Australians are excluded from the census and the lawmaking powers of the Commonwealth Parliament.
White Australia Policy. Indigenous people are excluded from the vote, pensions, employment in post offices, enlistment in Armed Forces, maternity allowance.

Day of Mourning

1938

Day of Mourning held by the Aborigines League and the Aborigines Progressive Association(1937).

All Indigenous people are given the vote in Commonwealth elections.

1962

All Indigenous people are given the vote in Commonwealth elections.

Referendum held yes to count Indigenous Australians.

1967

Referendum held - 90.7% of Australians vote YES to count Indigenous Australians in the census and to give the Commonwealth Government the power to make laws for them.

Tent Embassy established outside Parliament House

1972

Tent Embassy established outside Parliament House. It adopts the Indigenous flag.
Whitlam Government elected; White Australia policy abolished. Department of Aboriginal Affairs established. Self-determination adopted as policy for Indigenous people.

Whitlam hands back title to Gurindji people

1975

Whitlam hands back title to Gurindji people.
Racial Discrimination Act 1975(Cth) passed.
Aboriginal Day extended to National Aborigines Week.

Aboriginal Land Rights Act (NT)

1976

Aboriginal Land Rights Act (NT).

Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983

1983

Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983(NSW) recognizes dispossession and displacement.

Uluru handed back to traditional owners

1985

Uluru handed back to traditional owners.

Mabo decision overturns terra nullius

1992

Mabo decision by the High Court overturns terra nullius and rules that native title exists over unalienated Crown land, national parks and reserves.

Native Title Act

1993

Native Title Act.

Howard Government elected

1996

Howard Government elected.
The High Court rules in the Wik decision that native title and pastoral leases can co-exist.
Pauline Hanson and her One Nation Party campaign against what they say is " special treatment" for Aboriginal people.
Commonwealth Parliament makes statement of commitment to Reconciliation.

Bring Them Home is released.

1997

Bringing Them Home, the report of the inquiry into the Stolen Generations, is released.
PM Howard makes a personal apology to the Stolen Generations, but refuses to make an official apology on behalf of Australia.
At the National Reconciliation Conference on 27th May, hundreds of people turn their backs on Howard during his speech, in protest at his refusal to apologize to the Stolen Generations.

native Title Amendment Act 1998 is passed.

1998

native Title Amendment Act 1998 is passed; seen by many to reduce native title rights for Indigenous people.
First National Sorry Day- over 1 million signatures collected in Sorry Books.

Kevin Rudd apologized to the Stolen Generations

2008

13th February: Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says 'Sorry' to the Stolen Generations.

Julia Gillard announces plans to recognize Indigenous Australians

2010

8th November: Prime Minister Julia Gillard announces plans to recognize Indigenous Australians in the Constitution.