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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 held by the Aborigines League and the Aborigines Progressive Association(1937).
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All Indigenous people are given the vote in Commonwealth elections.
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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.
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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.
Racial Discrimination Act 1975(Cth) passed.
Aboriginal Day extended to National Aborigines Week. -
Aboriginal Land Rights Act (NT).
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Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983(NSW) recognizes dispossession and displacement.
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Uluru handed back to traditional owners.
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Mabo decision by the High Court overturns terra nullius and rules that native title exists over unalienated Crown land, national parks and reserves.
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Native Title Act.
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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. -
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; seen by many to reduce native title rights for Indigenous people.
First National Sorry Day- over 1 million signatures collected in Sorry Books. -
13th February: Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says 'Sorry' to the Stolen Generations.
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8th November: Prime Minister Julia Gillard announces plans to recognize Indigenous Australians in the Constitution.
