Indigenous rights movement

Commonwealth of Australia

1901

Commonwealth of Australia formed. Indigenous Australia are excluded from the census and the lawmaking powers of the Commonwealth Parliament.

Day of Mourning

1938

Day of Mourning held by the Aborigines League (est 1932) and the Aborigines Progressive Association (1937). It is the first major protest by Indigenous people. The manifesto "Aborigines Claim Citizen Rights" and the newspaper "Abo Call" are published.

Commonwealth election

1962

All the indigenous people are given the vote in Commonwealth election.

Referendum held

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 for them.

Tent Embassy Established

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.

Gurindji people

1975

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

Land Rights

1976

Aboriginal Land Rights Act (NT)

Recognition of dispossession

1983

Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW) recognises dispossession and displacement

Uluru

1985

Uluru handed back to traditional owners

Mabo's decision

1992

Mado decision by the High Court overturns terra nullius and ruled that native titles exists over unalienated Crown land, national parks and reserves.

Native Act

1993

Native Title Act

Government

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.

Bringing Them Home

1997

Bringing Them Home, the report of the inquiry the Stolen Generation, is released. It recommends a national sorry day to commemorate the history and effect of removing children from the families.
PM Howard makes a personal apology to the Stolen Generation, but refuses to make an official apology on behalf of Australia.
"Sea of Hands' outside Parliament House in Canberra in support of reconciliation and the Wik decision.

Native Title rights

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.

Sorry Day

2008

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

Recognition of the Indigenous Australian in the Constitution

2010

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