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Commonwealth of Australia formed. Indigenous Australians are excluded from the census and the lawmaking powers of the Commonwealth Parliament.
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Australian Citizenship Act gives Indigenous Australians the vote in Commonwealth elections if they are enrolled for State elections or have served in the Armed Forces.
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National Aborigines Day Observance Committee (NADOC) formed with support from Federal and State Governments, churches and major Indigenous organisations. Its aim is to promote Aboriginal Sunday as a day to draw community attention to Indigenous people in Australia.
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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.
Neville Bonner is elected on the Liberal Party ticket in Queensland. -
Indigenous people at Noonkanbah protest against an American oil company's test drilling for oil. The WA Supreme Court grants an injunction, but tests eventually go ahead.
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Uluru handed back to traditional owners.
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Bicentenary protest sees tens of thousands march on Australia Day.
NADOC changes its name to include Torres Strait Islanders; it is now NAIDOC -
Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody presents report. 339 recommendations, with the final recommendation being that a formal process of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australia be undertaken.
Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation established by Act of Parliament – to have a 10 year-lifespan. -
Native Title Act.
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Bringing Them Home, the report of the inquiry into the Stolen Generations, is released. It recommends a national sorry day to commemorate the history and effects of removing children from their families.
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Corroboree 2000. Handover of Document for Reconciliation at Sydney Opera House, more than 300 000 join in the Bridge Walk.
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ATSIC abolished; National Indigenous Council to replace and advise. NIC is not elected, meets four times a year.
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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 recognise Indigenous Australians in the Constitution.