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Day of mourning
150 years after the European came to Australia the Aboriginal Progressive Association declares a Day of Mourning. An Aboriginal conference is held in Sydney. These are the first of many Aboriginal protests against inequality, injustice, dispossession of land and protectionist policies. -
Australian citizenship
The Commonwealth Citizenship and Nationality Act for the first time makes all Australians (including all Aboriginal people) Australian citizens. But at state level aboriginals still suffer legal discrimination. -
Formal schooling for aboriginals
The first formal schooling for Aboriginal children in the Northern Territory is provided. But the lack of facilities is rationalised because of the claim that children beyond the age of 10 couldn’t keep up with white children anyway. -
No more kid napping
The Western Australian Department of Native Affairs brings an end to forcefully taking Aboriginal children from their parents and sending them to missions. -
Bark petition
The Yolngu people of Yirrkala in Australia’s Northern Territory sent a bark petition to the House of Representatives to protest against mining on the Gove Peninsula. -
Integration policy
Integration policy is introduced, supposedly to give Aboriginal people more control over their lives and society. -
Self-determination (self-management) policy
January - July: The Aboriginal Tent Embassy is pitched outside Parliament House in Canberra, demonstrating for land rights.
14 July: On National Aborigines Day there are Australia wide strikes and marches by Aboriginal people. -
Addressing the United Nations
Michael Anderson, the only surviving founder of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, becomes the first Aboriginal Australian to address the United Nations. -
Native title act
The federal government passes the Native Title Act 1993. This law allows Indigenous people to make land claims under certain situations. They cannot make claims on freehold (iprivately-owned) land. -
Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Australia appears before the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The committee criticises the government’s inadequate response to recommendations from the Bringing Them Home Report.
