The Struggle for Land Rights

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    Struggle for Land Rights

  • 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.

  • National Aborigines Day Observance Committee (NADOC) formed with support from Federal and State Governments, churches and major Indigenous organisations

  • The Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines begins a ten year campaign to end Constitution's discrimination against Indigenous people.

  • All Indigenous people are given the vote in Commonwealth elections.

  • Tent Embassy established outside Parliament House. It adopts the Indigenous flag.

  • 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.

  • Aboriginal Legal Service and Aboriginal Medical Service set up in Redfern

  • Whitlam hands back title to Gurindji people.

  • Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) passed.

  • Aboriginal Land Rights Act (NT)

  • Bicentenary protest sees tens of thousands march on Australia Day.

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

  • Uluru handed back to traditional owners.

  • Hawke sets up Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.

  • 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

  • The High Court rules in the Wik decision that native title and pastoral leases can co-exist.

  • Commonwealth Parliament makes statement of commitment to Reconciliatio

  • Pauline Hanson and her One Nation Party campaign against what they say is “special treatment” for Aboriginal people.

  • 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.

  • PM Howard makes a personal apology to the Stolen Generations, but refuses to make an official apology on behalf of Australia.

  • Native Title Amendment Act 1998 is passed; seen by many to reduce native title rights for Indigenous people.

  • Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says 'Sorry' to the Stolen Generations.