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Period: to
Struggle for Land Rights
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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
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The Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines begins a ten year campaign to end Constitution's discrimination against Indigenous people.
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All Indigenous people are given the vote in Commonwealth elections.
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Tent Embassy established outside Parliament House. It adopts the Indigenous flag.
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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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Aboriginal Legal Service and Aboriginal Medical Service set up in Redfern
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Whitlam hands back title to Gurindji people.
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Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) passed.
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Aboriginal Land Rights Act (NT)
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Bicentenary protest sees tens of thousands march on Australia Day.
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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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Hawke sets up Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.
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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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The High Court rules in the Wik decision that native title and pastoral leases can co-exist.
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Commonwealth Parliament makes statement of commitment to Reconciliatio
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Pauline Hanson and her One Nation Party campaign against what they say is “special treatment” for Aboriginal people.
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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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PM Howard makes a personal apology to the Stolen Generations, but refuses to make an official apology on behalf of Australia.
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Native Title Amendment Act 1998 is passed; seen by many to reduce native title rights for Indigenous people.
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Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says 'Sorry' to the Stolen Generations.