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Commonwealth of Australia
Commonwealth of Australia formed. Indigenous Australians are excluded from the census and the lawmaking powers of the Commonwealth Parliament. White Australia Policy. Indigenous people are excluded from the vote, pensions, employment, post offices, enlistment in Armed Forces, maternity allowance. -
Day of Mourning
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 -
Given vote
All Indigenous people are given the vote in Commonwealth elections -
Referendum Held
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 Whitman Government elected; White Australia policy abolished. Department of Aboriginal Affairs established. Self determination adopted as policy as policy for Indigenous people. -
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Whitlam hands back title to Gurindji people Racial discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) passed Aboriginal Day extended to National Aborigines Week -
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Aboriginal Land Rights Act (NT) -
ALR
Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW) recognises dispossession and displacement -
Uluru
Uluru handed back to traditional owners -
Mabo
Mabo decision by the High Court overturns terra nullius and rules that native title exists over unalienated Crown land, national parks and reserves. -
NTA
Natice Title Act -
Howard Elected
Howard Government elected The High Court rules in the Wik decision that native title pastoral leases can co-exist. Pauline Hanson and her One National Party campaign against what they say is "special treatment" for Aboriginal people. Commonwealth Parliament makes statement for commitment to Reconciliation. -
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At the National Reconciliation Conference on 27th May, hundreds of people turn their backs on Howard during his speech, in protest at his refusal to apologise to the Stolen Generations. "Sea of Hands" outside Parliament House in Canberra in support of reconciliation and the Wik decision -
Bringing Them Home
Bringing Them Home, the report of the inquiry into the Stolen Generations, is released. It recommnends 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 behalf of Australia. -
Native Title Amendment
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. -
13th of February
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says 'Sorry' to the Stolen Generations -
8th of November
Prime Minister Julia Gillard announces plans to recognise Indigenous Australians in Constitution.