Outline the changing rights and freedoms of indigenous Australians throughout the 20th Century.

Subject  > History Term Papers  > Australian History

Ever since British fleets first landed on our island, the Aborigines were faced with a problem. The new settlers did not recognise them as owners of the land as they did not develop it, but had instead roamed amongst it. The Aborigines had faced discrimination, oppression and violence. After federation, however, their rights and freedoms began to change dramatically throughout the 20th Century. Through that period of time, the Australian government has created and implemented policies concerning the Indigenous population, decisions which had all been made for “their own good”. These policies have included Protection, Assimilation, Integration, Self-determination and finally, Reconciliation. At the beginning of a new century, when the 6 colonies settled in Australia became a federated nation, the ...

... with people form the Gurindji tribe protesting poor pay and living conditions in 1966. Finally, in 1967 Australia voted ‘Yes’ in the referendum to include Indigenous Australian in the census, essentially recognising the Aboriginals as people living in the country. In 1972, the Whitlam government came to office, and a new policy was once again introduced. The states abolished the anti-Aboriginal laws, the Stolen Generation came to an end and the Indigenous people were able to reclaim control over their own lives from the governments. Self-determination encompassed three key aspects:1.Aboriginals should receive the same rights and freedoms as non-Aboriginals. 2.They should be allowed to choose how they want to live. 3.They should be allowed to have a say

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