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In 1974 the Woodward Royal Commission established principle justice on land rights. It recommended that Aboriginal Land Councils be established to represent the land claims of Aboriginal communities.
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In 1975 the Racial Discrimination Act was passed in federal parliament.
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In 1975 the Gurindji people won the first land rights claim, when their land was handed back to them by Prime Minister Whitlam .
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In 1976 in South Australia, Pastor Sir Douglas Nicholls became Australia's first Aboriginal State Governor.
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Another important step was taken when the Fraser Liberal Government passed the Aboriginal Land rights (Northern Territory) Act. This meant that Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory could claim crown land if they could prove traditional ownership and continuous connection with that land. Unfortunately this did not help people who had been forced off their land.
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In 1981 the South Australian Government handed the Pitjantjatjara lands back to their traditional owners.
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In 1983 the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Rights Act started a process by which the state government could buy back land from Aboriginal groups.
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In 1985, Uluru (Ayers Rock) was handed back to its Aboriginal owners in the Northern Territory.