-
Mid 1800s
Beginning of official policies and protection -
1883
Aboriginal protection board established in New South Wales -
1897
Chief protector given authority to move aboriginal people to and from reserves -
1901
Australian Constitution excludes Aboriginal people from the census. State governments have law-making power for Indigenous people. -
1909
Aborigines Protection Act (NSW) gives Protection Board control over any Aboriginal child it labels ‘neglected’ -
1937
Federal government adopts policy of assimilation -
1965
Federal government announces policy of integration -
1966
Wave Hill Walk Off begins the modern campaign for the recognition of land rights -
1967
Historic ‘yes’ vote to remove discriminatory sections from the Australian Constitution -
1971
Establishment of the Tent Embassy Gove Land Rights Case upholds terra nullius -
1972
Federal government adopts self-determination policy -
1973
Prime Minister Gough Whitlam formally hands lease of part of their traditional lands to the Gurindji people -
1976
Aboriginal Land Rights Act (Northern Territory) 1976 (Cwlth) provides some recognition of Indigenous people’s rights to land -
1983
Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW) recognises Aboriginal ownership of reserves and also allows claims to be made on Crown lands -
1985
Uluru is returned to its traditional owners -
1991
Federal government adopts policy of reconciliation -
1992
The Mabo decision overturns terra nullius -
1993
The Native Title Act 1993 (Cwlth) -
1996
The Wik decision -
1997
Publication of HREOC’s Bringing Them Home report -
1998
Native Title (Amendment) Act 1998 (Cwlth) -
2006
The Noongar decision states that native title could still exist within Perth’s metropolitan area -
2008
Kevin Rudds appology