Civil Rights of Aboriginal Australians

  • Freedom Riders

    American Freedom Riders travel on racially mixed buses in the southern United States to challenge segregation law.
  • Martin Luther KIng Jnr speech

    Martin Luther King Jnr delivers his ‘I have a dream’ speech during the March on Washington.
  • Fact finding mission

    Australia's Freedom Riders discover de facto segregation throughout country NSW while touring the regions on a 'fact finding' mission.
  • Make laws

    Overwhelming support for referendum to change the Constitution to allow the Commonwealth to make laws for Aborigines and to include them in the census.
  • Land rights for Aboriginal people in Australia

    The Whitlam Government returns 3300 square kilometres of land to the Gurindji people – a beginning to land rights for Aboriginal people in Australia.
  • ATSIC

    The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) formally established as the key representative body responsible for the implementation of self-determination policies.
  • Removal of Aboriginal children from their familes

    The High Court overturns terra nullius and acknowledges native title in historic Mabo ruling. Prime Minister Paul Keating’s Redfern Park address includes frank admissions about the removal of Aboriginal children from their families.
  • Bring Them Home

    The Bringing Them Home report is tabled in Parliament, which includes thousands of testimonies from members of the Stolen Generations.
  • Reconciliation

    Massive numbers join walks for reconciliation across Australia.
  • ATSIC

    The Howard Government
    abolishes ATSIC.