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Commonwealth of Australia formed. Indigenous Australians are excluded from the census and lawmaking powers of the Commonwealth Parliament.
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In the White Australia Policy: Indigenous people are excluded from the vote, pensions, employment in post offices, enlistment in Armed Forces and maternity allowance.
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Day of Mourning is 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.
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All Indigenous people are given the vote in Commonwealth elections.
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In the 1967 Referendum, 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.
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Whitlam Government is elected. They abolish White Australia policy and establish the Department of Aboriginal Affairs. They launch the self-determination policy for Indigenous people.
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Tent Embassy is built outside the Parliament House. It adopts the Indigenous flag.
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Aboriginal Day is extended to National Aborigines Week.
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Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) is passed.
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PM Whitlam hands back title to Gurindji people.
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Aboriginal Land Rights Act is introduced.
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Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW) recognises dispossession and displacement.
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Uluru is handed back to traditional owners.
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Mabo decision by the High Court overturns terra nullius and rules that native title exists over unalienated Crown land, national parks and reserves.
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Native Title Act is passed by the Australian Parliament. It aims to provide a national system for the recognition and protection of native title.
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Commonwealth Parliament makes statement of commitment to Reconciliation.
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Howard Government is elected.
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Pauline Hanson and her Native Party campaign speaks against what they say is "special treatment" for Aboriginal people in her maiden speech.
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The High Court rules in the Wik decision that native title and pastoral leases can co-exist.
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Bringing Them Home, the report of the inquiry into the Stolen Generations, is released. It recommends a national sorry day to commemorate the history and effects of removing children from their families.
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PM Howard makes a personal apology to the Stolen Generations, but refusees to make an official apology on behalf of Australia.
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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.
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"Sea of Hands" are settled outside the Parliament House in Canberra in support of reconciliation and the Wik decision.
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Native Title Amendment Act 1998 is passed; seen by many to reduce native title rights for Indigenous people.
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The first sorry day is held. Over 1 million signatures are collected in Sorry Books.
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Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says "sorry" to the Stolen Generations.
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Prime Minister Julia Gillard announces plans to recognise Indigenous Australians in the Constitution.
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