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1901
Commonwealth of Australia formed. Indigenous Australians are excluded from the census and the lawmaking powers of the Commonwealth Parliament. White Australia Policy.Indigenous Australians are excluded from the vote, pensions, employment in post offices, enlistment in Armed Forces, maternity allowance. -
Aborigines Rights
Day of Mourning 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. -
Commonwealth Elections
All Indigenous people are given the Commonwealth elections -
Referendum
Referendum held-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. -
Tent Embassy
Tent Embassy established outside Parliament House. It adopts the Indigenous flag. Whitlam Government elected; White Australia policy abolished. Department of Aboriginal Affairs established. Self-determination adopted as policy for Indigenous people. -
Gurindjhi title
Whitlam hands back title to Gurindji people. Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) passed. Aboriginal Day extended to National Aborigines Week. -
Land Right
Aboriginal Land Rights Act (NT) -
Land Rights
Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (NSW) recognises dispossession and displacement. -
Uluru
Uluru handed back to traditional owners -
Mabo
Mabo decision by the High Court overturns terra nullius and rules that native title exists over unalienated Crown land, national parks and reserves. -
Native Title Act
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Howard Government elected.
The high Court rules in the Wik decision that native title and pastoral leases can con-exist. Pauline Hanson and her One Nation Party campaign against what the say is ''special treatment'' for Aboriginal people. Commonwealth Parliament makes statement of commitment for Reconciliation. -
Bringing them home
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. PM Howard makes a personal apology to the Stolen Generations, but refuses to make an official apology on behalf of Australia. At the National Reconciliation Conference on 27th May, hundreds of people turn their backs on Howard during his speech. -
Native Title Amendment Act
Native Title Amendment Act 1998 is passed; seen by many to reduce native title rights for Indigenous people.First National Sorry Day-over 1 million signatures collected in Sorry Books. -
Sorry
13th February: Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says 'Sorry' to the Stolen Generations. -
Indigenous Australians
8th November: Prime Minister Julia Gillard announces plans to recognise Indigenous Australians in the Constitution.
