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All Indigenous people are given the vote in Commonwealth elections
The Menzies government amended the commonwealth electoral act to give indigenous people the right to enrol and vote in commonwealth elections. -
Referendum
90.7% of Australians voted yes to count Indigenous Australians in the census and to give the Commonwealth Government the power to make laws for them. -
Neville Bonner becomes the first Indigenous member of Parliament
Neville Bonner became the first Aboriginal in Federal Parliament representing Queensland as a Liberal Party he was a Senator from 1971 to 1983. -
White Australia policy abolished
Department of Aboriginal Affairs established. Self-determination adopted as policy for Indigenous people. -
Whitlam hands back title to Gurindji people
“Vincent Lingiari, I solemnly hand to you these deeds as proof, in Australian law, that these lands belong to the Gurindji people and I put into your hands part of the earth itself as a sign that this land will be the possession of you and your children forever,” Gough Whitlam said. -
Aboriginal Land Rights Act
The first attempt by an Australian government to legally recognise the Aboriginal system of land ownership and put into law the concept of inalienable freehold title. -
Uluru handed back to traditional owners
The handover of Uluru in 1985 was a symbolic for land rights. when Governor General Sir Ninian Stephen handed over the title deeds to Anangu traditional owners -
Mabo decision by the High Court overturns terra nullius and rules that native title exists over unalienated Crown land, national parks and reserves.
the High Court of Australia decided that terra nullius should not have been applied to Australia. This decision recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have rights to the land rights that existed before the British arrived and can still exist today. -
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says 'Sorry' to the Stolen Generations
Minister Kevin Rudd made a formal apology on behalf of the Australian Parliament to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In particular to the Stolen Generations. -
Recognition for the indigenous Australians
Prime Minister Julia Gillard announces plans to recognise Indigenous Australians in the Constitution. -
Prime Minister Julia Gillard announces plans to recognise Indigenous Australians in the Constitution.
The Prime Minister Julia Gillard made good on Labor's election promise and announced the plan for a referendum in Melbourne.
