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Day of Mourning
A protest to mark Australia Day takes place at Australian Hall in Sydney on Australia day, the 150th anniversary of the British colonization of Australia. It's significant because of it giving aboriginal a voice to show that the celebration of Australia isn't celebrated but instead grieved for their communities lose in times of colonization. -
Menzies authorizes excising Armen Aboriginal land reserve for mining
In 1963 and again in 1968 17 Aboriginal leaders challenged the Nabalco agreement which allowed mining on traditional Yolngu land. The petition did not change but it did 2 things: communicated to the Government that land is important for Aboriginal identity and it opened up dialogue between the Government and Aboriginal people., -
Indigenous people gain the right to vote
When the constitution was enacted, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders voting rights were taken away or limited. Near the end of 1965, indigenous people around Australia gain the same voting rights as other Australians. Queensland follows suits and extends voting rights to Indigenous people to vote in state elections.
Indigenous people having a right to vote gave their community a voice politic. It allowed them the same right as white Australia. -
Wave Hill walk-off
In August 1966, 200 aboriginal stockmen and their families walked off the Wave Hill cattle station. They protested for better working conditions and pay conditions and demanded the return of their land. The strikers stayed there for a couple of years. The significance of the walk-off was that Vincent Linguiari, the man who led the Wave Hill walk-off, was given his land back by Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam in 1975. -
Aboriginal Tent Embassy
A camp was set up; on the lawns of parliament house, to protest against the government rejecting the petition. This camp is still there, giving voices to all who support Aboriginal land rights. -
Racial Discrimination Act (Cwlth)
Prime minister, Gough Whitlam passed the Racial Discrimination Act. The RDA makes racial discrimination in certain situations unlawful in Australia and overrides, to the extent of any inconsistency, states and territory legislation. This is significant because this gave Indigenous Australians legal protection within certain situations, however, this act was suspended to allow the intervention to take place. -
The aboriginal Land rights ACT (NT)
The Whitlam government introduces the Aboriginal Land rights act. The Australian government to legally recognize the aboriginal system of land ownership and put into law the concept of freehold title. -
The Mabo Case
Eddie Mabo and four other people of the Meriam people claimed that the Murray Islands and reefs have been and are inhabited and possessed by the Mariam people. They claim that settlement hasn't extinguished their land rights and sought recognition of their continuing land rights in the legal system. The high court upheld the claim of the Mariam people, overturning the legal doctrine of terra nullius. The Mabo hight court decision led to the passing of the Native Title Act. -
Native Title Act
The Keating Labor Government passed the Native Title Act 1993. The Native Title Act set up the National Native Title Tribunal and gave jurisdiction/authority to the Federal Court to manage/control applications for recognition of Native Title. -
Wik Judgement
The Wik people of Cape York, Queensland, claimed that native title was not extinguished by the granting of pastoral, and mining leases over the land. As a result of this case, the Native Title Act could co-exist with pastoral leases which cover 40% of Australia.
