Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights and freedoms befo

The struggle for equal civil rights by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples has had a significant impact on the cultural, social, and political landscape of Australia. Prior to the 1970s, Indigenous Australians were subjected to a range of discriminatory policies, including the forced removal of children from their families, the denial of the right to vote, and limited access to education and employment.

The push for equal rights began in the 1960s and 1970s, when Indigenous Australians began organizing protests and activism to demand recognition and equal treatment. The 1967 Referendum was a major turning point, as Australians voted overwhelmingly to give the federal government the power to make laws for Indigenous Australians and to include them in the census.

The struggle for equal rights has also led to significant changes in the way Indigenous cultures and histories are valued and respected in Australia. The recognition of Indigenous rights and the promotion of cultural understanding has led to an increased awareness of the rich cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples and their importance in shaping the Australian nation.

Politically, the push for equal rights has resulted in increased representation of Indigenous peoples in government, including the establishment of Indigenous-led organizations, such as the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Council, and the appointment of Indigenous Australians to key positions in government.

Culturally, the struggle for equal rights has led to an increased appreciation of Indigenous art, music, and storytelling, as well as a greater understanding of Indigenous spiritual and cultural practices. This has helped to enrich the cultural diversity of Australia and has helped to break down barriers between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

Overall, the struggle for equal civil rights by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples has had a profound impact on the cultural, social, and political landscape of Australia, leading to greater recognition and respect for Indigenous cultures and histories, increased representation in government, and a deeper appreciation of Indigenous art, music, and storytelling.

In 1788 Britain colonised the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ country, and began disempowering Australia's original inhabitants. After the colonies federated in 1901 the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were denied citizenship. Many who had been deemed ‘half-caste’ were told that they were no longer indigenous people, but instead a separate race of people who should learn to be ‘white’. Australian society did not encourage usual democratic rights (such as voting or equal representation in parliament) were not available to them. 

Rights and freedoms denied

• In what ways were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples actively discriminated against in Australia during the twentieth century?

Reserves and missions

There were at least 100 reserves and missions across Australia by the 1930s. These were areas of land set aside for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to live on so they could be kept separated from white settlements as a form of segregation. 

Wages

Many cattle and sheep stations made use of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander men from the reserves as a cheap labour force. These men were drastically underpaid in comparison to white workers and were often given food or other material goods instead of money. 

Aborigines’ Protection Board

The reserve system was regulated by the Aborigines’ Protection Board from 1909 and was formally ended by the government in 1969 with the Aborigines Welfare Act.  

• the term ‘half-caste’ was applied to any Aboriginal people of mixed race and those people were to be treated as a separate race to ‘full-blooded’ Aboriginal people (unless they were over the age of 34 and living in an Aboriginal community, or they were a ‘half-caste’ woman married to a ‘full-blooded’ Aboriginal man)

• the government had the power to decide where any Aboriginal people could live

• all wages earned by Aboriginal people were to be collected by reserve managers and allocated in a way that they deemed appropriate

• care, custody and education of Aboriginal children was decided by reserve managers

• Aboriginal people on reserves were required to speak English, dress in a European fashion, cease their practise of traditional ceremonies and attend church. Marriage was only allowed with the reserve manager’s permission.

Cummeragunja Mission Walk-Off 1939

Cummeragunja was a mission and farm in southern NSW that became the scene of the first mass strike of Aboriginal people. Manager, Arthur McQuiggan used violence and intimidation. Residents conducted a strike and on 4 February 1939 approximately 200 Aboriginal people left the reserve without permission and camped on a riverbank. Residents crossed the border into Victoria, thus removing themselves from NSW jurisdiction after the goverment threaten to take children away.

1. What were some of the key historical events and policies that impacted the rights and freedoms of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia, and how did they affect Indigenous communities?

2. How have Indigenous activists and leaders fought for their rights and freedoms throughout Australian history, and what strategies have they used to achieve change?

3. What were some of the key legal and policy developments that have impacted the rights and freedoms of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia, such as the 1967 referendum and the Mabo decision?

4. How has the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians evolved over time, particularly in terms of the recognition and protection of Indigenous rights and freedoms?

5. What are some of the ongoing challenges and issues facing Indigenous Australians in terms of their rights and freedoms, and what efforts are being made to address them?