Protectionism

Impact of the Act. 

SUMMARISE> The Aboriginal Protection Policy, also known as the Indigenous Protection Policy, was a set of government policies implemented in various Australian states and territories during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The policies were primarily aimed at controlling and managing Indigenous Australian populations, often with the stated intention of "protecting" them, but in reality, they resulted in widespread oppression, dispossession, and cultural erosion. The specific features of the Aboriginal Protection Policy varied between different states and territories, but some common elements included:

1. Segregation and Control: Indigenous Australians were often confined to reserves, missions, or government-controlled settlements. These areas were typically located on the fringes of European-Australian settlements or in remote regions. Indigenous people living on reserves were subject to strict government control over their lives, including where they could live, work, and travel.

2. Regulation of Daily Life: The policies regulated various aspects of Indigenous life, including marriage, employment, and education. Indigenous people were often required to obtain permission from government authorities for basic activities such as leaving the reserve, marrying, or working outside designated areas.

3. Forced Assimilation: The policies aimed to assimilate Indigenous Australians into European-Australian society by promoting European customs, languages, and religions while suppressing Indigenous cultures and languages. Indigenous children were often forcibly removed from their families and placed in institutions or missions, where they were taught European ways of life and discouraged from speaking their native languages or practicing their traditional customs.

4. Control of Indigenous Affairs: Indigenous affairs were typically administered by government-appointed protectors or administrators who had broad powers over Indigenous communities. These officials often had paternalistic attitudes towards Indigenous people and sought to enforce compliance with government policies through coercion and punishment.

5. Dispossession of Land: The Aboriginal Protection Policy facilitated the dispossession of Indigenous lands, which were often acquired by European settlers for agriculture, mining, or other purposes. Indigenous peoples were frequently displaced from their traditional lands and relocated to reserves or missions, further undermining their cultural identity and economic independence.

6. Discriminatory Laws: Indigenous Australians were subjected to discriminatory laws and regulations that denied them basic rights and freedoms enjoyed by non-Indigenous Australians. These laws often restricted Indigenous people's access to education, healthcare, employment, and legal protections.

Overall, the Aboriginal Protection Policy represents a dark chapter in Australian history characterized by systematic oppression, dispossession, and cultural destruction of Indigenous Australians. While the policy has been officially abandoned, its legacy continues to impact Indigenous communities in Australia today, contributing to ongoing disparities in health, education, and socioeconomic outcomes.