Transcript Government policies towards Aborigines-1

HISTORICAL SUPPRESSION OF
INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIANS AND
RESPONSES TO THIS SUPPRESSION
Changing Policies: Why?
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Government policies towards Indigenous
Australians were initially in response to prevailing
ideas of racial stereotypes, economic needs for
land and resources and political pragmatism.
These policies changed over time as a result of
internal social activism by Indigenous Australians
and the pressure of changing ideologies such as
Human and civil liberties.
History
"The Conciliation" painting by Benjamin
Duterrau, 1840
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When Britain colonised North America and New Zealand the
prior occupation of the land by indigenous peoples was
recognised. Treaties were signed with these peoples, even if
they were very one-sided. This did not happen with Australia’s
Aboriginal people.
From the very beginning the British had declared the land
‘Terra Nullius’ (no man’s land). This was legal as in the 18th
Century it was widely thought that if land was found that did
not belong to anyone it could be taken and claimed. Captain
Cook declared it so in 1770 when he first made sight of
Australia.
Paternalism
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Throughout the 19th century white settlers gradually moved the
Aboriginal people off their land and into reserves. The
indigenous people were forced to experience dispossession
and paternalism. In strictly legal terms they did not exist.
Paternalism is the practice of acting like a father, treating
someone like a child, making decisions for them without
allowing them responsibility.
The reserves were established to remedy the initial
dispossession of land, as each colony passed laws most
Aboriginals became wards of the state.
It was not long before more land was needed for farming and
these reserves were taken back by the government. By the late
1920s nearly all were in the hands of lease holders.
Overview of Policy changes
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Protectionism 1886-1950s
Assimilation1950s-60s
Integration1965
Self Determination1972
Multiculturalism
Reconciliation
1. Protection 1880s – 1950s
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Aborigines were treated legally as
minors.
The chief protector of aborigines in each
state was their guardian.
He was responsible for their health,
welfare and education. Aboriginal people
could not move house, travel, marry, or
get a job without official approval. Under
this policy Aboriginal people were kept
on reserves. Some of these reserves had
really bad living conditions.
Under the protection policy ''half caste''
children were removed from their
Aboriginal mothers to be brought up in
the white community. This policy lasted
until the 1950's.
Representation of White
Attitudes prevailing at this
time (Rabbit Proof Fence)
http://www.youtube.com/watc
h?v=eWjGteDg9VE
Protectionism: State Acts
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Victoria 1886
Queensland 1897
Western Australia 1905
New South Wales 1909
South Australia 1911
Protectionism: Victoria
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In 1886 the Victorian Aborigines Protection Board was set up. Its
aim, taken here from a parliamentary report, was
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“A: to civilise, Christianise and above all train
Aborigines on stations established for the
purpose;
B: to remove as many children as possible from
their 'bad' environment and parental 'influence'
to training homes and thence to 'situations'
[work] with white families; “
Training to be white…
Wallagra, Kinchela,
Cootamundra…
Indigenous Responses to Protectionism
Indigenous Women at Coranderrk 1880
Coranderrk Aboriginal Reserve in Victoria became a site of Aboriginal
activism and the Coranderrk people gained a reputation amongst white
authorities as 'trouble-makers' because they continually defended their
rights through strikes, deputations and petitions. Women were active in
several of the campaigns, including strikes and walk-off.
Day of Mourning 1938
Moving toward
Assimilation…
‘Dog Tags’
From the 1940s State governments decided to give citizenship rights to some
Aboriginal people under certain conditions. They had to promise to give up their
traditional ways, to keep away from other Aboriginal people, to live a European
lifestyle and to keep out of trouble. Certificates were then issued which allowed
them to vote, to go into hotels, allowed their children to go to school, and removed
them from the restrictions of State protection laws. Legally these certificates meant
that the people who had them were no longer Aboriginal. In Western Australia
these were called Citizenship Certificates, in NSW and Queensland they were
called Exemption Certificates. These certificates could be suspended or cancelled
by a magistrate and there was no right of appeal. Many Aboriginal people resented
these certificates and called them "dog licences" or "dog tags". Of the 14,000
Aboriginal people eligible in NSW only 1,500 chose to apply.
2. Assimilation: 1950s - 1968
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In the1950s and 1960's
Aborigines had to become
socially and culturally white.
This was because the
government wanted only one
Australian culture.
It was hoped that by adopting
mainstream culture, Aboriginal
people would become
completely absorbed into
white culture.
This policy was also applied
to the migrants.
Children were still taken form
their parents during this time.
Assimilation…
Indigenous Responses to Assimilation…
Freedom Rides raised awareness of
Indigenous Civil Rights across Australia.
The Civil Rights Movement in the US
(left) helped to inspire these protests…
Even with Assimilation, stereotypes of
Indigenous Australians still persisted…
3. Integration: 1968
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The 1967 referendum
brought about a change and
Aboriginal culture was
recognised. Aborigines were
expected to live like white
people but maintain some of
their traditional practices.
This policy lasted until the
Whitlam years.
Children continued to be
taken from their mothers.
Gary Williams on the 1967 referendum
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-vX5kNpyLU
Faith on the 1967 referendum
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzIMVo-_hag
This
advertisement
was for
the 1967
Referendum.
What the 1967 referendum
was about…
1. The 1967 Referendum proposed to
include Aboriginal people in the census.
2. The 1967 Referendum proposed to
allow the Commonwealth government to
make laws for Aboriginal people.
4. Self Determination: 1972
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Under the Whitlam government,
Aboriginal communities were
expected to govern themselves
and decide how their
communities would operate.
Government funding was made
available to support Aboriginal
communities whilst becoming
independent.
Organisations such as ATSIC
(Aboriginal Torres Strait
Islanders Commission) were
developed to support these
policies.
Gough Whitlam’s speech…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdpVBHxpArI
NATIONAL AND
INTERNATIONAL FACTORS
THAT HAVE SUPPORTED
AND/OR LIMITED THE
INCREASING PUBLIC
AWARENESS AND
PERCEPTION OF
AUSTRALIAN INDIGENOUS
CULTURE
Reconciliation
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Reconciliation refers to
‘coming together’. As an
Australian Government policy
it aims to achieve justice, recognition and healing.
It acknowledges past injustices.
It recognises Indigenous Australians as the FIRST
AUSTRALIANS.
Reconciliation can be seen in two ways:
SYMBOLIC (social justice – Eg. Sorry speech)
PRACTICAL (services – Eg. ‘Close the Gap’ program)
Sea of Hands – Recognised Symbol of Reconciliation
Redfern Park Speech:
WHO IS TO BLAME?
Excerpt of speech…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
qAFLud228
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This speech was given by Labor Prime Minister,
Paul Keating, on the 10th December 1992.
It was about placing Reconciliation at the on
the national agenda and recognised past
injustices...
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“The starting point for overcoming the problems
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besetting the first Australians was an act of
recognition. Recognition that it was we who did the
dispossessing. We took the traditional land and
smashed the traditional way of life. We brought the
diseases. We brought the alcohol. We committed the
murders. We took the children from their mothers. We
practiced discrimination and exclusion. It was our
ignorance and our prejudice, and our failure to
imagine these things being done to us.”
NT Intervention
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Introduced by the Howard Liberal Government in 2007 as
the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER)
In response to findings in the Little Children are Sacred report
Addressed the report’s concerns about sexual abuse and
neglect of Indigenous children and argued that action be
immediate
NTER included a range of policies including income
management, health checks, ban on alcohol and
pornography, quarantining 50% of welfare payments…
Continues in a revised form under Rudd/Gillard government.
Witness: NT Intervention (48 mins)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEgiX2NPx40
Debate
On John Howard’s Intervention Policy in Northern Territory
“You know, the whole aim here is not to condemn
people for their problems. The whole aim is to
support them, to get back on their feet again and
to take charge of their own families again” Noel
Pearson – 7.30 Report 19.06.07
Fred Chaney, in his 2007 Vincent Lingiari Lecture (2007). Indigenous people
will be subject to a level of micromanagement that is unprecedented
elsewhere in Australian society. Chaney highlights the suspension of the
provisions of the 1975 Racial Discrimination Act and the interference in
Indigenous property rights as being of particular concern. He highlights how
the lack of meaningful consultation has almost guaranteed that there will be
resistance (both passive and active) to the implementation of the policy.
Main criticisms of the Intervention…
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The intervention in the Northern Territory has come under fire by a variety of groups. In short,
the main criticisms of the intervention are as follows:
The intervention has created chaos, increased poverty and racism.
The intervention has not uncovered any paedophilia rings and no child sexual abuse cases
have been prosecuted..
Only 2 of the 97 recommendations in the Little Children Are Sacred report were implemented
In order for the Federal government to implement the Northern Territory Emergency Response,
suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 was required making it legal to force
communities to sign over control of Aboriginal land in 5 year leases, prohibit alcohol
consumption and distribution in Aboriginal communities, control spending patterns through
income management and store cards and take-over Aboriginal service-providers.
The United Nations has expressed concern over the suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act,
writing to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in March 2009 following a complaint made to the UN by
a collective of Aboriginal communities…
UN's intervention report finds racial discrimination
Updated Wed Feb 24, 2010 1:33pm AEDT
Australia will face the UN Human Rights Commission
in Geneva in September accused of racially
discriminating against Indigenous communities during
the Northern Territory intervention.
The final report of the UN's special rapporteur on
Indigenous rights, Professor James Anaya, found the
intervention limits the rights and freedoms of
Indigenous people in breach of Australia's
international obligations.
It follows similar preliminary findings during a visit to
Australia last year.
The report does not discuss the Federal
Government's planned changes to the intervention
because they are not yet complete.
Professor Anaya says there is little evidence that
measures such as welfare quarantining actually work,
and he welcomes planned changes.
The 2008 Apology
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Watch the Apology on
YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch
?v=VF37rJHi4MQ
Given on 13 February 2008 by Labor Prime Minister, Kevin
Rudd.
A formally apology acknowledging the past injustices
committed against Indigenous Australians,
In particular, it recognised the ‘stolen generations’, in response
to findings in the Bringing them Home report.
”We apologise for the laws and policies of successive
Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound
grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.
We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their
communities and their country.
For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen
Generations, their descendants and for their families left
behind, we say sorry.”
UN Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples
In 2007, the United Nations adopted the
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
 Australian Indigenous Peoples were involved in creating it
 It is an important international step in protecting human
rights when it comes to Indigenous People worldwide.
IN SUMMARY, IT INCLUDED POINTS ON THE FOLLOWING:
 Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the
health and well-being of himself and of his family, including
food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social
services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment,
sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of
livelihood in circumstances beyond his control
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UN Declaration continued…
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Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set
forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind,
such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or
other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or
other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on
the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international
status of the country or territory to which a person
belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-selfgoverning or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
All are equal before the law and are entitled without any
discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are
entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in
violation of this Declaration and against any incitement
to such discrimination
Factors influencing Policy Changes…
Ideology
Racial Superiority
Christianity
Equality
External Events
World Wars
United Nations
Human Rights
Charter
American Civil
Rights Movement
Factors
influencing
Changing
Racial
Legislation
Political pendulum
Liberal vs Labor
Policy
Internal Protest
Day of Mourning
67 referendum
Tent Embassy
Mabo
Bibliography
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TEXT
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Gontier, F. 2012. VCE Sociology Units 3 and 4 Textbook. SEV.
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WEB
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www.picnicpt-h.schools.nsw.edu.au/.../ Government%20policies%20towards%20Aborigines.ppt
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http://www.artistwd.com/joyzine/australia/strine/a-2.php
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http://daownunder.wordpress.com/2008/02/15/closing-the-gap
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http://www.greenleft.org.au/1998/339/20020
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http://indigenousrights.net.au/document.asp?iID=263
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http://www.mabonativetitle.com/info/austAbProgressiveAssoc.htm
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http://www.kooriweb.org/foley/essays/essay_15.html
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http://www.abc.net.au/civics/democracy/struggle.htm
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http://www.seagp.org.au/documents/AboutUs/CloseTheGapTreePlanting.jpg
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http://socialistalliance-brisbane.blogspot.com.au/2010/12/lies-that-built-northern-territory.html
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www.mrsgraham.net/ Chaning%20Government%20policies%20on%20Aboriginals%20PP.ppt
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http://cdn.lankajournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/John_Howard.jpg
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independentaustralia.net