The following are some major events and policy issues on Aboriginal affairs.
1967 referendum: Gave Aborigines full citizenship rights and gave the Federal Parliament power to make laws with respect to Aboriginal affairs, if necessary over-riding the states.
1972-75: Major boost to funding for Aboriginal programs under Whitlam Government with varying success at reaching targets. Push for land rights.
1976: Fraser Government passes Northern Territory Land Rights Act. It enables Aboriginal people to claim unalienated Crown land in the NT provided they can show a connection to the land through usage and sacred sites. Land vests in a land council which can never sell the land.
Late 1970s: Creation of two very large and powerful land councils (northern and central) which (with a small exception) control all Land Rights Act land in the Northern Territory.
Mid-1980s: Rejection by Hawke Government of national land-rights legislation (to apply in the states) after opposition by states, industry, pastoralists and some Aboriginal groups concerned about urban dispossessed Aborigines. Calls for sovereignty and/or a treaty continue.
Royal Commission into Black Deaths in Custody: Inquiry into 99 deaths occurring between January 1, 1980 and May 31, 1989. Cost $30 million. Inquiry ends May 1990. Report May 1991. Cities widespread social and economic disadvantage, dispossession and racism. Makes more than 300 recommendations into improving the lot of indigenous people. Government responds in March 1992 with $150 million funding and annual audit of position of indigenous people. 1993: Australian Institute of Criminology publishes survey showing no improvement in black imprisonment rate.
ATSIC: Created in 1990 after resistance from Opposition. Aims to give self-determination for federal spending programs on Aboriginal and Islander people. ATSIC has three appointed commissioners including the chair, rest are elected from regions throughout Australia. Budget of about $600m a year. Does largely what old Department of Aboriginal Affairs did. Announced this year that ATSIC to be fully elected.
Reconciliation process: Council for Reconciliation set up September 1991 after unanimous support from Parliament. 25 members (12 Aboriginal and 2 Islanders, rest employer, union, industry, community, political). Aims to: educate, seek better relations; get greater community awareness of underlying causes of greater custody rates (now till mid-1994); see whether reconciliation would be advanced by a document of reconciliation (second half of 1994).
Mabo: High Court ruled in June 1992 that indigenous title to land survived the act of sovereignty in 1788. Aborigines can assert title if they can show continuous relation with the land and that the land has not been alienated (granted) to someone else by the Crown. Racial Discrimination Act likely to prevent further alienation of Crown land by states, and Constitution prevents further alienation Crown land by Federal Government without compensation. Existing titles of freehold and leaseholds still valid. Claims to some national parks might be possible.
Exact nature of title not yet determined. Effect on mining and pastoralists therefore uncertain. Federal Government to respond to Mabo by September.
Republic: Question whether any constitutional change is opportunity for statement of reconciliation or recognition of prior occupancy by Aboriginal people.