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History of Indigenous Australian self-determination

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The history of Indigenous Australian self-determination covers various attempts by Aboriginal Australian and Torres Strait Islander people to govern autonomously since colonisation, both within and outside the structures of the Government of Australia.

1960s-70s

During this period, the Whitlam Government turned Australian Indigenous policy around by moving away from assimilation and towards, in Gough Whitlam's words: "Aboriginal communities deciding the pace and nature of their future development as significant components within a diverse Australia", i.e. self-determination.[1]

Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders

The Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI) was founded in 1957 as a non-governmental organization to advance Aboriginal rights, composed of various member organisations.[2]

Department of Aboriginal Affairs

The Department of Aboriginal Affairs was founded by the Whitlam Government to replace the government agencies responsible for Indigenous affairs, the Council for Aboriginal Affairs, and the Office of Aboriginal Affairs, while also providing a route for self-determination by employing Indigneous Australians.[3]

National Aboriginal Consultative Committee

The National Aboriginal Consultative Committee (NACC) was the first elected body representing Indigenous Australians on the national level, having been established by the Whitlam Government in 1972.[3] It was composed of 36 representatives elected by Aboriginal people in 36 regions of Australia.[3] In 1983, the elections reached a turnout of approximately 78%.[2] However, the organisation was marred by friction with the Department of Aboriginal Affairs, while internally lacking coherence.[2]

National Aboriginal Conference

Following a review in 1976, the NACC was abolished by the new Fraser Government in 1977.[2] To replace it, the National Aboriginal Conference (NAC) was founded.

1980s-90s

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission(ATSIC)

Following the election of the Hawke Government in 1983, two reports were commissioned into a replacement of the NAC. The O'Donoghue report argued that the NAC did not effectively represent its constituents or advocate specific policies.[2] The Coombs report made the case for an organisation with representation of regions and existing indigenous organisations.[2]

To respond to these recommendations, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission was founded in 1989.

Following allegations of corruption, it was abolished by the Howard Government in 2004.[4]

Aboriginal Provisional Government

The Aboriginal Provisional Government has campaigned for Aboriginal sovereignty in Australia, and is headed by an Elders Council.[2] It also issues Aboriginal passports.

2000s-10s

The dissolution of ATSIC in 2004 was seen by some as an end to self-determination as a policy.[5] Nevertheless, calls for it have continued among Indigenous Australians.[6]

Uluru Statement

The Uluru Statement from the Heart was a call for a "First Nations Voice" and a "Makarrata Commission" to drive "agreement-making" and "truth-telling", made by a First Nations National Constitutional Convention in 2017.[7][8] This suggestion was refused by the Turnbull Government.[9]

Victorian First Peoples' Assembly

Further information: First Peoples' Assembly

In 2018 the state of Victoria passed legislation which established the legal framework for an Aboriginal representative body with which the state could negotiate a treaty.[10] This resulted in the 2019 Victorian First Peoples' Assembly election, to elect the 21 members of the First Peoples' Assembly.

See also

References

  1. ^ Hocking, Jenny (2018). "'A transforming sentiment in this country': The Whitlam government and Indigenous self-determination". Australian Journal of Public Administration. 77 (S1): S5–S12. doi:10.1111/1467-8500.12353. ISSN 1467-8500.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Building a sustainable National Indigenous Representative Body – Issues for consideration: Issues Paper 2008 | Australian Human Rights Commission". www.humanrights.gov.au. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Spirits, Jens Korff, Creative (8 July 2019). "Aboriginal representative bodies". Creative Spirits. Retrieved 30 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ Pia Akerman (22 October 2009). "We should have kept ATSIC: Lowitja O'Donoghue". The Australian. News Limited. Retrieved 18 January 2012.
  5. ^ "Howard silences Aboriginal advocates". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 April 2004. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  6. ^ Bellear, Sol (21 October 2013). "The case for Indigenous self-determination". ABC News. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  7. ^ Commonwealth Parliament, Canberra. "Uluru Statement: a quick guide". www.aph.gov.au. Retrieved 30 December 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ "Déclaration d'Uluru", Wikipédia (in French), 9 January 2020, retrieved 9 January 2020
  9. ^ Wahlquist, Calla (26 October 2017). "Turnbull's Uluru statement rejection is 'mean-spirited bastardry' – legal expert". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  10. ^ Wahlquist, Calla (21 June 2018). "Victoria passes historic law to create Indigenous treaty framework". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
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