Extended Response Revision

Wave Hill, Referendum, Mabo Decision

Wave Hill Walk-Off, novelty

·       Previous Indigenous activism focused on labour rights, this was one of first major fights for land rights

·       23^rd August, Vincent Lingiari led Gurindji people on 9 year strike, set camp in Dagaragu

·       Originally strike over poor wages, became demand for traditional lands

·       First time Indigenous used industrial action to assert land ownership

Wave Hill Walk-Off, effects/symbolic meaning

·       Highlighted unfair labour practices, Billy Bunter Jampijinpa, Striker from Wave Hill Station, 2006, “treated like dogs” “lived in humpies” “no running water”

·       Spoke at public meetings, brought national attention to Indigenous land dispossession

·       Labour unions in NT support Gurindji people, help Federal Government recognise inequality

·       1975 PM Gough Witlam pour sand into Lingiari hand in Dagaragu, “I solemnly hand to you these deeds as proof, in Australian law, that these lands belong to the Gurindji people”

·       Led to Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976

Wave Hill Walk-Off, memorability

·       September 2020 Gurindji people’s claim for native title to Wave Hill station granted, 54 years after the walk-off that sparked Australia’s first nations land rights movement

·       Cultural impact, symbol for resistance and empowerment, “from little things big things grow” song by Kev Carmody and Paul Kelly

·       Set precedent for future land rights claims,  continual struggle for land rights and equality today

1967 Referendum, novelty

·       Record-breaking national referendum results, 90.77% YES, highest in Australia’s history

·       Demonstrated that majority Australians supported fair treatment Aboriginal people

1967 Referendum, effects/symbolic meaning

·       Highlighted that Aboriginal people full citizens and humans, equals

·       Changes to section 51, originally government could only make laws for “the people of the any race, other than the Aboriginal race”, last line got deleted

·       Federal government could make laws including them, providing them with social services

·       Section 127: “Aboriginal natives should not be counted” deleted

·       Australia appoint first ever Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Bill Wentworth

1967 Referendum, memorability

·       Date, 27^th May, starts off National Reconciliation Week in Australia every year

·       Referendum paved way for 1975 Racial Discrimination Act, which made it illegal to discriminate against any person for their race

·       The powers granted in 1967 are still used by Federal government today to fund Indigenous Affairs

Mabo Decision and Native Title Act, novelty

·       June 3^rd 1992, Mabo decision, High Court of Australia ruled in favour of Mabo, recognise Meriam people’s native title to Torres Strait Islands, establish that they had pre-existing rights to land

·       Proved that Australia had not been “terra nullius” as the British had wrongfully believed since settlement

·       Led to introduction of new law, Native Title Act 1993

Mabo Decision and Native Title Act, effects/symbolic meaning

·       Changed Australia’s understanding of its national identity

·       Mabo: “they like to give you the bible and take away your land”

·       Force to acknowledge British settlements had been built upon the foundations of Indigenous communities, land and culture

·       Led to passing of Native Title Act 1993

o   Provide legal means for Indigenous groups to make land rights claims

·       Recognised the connection between land, identity, continuity of community for Indigenous

Mabo Decision and Native Title Act

·       Legacy of Eddie Koiki Mabo lives on, Mabo Day every 3^rd June

·       Native Title system governs modern Australian life, with everything negotiated through its framework

·       Since introduction of Native Title Act, native title has been recognised in over one third of Australian continent, however the requirements for proof are burdensome