313394 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Northern Territory National Emergency Response, White Australia Policy, Terra Nullius
WEEK 5:
Current and past policies
Most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples live in urban areas. Many run their own businesses,
commute to work, juggle work with family, enjoy sport and have aspirations for themselves and their
children. Lawyers, politicians, teachers, academics, doctors and nurses – Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples are in every professional group. Yet this is not the image presented by the media.
Negative media images such as those implanted as a result of the Northern Territory Emergency
Response (NTER) conjured up images of neglected abused children in a desperate remote wilderness
where alcohol and intoxicated men prevailed. However, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
drink less that non-Indigenous Australians and only 24% live in remote areas. Many remote
communities are alcohol free (dry).
Serious problems do exist as we have seen, and these are shared by other Indigenous peoples around
the world but the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people compares poorly with
other countries. In order to understand the origins of the negative stereotype and poor health
outcomes there is a need to review and examine the colonizing process and the policies based on ‘the
prevailing intellectual beliefs and pseudoscientific theories of the time’. This history impacts the lives
and health of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people today especially those that live in remote
areas of Australia (Smith, 2015).
The following section incorporates important concepts and relevant policies relating to Indigenous
affairs since colonisation.
Policy 1 – Colonisation: European Settlement (1788-1880’s)
• Australia was considered uninhabited and was classified as Crown land.
• In 1788 Governor Philip proclaimed sovereignty.
• European values at the time suggested that land should be used for settlement in cities and
agriculture – there were no signs of this type of civilisation.
• Because the land was considered terra nullius, any Aboriginal resistance was considered to be
rebellion not war. Occupation and dispossession were rationalised in this way.
• The impact on the Aboriginal population were death, sickness, domestication, loss of traditions
and language.
• There was culture clash, culture conflict and culture shock.
Policy 2 – The White Australia Policy (1850s-1973)
• Although this policy did not specifically target Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people it did
have a lasting effect as it contributed towards a set of white cultural values and beliefs that
impacted the development of the structure of society and national identity.
• As a consequence, groups were excluded and marginalised within society based on ethnicity
and race and a ‘them’ and ‘us’ mind set was created.
Policy 3 – ‘Protection’ through segregation (1890s-1950s)
• This development of this policy reflected the perception of Indigenous peoples as inferior
(ethnocentrism).
• This was coupled with the idea that they would die out (social Darwinism) and that there
needed to be ‘smoothing of the dying pillow’ (protestant ethic).
• ‘Protection’ resulted in forced segregation of Aboriginal Peoples from their land onto missions
and reserves.
• Between 1800s and 1970s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were sent to live on
missions and reserves. These were often run by religious groups and were under strict
government control.
• The living conditions were poor and rations of sugar, tea and flour formed the diet. Tobacco and
opium were also distributed – these have been regarded as controlling substances.
• Missions and reserves were under the control of the ‘Chief Protector of Aborigines’ who acted as
the legal guardian of all Aboriginal or ‘part’ Aboriginal children up to the age of 16 years.
• These children were not allowed to attend state schools and were classified as ‘full-bloods or
‘half-castes’.
• Children were then removed from their families, by force (stolen generations).
• All power sat with the Chief Protector. The movements of Aboriginal people, their language,
marriage, bank accounts, wages, property and debts were under the Protector’s control.
• Different cultural groups were merged on missions and reserves which often resulted in
disharmony.
• Curfews were in place and Perth was prohibited to Aboriginal people.
• Alcohol, social services benefits and the right to vote were not available to Aboriginal people.
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• Some Aboriginal people were given a certificate of exemption (‘dog tag’) which meant that they
were admitted into mainstream society but in order to receive this they were required to
disconnect themselves from their families and Aboriginal society.
• Whilst on the reserves, the speaking of tribal languages and the execution of Aboriginal ‘lore’
were prohibited as these were considered to be injurious to the welfare of Aboriginal people.
Policy 4 – Assimilation (1950s-1960s)
• In 1951 the Segregation Policy was replaced by the Assimilation policy. Assimilation policies
proposed that ‘full blood’ Indigenous people should be allowed to ‘die out’ through a process of
natural elimination, while ‘half-castes’ were encouraged to assimilate into the white community.
This approach was founded on the assumption of black inferiority and white superiority.
• The emphasis changed towards making Aboriginal people into ‘Europeans’ through the adoption
of the European lifestyle, associated customs and cultural norms. It was presumed that
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people would adopt these.
• Assimilation policies focused primarily on children, who were considered more adaptable to
white society than Indigenous adults. Consequently, one of the main features of the
assimilation era was the forcible removal of Indigenous children from their families.
Systematic racism and genocide, as defined by international law, are terms that have been directed at
this policy.
Policy 5 – Integration (1967-1972)
• In 1967 a constitutional referendum was held by the Federal government.
• 90% of Australians supported the transfer of power from the States to the Commonwealth with
regards to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were now to be counted in the
Census.
• This referendum victory awarded basic human rights to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people and acted as a foundation for the land rights movement, however it is regarded as
assimilation under another name.
Policy 6 – Self-determination (1972-1975)
• Established in 1972.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are/should be in charge of their own affairs.
• Power to make their own decisions about their own lives.
• There was strong pressure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to become self-
reliant but this was still a bureaucracy based on a consultative process ‘we’ll help you to do
what we want you to do’.
Policy 7 – Self-management 1 (1975-1989)
• The Federal Government held Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people accountable for their
decisions and financial management.
• Strong push for land rights, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation in parliament,
separate legal services and health and housing services.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were accountable for decision-making and
managements of finances.
Policy 8 – Self-management 2 (1989-1996)
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) is recognised by government.
• It was a community selected body set up to manage some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
affairs.
• The focus was on welfare, housing, employment and education.
• During this period the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health was identified as being the
worst of any Indigenous group.
• Inquiry into the Stolen Generations.
• Mabo and WIK decisions fear of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land claims.
Policy 9 – Reconciliation (1996-2007)
• The Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination (OIPC) was established within the Department of
Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) to coordinate programs and services
for Indigenous Australians.
• It advised government and aimed to develop engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander peoples at regional and local levels.
• Between 2002-2004 ‘a whole of government cooperative approach’ was trialled in 10
communities.
• ATSIC was reviewed and in 2004 was abolished. Control moved back to mainstream
government departments.
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Document Summary
Most aboriginal and torres strait islander peoples live in urban areas. Many run their own businesses, commute to work, juggle work with family, enjoy sport and have aspirations for themselves and their children. Lawyers, politicians, teachers, academics, doctors and nurses aboriginal and torres strait. Yet this is not the image presented by the media. Negative media images such as those implanted as a result of the northern territory emergency. Response (nter) conjured up images of neglected abused children in a desperate remote wilderness where alcohol and intoxicated men prevailed. However, aboriginal and torres strait islander people drink less that non-indigenous australians and only 24% live in remote areas. Serious problems do exist as we have seen, and these are shared by other indigenous peoples around the world but the health status of aboriginal and torres strait islander people compares poorly with other countries.
