Aboriginal Land Rights Essay
Throughout Australia’s history, Aboriginals have been treated with disdain and disrespect. Early Australian legislative principles have allowed Indigenous Australians rights to be minimal. However, throughout the past century acts have been passed which have allowed the rights of Aboriginal Australians to become equal with their counterpart. It is this hypothesis that will be investigated. Key events and people throughout the history of Australia have developed their land rights. These events have formed various different legal principles and acts which have further shaped the course of Aboriginal land rights. One such principle that has been vital in early land rights is the term, Terra Nullius. Terms such as these have been abolished. Subsequently,
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The Yirralka bark petitions, Wave Hill walk-off, Mabo Case and the Native Title being introduced all contributed into the development of Aboriginal Australians land rights. The initial struggle for rights began in 1963 (Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, 2016). This was the struggle of the Yolngu people and their land. They produced a petition and sent it to the government. Subsequently denied, the Yolngu people were not defeated. Instead, they started another case against the government. 1971, the year of the case Milirrpum v Nabalco Pty Ltd, was slightly successful. Commonly known as the Gove land rights case, it protested the use of the Yolngu people’s land for mining purposes. The government acknowledged the connection the Yolngu had with the land but denied the case due to restrictive laws. This caused the Whitlam Government to investigate Aboriginal land rights which subsequently led to the Aboriginal Land Rights Act, 1972 (Creative Spirits, 2016). After this struggle, the ability for land to be given back was acquired.It was during this time that Vincent Lingiari had been striking for better pay and working conditions but, as he gained momentum it became about land. This new Act allowed for success, Vincent Lingiari of the Gurindji tribe was famously given back his land by prime minister Gough Whitlam with a symbolic gesture (see appendix 1). This success occurred due to the addition of a new legal
The Yirralka bark petitions, Wave Hill walk-off, Mabo Case and the Native Title being introduced all contributed into the development of Aboriginal Australians land rights. The initial struggle for rights began in 1963 (Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, 2016). This was the struggle of the Yolngu people and their land. They produced a petition and sent it to the government. Subsequently denied, the Yolngu people were not defeated. Instead, they started another case against the government. 1971, the year of the case Milirrpum v Nabalco Pty Ltd, was slightly successful. Commonly known as the Gove land rights case, it protested the use of the Yolngu people’s land for mining purposes. The government acknowledged the connection the Yolngu had with the land but denied the case due to restrictive laws. This caused the Whitlam Government to investigate Aboriginal land rights which subsequently led to the Aboriginal Land Rights Act, 1972 (Creative Spirits, 2016). After this struggle, the ability for land to be given back was acquired.It was during this time that Vincent Lingiari had been striking for better pay and working conditions but, as he gained momentum it became about land. This new Act allowed for success, Vincent Lingiari of the Gurindji tribe was famously given back his land by prime minister Gough Whitlam with a symbolic gesture (see appendix 1). This success occurred due to the addition of a new legal