 |
AUSTRALIA'S ABORIGINAL PEOPLE - THEIR TRAGIC FATE
AUSTRALIA'S ABORIGINAL PEOPLE'S STRUGGLE TO SURVIVE. - 1788 TO 1998
CONTINUED FROM THIS SITE - JUST CLICK HERE
1953 - 1963 - BRITISH ATOMIC TESTS AT MARALINGA :- The Ooldea Reserve is closed to make way for the atomic testing, and residents are removed to Yalata, South of the Reserve. Between 1953 and 1957, the British Government exploded a number of nuclear weapons at the Emu and Maralinga testing sites in the far west of South Australia, resulting in widespread and serious radioactive contamination of the land. However, Aboriginal people living traditionally are not informed of the atomic tests and are exposed to high levels of radiation from the blasts. Many of those exposed contracted cancers and skin irritations and blindness. Signs were put up in the area warning of radiation. However, the signs were in English !
1962 - ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS ACT :- Throughout the 1940's and 1950's, the state government policy of assimilation was strengthened, but it was not until 1962 that the restrictive and segregationist Act of 1934-39 was repealed. This Act was to abolish all restrictions on Aborigines and persons of Aboriginal blood and to promote their assimilation into the community. The Aborigines Department was replaced by the Department of Aboriginal Affairs Board, which advised the Minister on the operation of the Act and on measures for promoting the welfare of the Aboriginal people.
EXPLANATION OF THE EARLY 60's - By the early sixties, assimilation had become a matter of debate, with some authorities arguing that if assimilation was achieved, it would mean the disappearance of the Aboriginal identity within the general community. Former State Premier, Don Dunstan, was one of those who argued for integration rather than assimilation, and, when in power from 1965, he gave legislative effect to the new policy with the passage of the Aboriginal Lands Trust Bill (1966), the Prohibition of Discrimination Bill (1966), the Aboriginal Affairs Act Amendment Bill (1966-67) and the Aboriginal and Historic Relics Preservation Act (1965)
MAY 1967 - ABORIGINAL CITIZENSHIP REFERENDUM :- During this referendum, 90% of Australians voted for Aboriginal people to be granted full citizenship rights and that the Commonwealth Government of Australia should take responsibility for Aboriginal affairs. Until this referendum, Aboriginal people were not allowed to own property and were subject to State laws. It is ironic that Aboriginal people fought in the two World Wars and were not considered citizens
'AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM' - Our Book
FORUM ON LEPROSY
RUTH'S DRUG AWARENESS SITE
INDIA - THE LAND OF OUR ADOPTION
INDEX OF ALL OUR PERSONAL WEB-SITES
Send E-Mail to: keithskilli@ozemail.com.au
Copyright © 2008 Keith Skillicorn. All Rights Reserved