The native Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia had, since western settlement in 1788, been dispossessed of their natural freedoms and rights. Centuries later, by 1954, the law still discriminated against the indigenous, inhibiting their civil liberties; however, many improvements have occurred which substantially bettered the standards of life as present.
Originally, Aborigines were considered savages and fell under the Flora and Fauna Act, but through the reconciliation movement and advocation of rights Aborigines are now recognised as Australia’s first peoples and citizens of the commonwealth. The civil right campaigns, which significantly impacted the referendum, were conducted by some of the first Aboriginals to attend university. A leading figure in the crusade for equality was Charles Perkins, the first Aboriginal man to graduate university. Along with the reconciliation movement, the call regarding social equity by activists like Perkins, prompted the country’s prior and current attempts to give justice for past wrongs. Albeit even with achieving so much, the struggle for equal rights and freedoms has persisted into the twenty-first century, along with certain inequalities and social injustices. The movement, which significantly marked improvement in the rights and freedoms of the indigenous peoples, is considered to have begun with the 1967 referendum. Previously, native Australians, as remembered by New South Wales first Aboriginal minister, Linda Burney, “…existed under the Flora and Fauna Act.” (J, Pearlman & J, Gibson). During the 1967 referendum approximately 90% voted to remove the clauses, which inhibited the civil liberties of Indigenous Australians. The indigenous were no longer regulated by the Flora and Fauna Act,but the laws of the commonwealth as citizens with the removal of the Constitution’s section, “127. In… the numbers of the people… or of a State or other part of the Commonwealth aboriginal natives should not be counted.” (The 1967 referendum). Although Native Australians weren 't considered people before 1967, Indigenous enfranchisement for the Commonwealth elections was provided in 1962. The State control of and interventions in the lives of the Indigenous people had been extreme (P, Dudgeon & co. The Social, Cultural and Historical Context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians). Even so, with the enactment of the referendum voting rights were confirmed, along with established citizenship and being a part of the census. From formerly being forced to adopt the lifestyle of white Australians, which suppressed the Aboriginal cultural identity, to now being urged to express heritage and preserve long practiced traditions and ceremonies, the indigenous freedoms have greatly improved. Both amendments had being pivotal in positively affecting the lives of Aborigines: it lead to non-indigenous Australians to reconstruct their attitudes …show more content…
The Indigenous had been deprived of civil liberties for a long time, and it was only in the late 1950’s, guided by the American Civil Rights Campaigns, that Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal activists approached campaigning in an organised way. Mirroring the United States, activist gathered together for the Freedom Ride of 1965, which brought specific attention to the atrocious living conditions endured by the Aboriginal people, and how they routinely were banned from public facilities, shops and businesses (Freedom Ride, 1965). The Freedom Ride’s intention had been to reduce the social obstacles between races, and goad Aborigines in defending themselves from discriminatory attacks. Later in the 1960’s, the civil rights campaigns proceeded in hopes of including natives in social service benefits, such as old age pension and unemployment benefits. It had been the civil rights campaigns from the 1950’s and onwards, that resulted in the changed approach against racial issues. The government had not permitted any of the Indigenous peoples to be uninfluenced by the legislation that was implemented country-wide. The extremity reflected white society’s perception of native Australians, particularly from the 1950’s and earlier, which in turn influenced the perception of how the indigenous were treated. The success of the campaigns, but especially the Freedom Ride, can be attributed to Charles Perkins: advocator and publicist of the Aboriginal cause. He had become a national spokesman, exposing the endemic discrimination through the consistent media coverage and bringing it to the nation’s scrutiny. Perkins propelled the civil rights campaigns and public urgency to better the indigenous rights and freedoms greatly. His efforts, alongside the change in how
Originally, Aborigines were considered savages and fell under the Flora and Fauna Act, but through the reconciliation movement and advocation of rights Aborigines are now recognised as Australia’s first peoples and citizens of the commonwealth. The civil right campaigns, which significantly impacted the referendum, were conducted by some of the first Aboriginals to attend university. A leading figure in the crusade for equality was Charles Perkins, the first Aboriginal man to graduate university. Along with the reconciliation movement, the call regarding social equity by activists like Perkins, prompted the country’s prior and current attempts to give justice for past wrongs. Albeit even with achieving so much, the struggle for equal rights and freedoms has persisted into the twenty-first century, along with certain inequalities and social injustices. The movement, which significantly marked improvement in the rights and freedoms of the indigenous peoples, is considered to have begun with the 1967 referendum. Previously, native Australians, as remembered by New South Wales first Aboriginal minister, Linda Burney, “…existed under the Flora and Fauna Act.” (J, Pearlman & J, Gibson). During the 1967 referendum approximately 90% voted to remove the clauses, which inhibited the civil liberties of Indigenous Australians. The indigenous were no longer regulated by the Flora and Fauna Act,but the laws of the commonwealth as citizens with the removal of the Constitution’s section, “127. In… the numbers of the people… or of a State or other part of the Commonwealth aboriginal natives should not be counted.” (The 1967 referendum). Although Native Australians weren 't considered people before 1967, Indigenous enfranchisement for the Commonwealth elections was provided in 1962. The State control of and interventions in the lives of the Indigenous people had been extreme (P, Dudgeon & co. The Social, Cultural and Historical Context of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians). Even so, with the enactment of the referendum voting rights were confirmed, along with established citizenship and being a part of the census. From formerly being forced to adopt the lifestyle of white Australians, which suppressed the Aboriginal cultural identity, to now being urged to express heritage and preserve long practiced traditions and ceremonies, the indigenous freedoms have greatly improved. Both amendments had being pivotal in positively affecting the lives of Aborigines: it lead to non-indigenous Australians to reconstruct their attitudes …show more content…
The Indigenous had been deprived of civil liberties for a long time, and it was only in the late 1950’s, guided by the American Civil Rights Campaigns, that Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal activists approached campaigning in an organised way. Mirroring the United States, activist gathered together for the Freedom Ride of 1965, which brought specific attention to the atrocious living conditions endured by the Aboriginal people, and how they routinely were banned from public facilities, shops and businesses (Freedom Ride, 1965). The Freedom Ride’s intention had been to reduce the social obstacles between races, and goad Aborigines in defending themselves from discriminatory attacks. Later in the 1960’s, the civil rights campaigns proceeded in hopes of including natives in social service benefits, such as old age pension and unemployment benefits. It had been the civil rights campaigns from the 1950’s and onwards, that resulted in the changed approach against racial issues. The government had not permitted any of the Indigenous peoples to be uninfluenced by the legislation that was implemented country-wide. The extremity reflected white society’s perception of native Australians, particularly from the 1950’s and earlier, which in turn influenced the perception of how the indigenous were treated. The success of the campaigns, but especially the Freedom Ride, can be attributed to Charles Perkins: advocator and publicist of the Aboriginal cause. He had become a national spokesman, exposing the endemic discrimination through the consistent media coverage and bringing it to the nation’s scrutiny. Perkins propelled the civil rights campaigns and public urgency to better the indigenous rights and freedoms greatly. His efforts, alongside the change in how