List of laws concerning Indigenous Australians
Encyclopedia
A range of laws applying to or of specific relevance to Indigenous Australians
. A number of laws have been passed since the European settlement of Australia, initially by the Parliament of the United Kingdom
, then by the Governors or legislature of each Australian colonies and more recently by the Parliament of Australia
and that of each of its States and Territories
, these laws, arranged chronologically, include:
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
. A number of laws have been passed since the European settlement of Australia, initially by the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
, then by the Governors or legislature of each Australian colonies and more recently by the Parliament of Australia
Parliament of Australia
The Parliament of Australia, also known as the Commonwealth Parliament or Federal Parliament, is the legislative branch of the government of Australia. It is bicameral, largely modelled in the Westminster tradition, but with some influences from the United States Congress...
and that of each of its States and Territories
States and territories of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a union of six states and various territories. The Australian mainland is made up of five states and three territories, with the sixth state of Tasmania being made up of islands. In addition there are six island territories, known as external territories, and a...
, these laws, arranged chronologically, include:
Title | Jurisdiction States and territories of Australia The Commonwealth of Australia is a union of six states and various territories. The Australian mainland is made up of five states and three territories, with the sixth state of Tasmania being made up of islands. In addition there are six island territories, known as external territories, and a... | Focus | Notes |
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Aboriginal Protection Act 1869 | Victoria Parliament of Victoria The Parliament of Victoria is the bicameral legislature of the Australian state of Victoria. It follows a Westminster-derived parliamentary system and consists of The Queen, represented by the Governor of Victoria; the Legislative Council ; and the Legislative Assembly... (colonial) |
Control | |
Aborigines Protection Act 1886 (WA) | Western Australia | Control | |
Act to provide certain matters connected with the Aborigines 1889 (statute 24/1889) | Western Australia | Control | |
Aboriginal Protection and restriction of the sale of opium act 1897 Aboriginal Protection and restriction of the sale of opium act 1897 The Aboriginal Protection and Restrictions of the Sale of Opium Act 1897 was an Act of the Parliament of Queensland.As a result of dispersal, malnutrition, opium and diseases, it was widely believed in Queensland that Aborigines were members of a 'dying race'... |
Queensland | ||
Aborigines Protection Act (1909) | New South Wales | ||
Aborigines Act 1910 | Victoria | ||
Aborigines Protection (Amendment) Act (1940) | New South Wales | ||
Half-Caste Act 1886 (Vic) | Victoria | Control | |
Half-Caste Act 1886 (WA) | Western Australia | Control | |
Pitjantjatjara Lands Act 1956 | South Australia | Land rights | |
Aboriginal Lands Trust Act 1966 | South Australia | ||
Aborigines Act (NSW) 1969 | New South Wales | ||
Aboriginal Lands Act 1970 | Victoria | Land rights | |
Aboriginal Affairs (Arrangements with the States) Act 1973 | Commonwealth | Inter-governmental administration | |
National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW) National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW) The National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 is the legislation passed by the New South Wales Parliament with the explicit intent of conserving their State's natural and cultural heritage; fostering public appreciation, understanding and enjoyment of their State's natural and cultural heritage; and... |
New South Wales | Heritage | |
Aboriginal Relics Act 1975 (No. 81 of 1975) | Tasmania | ||
Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976 Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976 In Australian history, the Aboriginal Land Rights Act established the basis upon which Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory could claim rights to land based on traditional occupation. The Act was strongly based on the recommendations of Justice Woodward, who chaired the Aboriginal Land... |
Commonwealth | Land rights | |
Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land Rights Act, 1981 Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land Rights Act, 1981 The Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land Rights Act, 1981 grants certain land and other rights to the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara people in South Australia.... |
South Australia | Land rights | |
Maralinga Tjarutja Maralinga Tjarutja The Maralinga Tjarutja are the Indigenous Australian people who traditionally inhabit the remote western areas of South Australia. They are a Southern Pitjantjatjara people.The lands of the Maralinga Tjarutja bear their own name... Land Rights Act 1984 |
South Australia | Land rights | |
Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 (SA) Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 (SA) The Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 is the principal legislation passed by South Australia's Parliament to protect and preserve their State's Aboriginal heritage The Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 is the principal legislation passed by South Australia's Parliament to protect and preserve their State's... |
South Australia | Heritage | |
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission was the Australian Government body through which Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders were formally involved in the processes of government affecting their lives... Act 1989 |
Commonwealth | ||
Native Title Act 1993 Native Title Act 1993 The Native Title Act of 1993 provides for determinations of native title in Australia. The Act was passed by the Keating Labor Government in response to the High Court's decision in Mabo v Queensland... |
Commonwealth | Land rights | |
Native Title (South Australia) Act 1994 | South Australia | Land rights | |
Aboriginal Lands Act 1995 | Tasmania | ||
Living Marine Resources Management Act 1995 (No. 25 of 1995) | Tasmania | ||
Hindmarsh Island Bridge Act 1996 | Commonwealth | Development | |
Native Title Amendment Act 1998 Native Title Amendment Act 1998 The Native Title Amendment Act 1998 , also commonly referred to as the "10 Point Plan" is an Australian law created by the John Howard led Liberal government in response to the 1996 Wik Decision by the High Court of Australia... |
Commonwealth | Land rights | |
Burial and Cremation Act 2002 (No. 4 of 2002) | Tasmania | ||
National Parks and Reserves Management Act 2002 (No. 62 of 2002) | Tasmania | ||
Nature Conservation Act 2002 (No. 63 of 2002) | Tasmania | ||
Aboriginal Lands Parliamentary Standing Committee Act 2003 | South Australia | ||
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 (Qld) Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 (Qld) The Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 is legislation passed by Queensland Parliament, commencing in April 2004 to effectively recognize, protect and conserve Aboriginal cultural heritage in the State of Queensland... |
Queensland | Heritage | |
Commission of Inquiry (Children in State Care and Children on APY Lands) Act 2004 | South Australia | Investigatory/ Child protection |
|
Aboriginal Land Council Elections Act 2004 | Tasmania | ||
Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 | Victoria | Heritage | |
Stolen Generations of Aboriginal Children Act 2006 | Tasmania | Compensation for people of the Stolen Generations | |
Northern Territory National Emergency Response Northern Territory National Emergency Response The Northern Territory National Emergency Response was a package of changes to welfare provision, law enforcement, land tenure and other measures, introduced by the Australian federal government under John Howard in 2007 to address claims of rampant child sexual abuse and neglect in Northern... Act 2007 (No. 129, 2007) |
Commonwealth |
Further reading
- To 1987 -
External links
- Indigenous Australia: Timeline - Contact 1901 - 1969 at the Australian MuseumAustralian MuseumThe Australian Museum is the oldest museum in Australia, with an international reputation in the fields of natural history and anthropology. It features collections of vertebrate and invertebrate zoology, as well as mineralogy, palaeontology, and anthropology...
- Indigenous Australia: Timeline - Contact 1901 - 1969 at the Australian Museum