Legacies of Australian Prime

Ministers

1992- Political Leadership toward Aboriginal Australia became prevalent.

Many impacts came from the legacies both positive and negative of previous leaders like Paul Keating, John Howard and Kevin Rudd.

Paul Keating

Proved to be a man of his word and of moral integrity. Held in high regard by Indigenous Australians, due to

his encouragement of a reform in attitudes of non- Indigenous Australians.

Dec 1992- acknowledged the guilt of White- Australian’s guilt in the dispossession and murder of Aboriginal people. (‘The Redfern Statement’). Ignited controversy and unfortunate displays of racism.

‘Native Title Judgment’ became law

Howard Government

Under Howard Gov, Aboriginal people experienced harsh outcomes and the infringement of basic human rights and elected representation.

The Mabo Judgment that had made effective legal gains were undermined to the extent where Native Title had no worth beyond it’s title.

Howard- refused to make a national apology for past atrocities. 30th June 2005- abolished the National peak representative body known as

the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATISIC). This starved them of the right to voice their concerns and advocate or lobby for their rights.

21st June 2007- Howard Government announced to the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) to Aboriginal Communities. Aims: to protect Aboriginal children and keep communities safe.

Racial Discrimination Act 1975 suspended temporarily.

Rudd Government

13th Feb 2008- Kevin Rudd makes apology to ‘Stolen Generation’. Invited Federal Government to cooperate in a bipartisan approach to

addressing the centuries of disadvantage faced by Aboriginal people. Set up (NTER) Northern Territory Emergency Response as an

independent review. Critical of the suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 -

recommended it be reinstated. 2008- established national consultations with Aboriginal people to

discuss their views and input on the establishment of another proactive body (ATSIC).

The greatest issue that arose was the question of whether or not Rudd’s positive leadership would be sustained to attack issues disadvantaging Aboriginal people.