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Reflections and class discussion

<p>Faith Bandler at celebrations after the 1967 referendum</p>

Bauer Media Pty Limited / The Australian Women's Weekly June 1967

<p>Faith Bandler at celebrations after the 1967 referendum</p>

1. Now you have looked at each of the Defining Moments, think about how each has impacted on the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s rights: has it helped it, obstructed it and/or opened up new areas and possibilities?

Year Defining Moment Helps rights and freedoms Obstructs rights and freedoms Opens up new areas and possibilities for rights and freedoms
1948 United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights
1949 Nationality and Citizenship Act
1956 First nuclear weapons test by British at Maralinga
1959 Social Services Act
1962 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians’ right to vote
1963 Yirrkala bark petitions
1965 Freedom Ride
1966 Gurindji strike (Wave Hill Walk-Off)
1967 Indigenous Referendum
1968 Equal wages decision
1972 Aboriginal Tent Embassy
1975 Racial Discrimination Act
1976 Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act
1979 Noonkanbah blockade
1985 Uluru handback
1988 Opening of the new Parliament House
1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
1992 Mabo High Court decision
1993 Native Title Act
1997 Bringing Them Home report (Stolen Generations)
2000 Walk for Reconciliation across Sydney Harbour Bridge
2004 Palm Island death in custody and riot
2005 Abolition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC)
2007 Northern Territory National Emergency Response
2008 National Apology to the Stolen Generations
2009 United Nations declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart

 

2. Which three of the 27 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights related events in this learning module do you think have been the most influential in helping improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people? Explain your reasons.

3. Share your top three events with the other students in the class. Which of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights events can the whole class agree have been the most influential in improving the situation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people? If an agreement cannot be reached, explain why.

4. Are there other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights that are yet to be achieved? If so, could any of these become future Defining Moments in Australian history?

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