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Aborigines And Their Place In Politics
For much of their history, Australia・s major parties did not perceive a need to have ．Aboriginal affairs・ policies, but this altered in the 1960s and 1970s as the Aboriginal interest came to occupy a more prominent position. ... The approaches throughout history of these major parties will be discussed briefly in order to gain an understanding of the foundation of each party・s beliefs and platforms in regards to Aborigines. The main political issues facing Aborigines in society today will be identified, and subsequently the main political parties approach and policies will be distinguished in relation to each issue. ... From 1937, the approach of all governments was one of ．assimilation・, whereby Aborigines would submit to indoctrination in white ways before taking their place in the general Australian community. ... As attitudes changed, State governments began to amend many of the laws that denied Aborigines equality with whites. ... Whitlam guaranteed that a Labor government would not falter to override any State laws ．which discriminated against Aborigines, or which supervised Aborigines, or which reduced the opportunities for Aborigines to conduct themselves as they wished・. Shifting aside ．assimilation・ and ．integration・, Labor adopted ．self-determination・, a policy which spoke of Aborigines ultimately being able to ．decide the pace and nature of their future development・, where they would ．take a real and effective responsibility for their own affairs・. After becoming Prime Minister, Whitlam took it further with his talk of restoring to Aborigines ．their lost power of self-determination in economic, social and political affairs・. Within a year of its election, the Whitlam government was discovering that its position among Aborigines was sliding outrageously. ... During the Fraser years, Labor was proud of the work of the Whitlam government, which, it claimed, had ．developed achievements and advances, which remain unparalleled in the history of our politics since the British occupation・. ... The Liberal・s were prepared to cast aside assimilationist ideas in their identification of Aborigines・ fundamental right to maintain their racial identity and traditional lifestyle or, if preferred, to adopt partially or entirely a European lifestyle. The Liberal Party・s Aboriginal Affairs policy emerged as ．self-management・, a policy that was held to distinguish Liberal policy from that of Labor, stressing as it did that Aborigines should not only be responsible for their future development, but also accountable for the success or failure of such development. National Party politicians have been far less prepared than the Liberals to accept that Aborigines require special assistance to meet their needs. The primary political issues faced by Aborigines today include Aboriginal death in custody, reconciliation, land rights including native title and the Mabo decision, and the Stolen Generation.
Approximate Word count = 2151
Approximate Pages = 8.6
(250 words per page double spaced)
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