Aboriginal politics & media
1946 Pilbara strike - Australia's longest strike
On May 1, 1946, 800 Aboriginal pastoral workers from 27 stations in Western Australia walked off the job for better pay and conditions. This was the first industrial action by Indigenous Australians since colonisation in 1788. The Pilbara strike lasted until 1949, making it the longest strike in Australia's history.
The 1946 Pilbara strike: Read more...
Wave Hill Walk-off
Aboriginal stockmen were not paid an equal wage as their white counterparts. An attempt to introduce equal wages in 1965 was unsuccessful. Aboriginal people decided to do something no-one would have ever imagined could happen: to unanimously leave the stations they worked on, putting Australia's pastoral industry into turmoil.
Wave Hill Walkoff: Read more...
The Stolen Generations
The Australian federal government is still reluctant to formally apologise and compensate members of the Stolen Generations, anticipating large compensation claims. Some state's Premiers have taken initiative already.
The Stolen Generations: Read more...
Explore the Stolen Generations timeline
A historic moment in politics: Kevin Rudd's sorry apology to the Stolen Generations
Michael Anderson - Interview with an Aboriginal leader
Michael Anderson is an Aboriginal rights activist and clan leader of the Euahlayi peoples. In 2000 he gave an interview in Bonn, Germany, talking about many issues you are wondering about.
You can download the English original and a voiced-over German version. The German text is also available.
Racial discrimination in Australia
Australia is a blessed place where white and black people live together in peace? Read a statement of the Aboriginal people who charged Australia with racial vilification and genocide.
Racial discrimination: Read more...
Where does all the money go?
The Australian governments pumped millions into Aboriginal politics, health and assistance. But where did they go? Why is the situation not improving? The answer might be in the following quote from an article in The Age:
"Of $1.3 million allocated to another COAG trial in the Far-East Kimberley region of Western Australia, only $327,000 was spent on Aboriginal people and programs over two-and-a-half years.
The rest of the money was spent on salaries, travel and other related administrative expenses of the Department of Transport and Regional Services, which administers the program." [1]
That is 75% administrative costs. Only governments can survive that.
How you can put thoughts into action - ReconciliACTION group
The ReconciliACTION Network is a volunteer anti-racism network made up of Indigenous and non-Indigenous young people aged 16 to 29 years. Their members include young people who have an interest in reconciliation and Indigenous rights issues and those who are active in their communities.
ReconciliACTION was started in 2002 by a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous young people from metropolitan, regional and remote New South Wales. Since then ReconciliACTION has grown to include over 250 young people from across Australia, with partner groups in the ACT, Victoria and Queensland.
The aims of this group include education, advocacy, support for young people working to overcome racism in their local communities and skills and leadership development. The Network is open to all interested people aged between 16 and 29 years.
Website: www.reconciliaction.org.au
Aboriginal issues in the media
Find out about Aboriginal topics in newspapers, newsletters or postings in my large resources section.
Politics & Media: Are you an Aboriginal person? Get involved!
For this project I'd like to involve Aboriginal people as much as possible. It should also become a platform for your voice and your story.
If you think you can contribute to any of these areas on the left-hand side, I am happy to listen to your advice. If necessary I can help you to put it into words, an audio file or an image for this site.
Contact me and we can find a way how your story helps towards true reconciliation.
[1] 'Inside Australia's third world', The Age, 15/9/2005
The author of this site wishes to recognise the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional custodians of the land in which we live and work.