2012

1. April

   The first Aboriginal-owned biobank opens in the Hunter Valley.

2. 2 April Arts

   Veteran Aboriginal country musician Jimmy Little, dies after a long illness, aged 75, at his home in Dubbo in western NSW.

3. 2 May Prison

   The NSW Governor launches the Justice Reinvestment Campaign which aims to spend more money on prevention and early intervention than imprisonment.

4. 18 June Northern Territory Intervention

   Campaign Stand For Freedom presents 43,000 signatures to the Australian government supporting Aboriginal demands that the Stronger Futures legislation be withdrawn.

5. 30 June Northern Territory Intervention

   Despite fierce resistance and a petition with 43,000 signatures, both government and opposition pass the Stronger Futures legislation, extending the Northern Territory Intervention for another 10 years. The laws introduce tougher penalties for alcohol offences (up to 6 months imprisonment for a single can of beer and 18 months for a 6-pack), extend pornography restrictions and continue to prevent courts from taking customary law or cultural practice into consideration. The law introduces the most severe social security penalty in living memory – a 13 week non-payment period – for parents and carers whose children are not attending school regularly.

6. July Stolen Generations

   Second progress scorecard of the Stolen Generations Working Partnership.

7. July Northern Territory Intervention

   The government extends income management to five new trial locations: Bankstown (NSW), Shepparton (VIC), Playford (SA) and Logan and Rockhampton (QLD).

8. 9 August Protest

   After widespread outrage and a petition signed by 20,337 people Facebook removes a page of Aboriginal memes which portrays Aboriginal people as drunks who sniff petrol and bludge on welfare.

9. 15 September Self-determination

   More than 200 people, including newly arrived asylum seekers, receive an Aboriginal passport. The Aboriginal passport was first introduced in 1988 by Palawa (Tasmanian) activist, Michael Mansell, and was issued to an Aboriginal delegation that visited Libya.

10. 5 October Arts

    The Australian Ballet announces that with Ella Havelka, a descendant of the Wiradjuri people, for the first time in its 50-year history, an Aboriginal dancer joins the ranks of the national ballet company.

11. 27 October Remains repatriation

    The Martin-Luther University, Halle, Germany announces to return 4 skeletons and 3 skulls to Australia, but does not give a date ^[1].

12. 29 November Arts

    Yothu Yindi is inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Music Awards.

13. 12 December Arts

    In an historic day for Australia, SBS begins broadcasting nationally a dedicated Aboriginal TV service available free-to-air for the first time. The new channel incorporates NITV (National Indigenous Television) on SBS4 (digital channel 34) and starts at 12pm on 12/12/2012.

14. 15 December Land & land rights

    More than 30 years after the Mabo decision the Queensland government returns the title over the Murray Islands back to the Meriam people.

2013

1. Josephine (Josie) Farrer (Australian Labor Party) is elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, representing the seat of Kimberley in Western Australia. Jacqui Lambie (Palmer United Party) is elected Senator for Tasmania.

2. Singer Jessica Mauboy wins the prestigious ARIA Award for best female artist.

3. January Northern Territory Intervention

   A report by the Australian National Audit Office finds the federal government spends more than $100 million per year to administer income management in the Northern Territory. More than 17,000 people are on income management at the end of June 2012, costing the Commonwealth government between $6,600 and $7,900 dollars per person, per year ^[2].

4. 4 February Stolen Generations

   The Supreme Court of Western Australia in Perth begins a "landmark" Stolen Generations test case which started in 2010 when law firm Lavan Legal lodged a Writ on behalf of 9 members of the Collard family, including parents Donald and Sylvia, whose children were removed without consent and placed in state care between 1958 and 1961 ^[3].

5. 13 February Recognition

   The Australian Parliament passes with bi-partisan support the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Recognition Bill 2012 which recognises the unique and special place of Aboriginal people and sets out a review process to progress the route to a referendum.

6. 14 March Politics

   The Northern Territory Country Liberal Party elects Gamilaroi man Adam Giles (Country Liberal Party) as Chief Minister. He is the first Aboriginal person to head an Australian government.

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References