2015

1. 28 August Land & land rights

   Prime Minister Tony Abbott becomes the first prime minister to visit the grave of land rights campaigner Eddie Koiki Mabo on Murray Island in the Torres Strait.

2. 15 September Politics

   Malcolm Turnbull becomes Australia’s 29th Prime Minister, after launching an all-or-nothing leadership challenge against Tony Abbott, the self-declared “prime minister for indigenous affairs”.

3. 24 September

   Anthony McAvoy becomes Australia’s first Aboriginal silk. He specialises in native title claims.

4. 30 September Politics

   West Australian Aboriginal MP Ken Wyatt becomes the first Aboriginal Member of Parliament to reach the frontbench working as Assistant Health Minister.

5. 14 October Land & land rights Recognition

   The Western Australian government introduces the Noongar (Koorah, Nitja, Boordahwan) (Past, Present, Future) Recognition Bill 2015 to Parliament. The bill proposes to recognise the Noongar people as the traditional custodians of their lands and is the first piece of legislation in the history of the WA Parliament to include text in their language.

6. 21 October Recognition

   The winners of the 2nd National Indigenous Human Rights Awards are Tauto Sansbury (Dr Yunupingu Award for Human Rights), aunty Jenny Munro (Eddie Mabo Award for Social Justice) and Adam Goodes (Anthony Mundine Award for Courage).

7. November Stolen Generations

   South Australia announces a compensation fund worth $11 million for members of the Stolen Generations, the second state after Tasmania to do so. However, half of the money is allocated for memorials, counselling and other indirect compensation. ^[1].

8. November Remains repatriation

   The Australian National University returns the bones of Mungo Man, 40 years after their discovery.

9. 2 November Remains repatriation

   Kenneth Dickson, an Elder of the Dunghutti community in NSW, accepts in Hampshire, UK, the remains of a man believed to be aged between 21 and middle age, who was removed originally from Delicate Nobby, near Kempsey, and later donated to the Hampshire County Council Museums Service.^[2]

10. 9 November Politics

    Australia appears before the United Nations Human Rights Council’s 2nd Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review.

2016

1. Aboriginal languages become a new HSC subject, seven years after the NSW Aboriginal Languages Policy was introduced.

2. Several Aboriginal politicians are elected:

   • Malarndirri McCarthy (Australian Labor Party) is elected to the Senate for the Northern Territory.
   • Patrick Dodson (Australian Labor Party) is selected to represent WA in the Senate.

   Aboriginal politicians elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly:

   • Lawrence Costa (Territory Labor), representing the seat of Arafura.
     
   • Yingiya Mark Guyula (Independent), representing the seat of Nhulunbuy.
   • Chansey Paeche (Territory Labor), representing the seat of Namatjira.
   • Selena Uibo (Territory Labor), representing the seat of Arnhem.
   • Ngaree Ah Kit (Territory Labor), representing the seat of Karama.

   John Ah Kit and his daughter Ngaree Ah Kit are now the first Aboriginal father and daughter to serve in any state parliament, having both been elected to the Northern Territory Parliament.

3. From 26–27 May the first forums with the Victorian government discuss treaty with more than 400 participants.

4. January

   Apple Store and Google Play remove the online game Survival Island 3- Australia Story 3D which told players to “beware of Aborigines” and had them bludgeon Aboriginal people to death to progress through the game. An online petition, started by Aboriginal woman Georgia Mantle, gathered 84,672 signatures in just 5 days.

5. 21 January Arts Stamps

   

   One stamp of Australia Post's Australian Legends of Singles Tennis issue features Wiradjuri woman Evonne Goolagong Cawley AO MBE. She won four Australian Open singles between 1974 and 1977 and Wimbledon in 1971 and 1980. When she finished her career in the mid-1980s she had seven Grand Slam singles titles from 18 finals, and 13 major titles in all.

6. 3 February Treaty

   A meeting of 500 Aboriginal leaders in Victoria rejects constitutional recognition and passes a motion demanding that the state “resources a treaty process, including a framework for treaties, with complete collaboration with all Sovereign Peoples and Nations”. ^[3]

7. 26 February Treaty

   The Victorian government commits to begin talks to work out Australia's first treaty with Aboriginal people.^[4] The treaty aims for

   • Recognition of past injustices
   • Recognition of all 39 First Nations and their clans authority
   • Recognition of and respect for country, traditions and customs
   • A futures fund to implement and establish the treaty
   • Establishment of a democratic treaty commission
   • Land rights and land acquisition legislation and funding
   • Fresh water and sea water rights
8. March Treaty

   

   The Yolgnu Nations Assembly selects Yingiya Mark Guyulu as an independent candidate to run for the 26 August NT Legislative Assembly elections. He strongly advocated a treaty with the government.

9. 29 March Sport

   Inaugural Indigenous Football Week, to highlight the achievements of Aboriginal soccer players past and present, as well as the next generation of talent. The week is also a major fundraising initiative for John Moriarty Football, a not-for-profit organisation that works to improve education and life outcomes for young Aboriginal footballers and their families in remote Australia.

10. 18 May Land & land rights

    The Kenbi land claim, Australia’s longest running land claim, settles after 37 years. The land claim stretches across the Cox Peninsula on the western side of Darwin Harbour and includes 65,000 hectares to be used by the Larrakia and the Belyuen people. The claim overcame 2 extensive hearings, 3 Federal Court reviews and 2 High Court appeals.

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References