PRESS STATEMENT NO. 74
6 April 1973
ABORIGINALS AND~ SOCIETY
Statement by the Prime Minister, the
Hon. E. G. Whitlam, M. P.,
circulated to a conference of Commonwealth and State
Ministers concerned with Aboriginal Affairs in Adelaide,
Friday, 6 April, 1973
The referendum of 1967, by an overwhelming majority, gave to
the Commonwealth concurrent powers with the States in respect of
Aboriginals. The constitution provides that in matters where concurrent
powers are held Commonwealth legislation will prevail. It is my
Government's belief that Aboriginal Affairs is a matter of national concern,
requires the exercise of the fullest range of legislative, executive
and financial powers, and represents in the eyes of the world a test of
the integrity and humanity of the whole people of Australia. My
Government intends therefore to assume full responsibility for policy
ana finance in respect of Aboriginal Affairs and will take any necessary
legislative action to this end.
At the same time, my Government is convinced that, in
formulating and giving effect to its responsibility, it must draw upon
the knowledge, experience and services of all sections of Government.
It will not therefore aim to establish an omnibus Commonwealth Department
of Aboriginal Affairs. It will instead seek to devolve upon a wide
range of Commonwealth, State and local authorities, as well as upon
organisations of Aboriginals themselves, responsibility for carrying
out the policies decided upon by my Government. These authorities
would be responsible for Aboriginals in the same matters and in the same
way as they now are functionally responsible for the community generally.
We have already taken some steps towards a rationalisation of
our own administration of Aboriginal Affairs in the Northern Territory
by combining the former Office of Aboriginal Affairs and Welfare ' Division
of the Northern Territory Administration and by transferring responsibility
for Aboriginal health and education to the Ministers for health and education.
Further transfers of functional responsibilities will be arranged. I
believe that we have already made significant progress in rationalisin~ g
the administrative structure and welding into a single unit those
responsible for t he initiation of planning and policy proposals.
In matters of State constitutional responsibility such as health,
education and so on, my Government will be seeking the help of all State
Ministers and their Departments both in assisting the Commonwealth Minister
and Department of Aboriginal Affairs to formulate appropriate policies
and in giving effect to them within their State jurisdiction. I hope
that Ministers will collaborate with us in the next few months to enable
their officials to confer with ours to work out the most effective
means of putting this plan into operation. c.* o/
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The basic object 9f my Government's policy is to restore to the
Aboriginal people of Australia their lost power of self-determination
in economic, social and political affairs. The Minister for Aboriginal
Affairs, Mr. Bryant, will be introducing into Parliament, I hope during
the budget session, legislation to enable Aboriginal groups and
communities to incorporate for the conduct of their own affairs. We see
these incorporated societies, set up for purposes chosen by their
Aboriginal members, determining their own decision-making processes,
choosing their own leaders and executives in ways they will themselves
decide, as the primary instruments of Aboriginal authority at the local
and community level.
The Government will also set up, on the advice of Aboriginals,
procedures for the election of freely-chosen Aboriginal representatives
from the various regions of Aboriginal population to form a consultative
council with which the Government will confer on matters affecting
Aboriginals. Mr. Bryant has already convened initial meetings towards
the establishment of this body.
Traditional Aboriginal societies have had close associations with
specific areas of land, and there are many Aboriginal communities which
have maintained that association substantially unbroken. In respect of
land reserved for Aboriginal use and benefit it is the firm policy of the
Government to vest such lands in the Aboriginals, as far as practicable
in ways which accord with traditional Aboriginal law and practice. Mr.
Justice E. A. Woodward has been commissioned to confer with Aboriginal
communities concerned and to advise the legislative and administrative
actions required. His enquiry will also, of course, extend to land
outside reserves0 The Government will await wit# interest his
recommendations in respect of those situations where traditional association
can be established for such land outside reserves,.
In the meantime, my Government plans, as opportunity offers, to
purchase or acquire land which it will vest in the resident Aboriginal
communities and you will be aware that it has undertaken to provide
million per year for the next 10 years for this purpose0 In this way my
Government hopes to restore as far as possible the traditional association
of Aboriginal communities with their land and also provide them with a base
for their economic and social development.
This policy of re-establishing the traditional association of
Aboriginal communities with the land is linked with support for the
preservation and development of Aboriginal languages and culture generally.
A start has already been made in ' basing education of Aborigines on
literacy first in their own tribal tongue0 Increasing support will be
given to the Aboriginal arts and Aboriginals will be helped where they
wish to do so to maintain the active ceremonial life on which these arts
were traditionally based.
An opportunity for self-determination and independent action
would serve little purpose if Aboriginals continued to be economically
and socially deprived. The Government therefore plans to help them as
individuals, groups or communities, in crafts, trades and professions
and as business enterpreneurs. To this end programs of socially valuable
special work projects, vocational training and grants and loans in support
of enterprises, will be actively promoted.
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More generally, my Government is anxious that 200 years of
despoliation, injustice and discrimination have seriously damaged and
demoralised the once proud Aboriginal people. The Government, on behalf
of the Australian people, accepts responsibility for their active and
progressive rehabilitation.
We will legislate to outlaw all forms of discrimination and will
allocate greatly increased resources to overcome the handicaps under which
Aboriginals now labour and to improve their health and capacity generally.
We will not rest until they have taken up, as a distinctive and honoured
component in the Australian society, the position to which their rights
as the first Australians entitle them,