A Shameful Australian Past but a Hopeful Future

When Australians celebrate “Australia Day” it is in honour of Captain Arthur Phillip’s discovery and permanent settlement of Port Jackson on 26th January, 1788. What was to come after this discovery is a long series of incidents of human cruelty and domination which certainly does not call for any kind of celebration, rather a time of reflection for those who lost their lives, and their way of life, at the hands of the British colonisers. Upon declaring the land of Australia terra nullius, meaning a land belonging to no-one, the British colonisers went on to create a prosperous land of opportunities for themselves building houses, farms and cities which resulted in Australian society as we know it today. Meanwhile, Aboriginal people were being separated from their families and forced into labour through violent means with no legal rights or recognition as human beings.

In 1967, Aboriginal people were granted the right to vote by the Australian Government, but the change in legislation did not mean that they were finally recognised as equal citizens. The long history of abuse and prejudice towards them meant that swift social changes did not occur and they continued to be seen by many non-Aboriginal Australians as second-rate citizens, similar to the mistreatment of indigenous people in other countries such as America and Africa.

Many of the issues faced by Aboriginal Australians today include racism, discrimination, health problems and a lack of employment and educational opportunities. It can be argued that they receive the same opportunities as everyone else according to the governmental laws and legislations that have changed over time in regards to voting, a right to an education, health and housing benefits and employment. However, the reality is that in practice these laws cannot force people to cease being ignorant and racist towards a people and culture they do not understand.

The most recent major step in the direction of conciliation occurred on 13th February 2008 when Kevin Rudd publicly apologised to the stolen generations on behalf of the Australian Federal Government. This major political and historical apology to the stolen generations has given hope to all Australians that social justice for Aboriginal communities may finally come to fruition. It marked a new beginning which could pave the way towards a more harmonious and unified existence in the future.

However, this apology cannot immediately rectify the ongoing problems faced by Aboriginal communities in Australia. There is an urgent need for Aboriginal cultural education in our schools, workplaces, the government, religious faculties and for everyone living as an Australian in today’s multicultural society. If the wider public does not understand Aboriginal history and how it is inherently tied to non-Aboriginal Australian history, the result will be an ongoing epidemic of racism, ignorance and misconceptions that have plagued Australia for the past 221 years.

We need to create a social environment where all Australians live together in harmony, free of racist attitudes, respecting one another’s cultures and working together to create a better world for future generations. Now is the time to take action. Many small steps will play a crucial role in positive change. Equality of all people in Australia is vital to the pulse of our country.