Legacies of Australian Prime Ministers

 Political Leadership toward Aboriginal Australia became prevalent.  Many impacts came from the legacies both positive and negative of previous leaders like Paul Keating, John Howard and Kevin Rudd.

Paul Keating  Proved to be a man of his word and of moral integrity.  Held in high regard by Indigenous Australians, due to his encouragement of a reform in attitudes of non- Indigenous Australians.  Dec acknowledged the guilt of White- Australian’s guilt in the dispossession and murder of Aboriginal people. (‘The Redfern Statement’). Ignited controversy and unfortunate displays of racism.  ‘Native Title Judgment’ became law

Howard Government  Under Howard Gov, Aboriginal people experienced harsh outcomes and the infringement of basic human rights and elected representation.  The Mabo Judgment that had made effective legal gains were undermined to the extent where Native Title had no worth beyond it’s title.  Howard- refused to make a national apology for past atrocities.  30th June abolished the National peak representative body known as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATISIC). This starved them of the right to voice their concerns and advocate or lobby for their rights.  21st June Howard Government announced to the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) to Aboriginal Communities. Aims: to protect Aboriginal children and keep communities safe.  Racial Discrimination Act 1975 suspended temporarily.

Rudd Government  13th Feb Kevin Rudd makes apology to ‘Stolen Generation’.  Invited Federal Government to cooperate in a bipartisan approach to addressing the centuries of disadvantage faced by Aboriginal people.  Set up (NTER) Northern Territory Emergency Response as an independent review.  Critical of the suspension of the Racial Discrimination Act recommended it be reinstated.  established national consultations with Aboriginal people to discuss their views and input on the establishment of another proactive body (ATSIC).  The greatest issue that arose was the question of whether or not Rudd’s positive leadership would be sustained to attack issues disadvantaging Aboriginal people.