Howard and Aboriginal Australia
Reviewing the Howard Government's Record with Indigenous People
The record of John Howard's interaction with Australian Aborigines from 1996 to 2007 reveals an aggressive colonial agenda.
1996
Immediately after his election, John Howard's first act was to tell the public he wished take over the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission. In his first budget he cut $470 million from Aboriginal spending, closing down women's centres and youth programs.
1997
He released his Wik 10-Point Plan, designed to limit Native title after the successful Wik case, and announced changes to the Native Title Act. He abused the audience at the Reconciliation Convention, rejecting the "symbolism" of the movement. He ignored United Nations condemnation of the plan and the Native Title Amendment as racist.
He announced, "What has happened with Native title is that the pendulum has swung too far in one direction, particularly after the Wik decision. What I have done with this legislation is bring it back to the middle."
1999
Howard refused to issue an apology for the Stolen Generations, but supported a preamble to the constitution that acknowledged the presence of Aboriginal people in Australia. However, he emphasised the need to focus on positive aspects of Australia's past, rather than "black armband history".
2000
Howard refused to attend the Bridge Walks for reconciliation, which was supported across Australia. He asserted, "We don't think it's appropriate for the current generation of Australians to apologise for the injustices committed by past generations."
2002 - 2006
Howard spent 2 million dollars on a review of ATSIC, then ignored the findings of the review and proceeded to recommend the abolition of the democratically elected Aboriginal organisation. He removed reconciliation from the government agenda and proceeded to abolish ATSIC and replace it with a board of unelected advisors. The first act of this National Indigenous Council was to recommend government acquisition of Aboriginal lands in the Northern Territory. He travelled to Canada and successfully lobbied the government there to join him in opposing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. He slammed the Native Title win in Perth in 1996, inciting public ill-feeling by announcing that even Sydney beaches are under threat from Native Title.
2007
He launched a military intervention into the Northern Territory, ignoring the recommendations of the Little Children are Sacred report. The intervention involved the acquisition of Aboriginal lands and suspending the Racial Discrimination act. He ordered his UN delegates to vote against the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, along with the US, New Zealand and Canada. With an election looming, he then suddenly placed reconciliation back on the government's agenda.
