The Woodward Royal Commission
Encyclopedia
The full name of the Woodward Royal Commission is the Aboriginal Land Rights Commission.
(Labor Opposition Leader) promised in his election campaign to investigate Aboriginal
Land Rights in the Northern Territory
of Australia.
Gough Whitlam also wanted to give land rights to the Aboriginal people. An inquiry was made to Justice Woodward to investigate Aboriginal Land Rights.
The Whitlam Labor Government supported the findings of the Royal Commission and in a gesture of peace handed over the allotted land to the Gurindji people (see Wave Hill
protest) in August 1975.
In 1976, the Fraser
Government passed The Aboriginal Land Rights Act that allowed Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory to make claims on land that they could prove traditional ties.
History
In 1972 Gough WhitlamGough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
(Labor Opposition Leader) promised in his election campaign to investigate Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
Land Rights in the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
of Australia.
Gough Whitlam also wanted to give land rights to the Aboriginal people. An inquiry was made to Justice Woodward to investigate Aboriginal Land Rights.
The Royal Commission
Justice Woodward found:- That all Aboriginal reserve lands should be returned to the Aboriginal inhabitants
- That Aboriginal Australians had claim to other vacant crown land if they could prove traditional ties with the land
- That Aboriginal land and Aboriginal sacred sites were to be protected
- That Aboriginal land and Aboriginal land councils were to be set up to administer Aboriginal land
- That entry to Aboriginal land for mining or tourism would be subject to Aboriginal control
- That mining and other developments on Aboriginal land should proceed only with the permission of the Aboriginal land owners
- That if, mining companies were allowed to go ahead and mine in Aboriginal lands, the mining companies would be required to pay royalties to the traditional land owners
The Whitlam Labor Government supported the findings of the Royal Commission and in a gesture of peace handed over the allotted land to the Gurindji people (see Wave Hill
Wave Hill
Wave Hill is an estate and garden in New York.Wave Hill may also refer to:*Kalkaringi, Northern Territory, formerly known as Wave Hill, a township in the Northern Territory of Australia...
protest) in August 1975.
In 1976, the Fraser
Malcolm Fraser
John Malcolm Fraser AC, CH, GCL, PC is a former Australian Liberal Party politician who was the 22nd Prime Minister of Australia. He came to power in the 1975 election following the dismissal of the Whitlam Labor government, in which he played a key role...
Government passed The Aboriginal Land Rights Act that allowed Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory to make claims on land that they could prove traditional ties.