National Inquiry into Racist Violence is announced by Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission in response to widespread concern that racist attacks are increasing.
Tens of thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their supporters march through the streets of Sydney on Australia Day, 26 January, to celebrate their survival, during national Bicentennial celebrations.
Australia’s representative to the United Nations Human Rights Committee acknowledges ‘public policy regarding the care of Aboriginal children, particularly during the postwar period, had been a serious mistake‘.
High Court judgment affirms power of Commonwealth Racial Discrimination Act over discriminatory state based legislation. The Court hands down decision on a claim by Mer people for native title rights to the Murray Islands. It allows the original claim to be heard, which the Queensland Government had attempted to block through introducing retrospective legislation abolishing land rights.
The ‘Barunga statement’ of national Aboriginal political objectives is issued to the Federal Government by Aboriginal leaders.
Fitzgerald Committee Report – Immigration: A Commitment to Australia is released, recommending more emphasis on skilled migration.
