Welcome to Country for the opening of Parliament
At the official opening of the Parliament, the Ngunnawal People perform a welcome to country ceremony – the first time this has happened in the national Parliament.
2000-2009
Murder of Liep Gony
Federal Immigration Minister, Kevin Andrews publicly declares his concern about the slow integration of African humanitarian arrivals. He expressed particular concern about the apparent violent behaviour of young Sudanese men; one of whom, Liep Gony, was found dead in a
National Indigenous Television – NITV launched
In 2007, NITV established a head office in Alice Springs and launches a television arm in Sydney. Soon after, it also becomes available free-to-air to Australia and eastern Papua New Guinea. In 2012, SBS takes over the management and operation
First Aboriginal leader of a state or territory government
At the official opening of the Parliament, the Ngunnawal People perform a welcome to country ceremony – the first time this has happened in the national Parliament.
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
143 member states adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States vote against the declaration and 11 nations abstain.
Stolen Generations compensation
South Australian Court awards Ngarrindjeri man Bruce Trevorrow $525,000 for ‘pain, suffering and false imprisonment’. He is the first person to receive Stolen Generations compensation.
Nauru detention centre to close
Seven Burmese asylum seekers who were detained on Nauru in October 2006 are granted resettlement in Australia, along with 72 Sri Lankan asylum seekers. The new Immigration Minister, Chris Evans, declares that Nauru will no longer be used as a
Change of Government for Australia
The Australian Labor Party, led by Kevin Rudd, wins the Federal election after eleven years of a coalition government of the Liberal and National Parties led by John Howard.
African asylum seekers targeted
Minister for Immigration, Kevin Andrews, reduces Australia’s refugee intake from African nations. Andrews cites difficulties for Sudanese refugee communities in adjusting to the Australian way of life. Andrews is accused of using the ‘race card’ in the lead up to
Australian Values Statement introduced
The Australian Values Statement is introduced requiring signature by applicants, aged 18 and over, for selected Australian visas. The information that applicants are expected to have read, or to have had read to them, is contained in Life in Australia,