" Invasion " Day !

The vast majority of Australians celebrate January 26 as " Australia Day " in recognition of the arrival of the first fleet, but to many of our Aboriginal citizens - that became " Invasion Day " !

Looked at from the point of view of those who had lived here for thousands of years, the uninvited arrival of people from the other side of the world could be seen as an " invasion ".   They asked no permission and they very quickly proclaimed laws that they demanded the Indigenous residents obey - and enforced those laws harshly.  Little attempt was made to protect the rights and customs of the original residents.

Basically, we set about creating a prosperous country for the white settlers as a trickle of people became a flood.   Minerals were discovered and mines opened.  The newcomers imported horses, sheep and pigs - and much of the land was given over to  agriculture - from which the natives were excluded.  Australia became a country divided - between black and white.

For the next 179 years the original inhabitants were basically ignored.    They were not citizens and were not counted in the census.   They could not get a passport or vote in elections -  and they were forbidden the great Australian custom of having a beer on a hot day !

All that changed on May 27, 1967 when Australia voted in a referendum to right this wrong, and 90.7% of voters bestowed citizenship on our original inhabitants.  At the stroke of a pen, they had the legal rights available to every citizen in this country - but in many ways, nothing changed !

Many Aboriginal people have assimilated into white culture.  They are the people living next door who have children in the local school, have a job and pay taxes.   They are indistinguishable from others in our mixed migrant community, but others try to maintain a traditional life in a remote area - and here the difference in lifestyle becomes pronounced.

Aboriginal housing falls way below national standards, many Aboriginal children do not attend school - or receive a lesser education than their white peers.   Jobs in the bush are scarce, and the " benefit " of citizenship has condemned many to a welfare culture.

Huge amounts of money have been thrown at the problem by various governments, but few improvements have been permanent.  An " angry culture " has developed in some Aboriginal communities and there is a movement to reclaim the land - a legal argument that has had some success in the nation's High court.

The past can not be changed.  We did indeed behave badly with the Indigenous people and that was the normal procedure on planet Earth at that time.  The Europeans - by right of their advance in ship building and force of arms - simply took possession of lands they discovered - as a right !  In many cases, the people of those lands were enslaved.

It is unrealistic to expect all those who have come here since 1788 to get on a ship or plane - and go home. Australia has become one of the great trading nations of the world and it's Aboriginal people have a part to play in advancing it further - and enjoying the prosperity that it's success can bring to it's citizens.

The future for all the citizens that call Australia home - and that includes the original Aboriginal people - will only be achieved if the future is a common purpose where we embrace equality.  To do that, we need to draw a line under the past - and help the Aboriginal people make the transition into what this twenty-first century has to offer.

That can only be achieved if both side - black and white - find common ground in the middle !