Documents - Albert Namatjira and citizenship, 1958-59

Page 1 of 6 Natives (Citizenship Rights) Act, 1944-1951, Western Australia. An Act to provide for the acquisition of full rights of citizenship by aborigine natives. Assented to 23 December 1944.

Western Australia Natives (Citizenship Rights) Act 1944

Western Australia, Government Gazette, 29 February 1952.

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Paul Hasluck, House of Representatives, 8 June 1950

Commonwealth of Australia, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), House of Representatives, 8 June 1950, pp 3976-3981.

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International Labour Organization Convention 107

United Nations Association of Australia, 1957

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This register was commonly referred to as 'The Stud Book' by its critics.

First page of the Northern Territory Register of Wards

Northern Territory, Government Gazette, 13 May 1957

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Page 1 of 3 Natives (Citizenship Rights) Amendment Act 1958, Western Australia. An Act to amend the Natives (Citizenship Rights) Act 1944-1951. Assented to 23 December 1958.

Western Australia Natives (Citizenship Rights) Amendment Act 1958

Western Australia, Government Gazette

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Douglas Lockwood, who knew Namatjira, reported on the court case. He was critical of both the legislation and the federal government's handling of this affair.

Rise and fall of Namatjira

Douglas Lockwood, The Herald (Melbourne), 8 October 1958

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Reporting of the trial of Albert Namatjira was sympathetic, though sensational coverage often hid the facts of the case; that becoming a citizen was at the cost of relinquishing ordinary social relationships with kinsfolk.

Stop Press! Public outflowing of support for Albert Namatjira

Various Australian newspapers 1958

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Activists such as Shirley Andrews from the Council for Aboriginal Rights and Stan Davey from the Victoria Aborigines Advancement League used the letters pages to draw attention to the broader implications of the Namatjira court case.

Letters to the Editor concerning Albert Namatjira's sentence

Shirley Andrews, Letter to the Editor, The Herald, Melbourne, 11 October 1958; Stan Davey, Letter to the Editor, The Age, Melbourne, 12 December 1958

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This letter explains that theoretically Aboriginal Australians are citizens, but their rights as such are constrained by State legislation.

Attorney-General Garfield Barwick to Gordon Bryant, Member for Wills, on Aboriginal citizenship

9 July 1959, Box 10/4, Council for Aboriginal Rights (Vic.), Papers, MS 12913, State Library of Victoria

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The Minister for Territories, Paul Hasluck, reported the definition of assimilation and the agreement reached by the States at the 1961 Native Welfare Conference to the House of Representatives, 20 April 1961

States agreed on a policy of assimilation at the 1961 Native Welfare Conference

Commonwealth of Australia, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), House of Representatives, 20 April 1961, p. 1051

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Northern Territory Welfare Ordinance 1953-1960

The Ordinances of the Northern Territory of Australia in force on 1st January 1961, vol. 3, Commonwealth Government Printer

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'The Australian Aborigines: a summary of their situation in all states in 1962'

Box 3/4, Council for Aboriginal Rights (Vic.), Papers, MS 12913, State Library of Victoria

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Dr Barry Christophers went through the Register of Wards noting the frequent use of insulting and disparaging names used in this official register of Northern Territory Aborigines.

'The Stud Book: an instrument of torture against the Aborigines'

The Guardian, 27 February 1964

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