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Petitions

A number of Aboriginal groups have used the petition - to monarchs, to the Governor-General and to parliaments - since Tasmanian Aborigines petitioned Queen Victoria in 1846.

Petition to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, 17 February 1846

Bain Attwood and Andrew Markus, The Struggle for Aboriginal Rights: A Documentary History, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1999, pp 38-39.

Download Petition to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, 17 February 1846 [PDF 68kb]

Petition to King George V, launched 1933

Document 11, Bain Attwood and Andrew Markus, 'Thinking black: William Cooper and the Australian Aborigines' League', Aboriginal Studies Press, Canberra, 2004, pp. 35-36

Download Petition to King George V, launched 1933 [PDF 9kb]

Petition, Aboriginal Australian Fellowship, 1957

Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, MS 9377, State Library of Victoria

More info on Petition, Aboriginal Australian Fellowship, 1957

This was the first of many petitions which the Federal Council for Aboriginal Advancement ran to press for a referendum to get the Federal Government to accept responsibility in Aboriginal affairs.

Petition for a referendum, Federal Council for Aboriginal Advancement, 1958

Barry Christophers Papers, MS 7992, box 16, National Library of Australia, Canberra

More info on Petition for a referendum, Federal Council for Aboriginal Advancement, 1958

This form was circulated throughout the country during 1962-1963.

National petition form, entitled 'Towards equal citizenship for Aborigines', 1962

Box 16, 'Petition referendum', Barry Christopher Papers, 1951-1981, MS7992/8, National Library of Australia

More info on National petition form, entitled 'Towards equal citizenship for Aborigines', 1962

Page 1 of 2 This petition is from representatives of Yirrkala clans concerning proposed mining of their traditional lands. This version of the Bark Petition contains a copy of the petition. The original petition is in storage to prevent the signatures from fading.

Petition to the Prime Minister embedded in a bark painting, from Yirrkala residents, 1963

Parliament House, Canberra; images courtesy National Archives of Australia, Canberra

More info on Petition to the Prime Minister embedded in a bark painting, from Yirrkala residents, 1963

The Aboriginal weekly wage of three pounds three shillings and three pence a week - about one fifth of the wage paid to other workers.

Equal wages campaign petition, 1965

Barry Christophers Papers, 1951-1981, MS7992/8, National Library of Australia, Canberra

More info on Equal wages campaign petition, 1965

This petition was prepared by the Legislative Reform Committee of FCAATSI. It shows the hopes which this committee had for greater Commonwealth involvement in Aboriginal affairs.

Referendum petition, FCAATSI 1966

Barrie Pittock personal papers

More info on Referendum petition, FCAATSI 1966

Petition to Lord Casey, Governor-General of Australia from four Gurindji spokesmen, April 1967

National Library of Australia, Frank Hardy Papers, 4887/73/6

Download Petition to Lord Casey, Governor-General of Australia from four Gurindji spokesmen, April 1967 [PDF 863kb]

Land rights petition, FCAATSI, 1968

Pittock papers, Centre for Australian Indigenous Studies, Monash University

Download Land rights petition, FCAATSI, 1968 [PDF 160kb]

Written most likely in 1971 this petition draws attention to the failure of government to the power granted to it in 1967.

Petition prepared by Aborigines Advancement League (Vic) and National Tribal Council

Barrie Pittock personal papers

More info on Petition prepared by Aborigines Advancement League (Vic) and National Tribal Council

Following the passage of the 1967 Referendum campaigners urged the Commonwealth Government to use its powers against state legislation which was inconsistent with Commonwealth laws.

Petitioning the Commonwealth Government to override the Queensland Aborigines Act 1972

Barry Christophers Papers, MS992/6, National Library of Australia

More info on Petitioning the Commonwealth Government to override the Queensland Aborigines Act 1972

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