Has the rhetoric of particular governments and political parties impeded the progress
towards social justice in the Aboriginal Community?
Abstract /Introduction
In this paper I plan on investigating the potential halting of social progress that can occur by
particular governments and political parties. To analyse this statement and reach a
conclusion it is first necessary to understand how social justice can be achieved for a
disenfranchised community. This relates to the Australian Aboriginal community who
throughout history and this present moment in time face a plethora of issues such as high
incarceration rate, disparities in health equality with the majority of Australia as well as the
prevalence of high suicide rates, family violence and drug and alcohol abuse in their
community. Once analysing how this can be achieved we must understand the psychology
of why particular parties, groups and voices in Australian politics create division when
pertaining to aboriginal rights and freedoms. This will lead to the deconstruction of the
progress of Aboriginal Rights and freedoms. This allows further insight into how far we as a
nation have come to reaching the goal of social justice for our indigenous community.
Subsequently, reviewing how this has occurred throughout Australian history and outline
direct instances of the social progress of Aboriginal rights and freedoms being impeded by
these ideologies. This directly relates to the worlds perception of our nation and
understanding how our treatment of the aboriginal people and the attempts at
reconciliation have been perceived outside of the context of Australia. Finally, a focus on
current issues facing the aboriginal community and analysing evidence of the effect of these
conservative political parties and groups on the social progress of the Aboriginal community.
After deconstructing and analysing this information and literature surrounding this issue
coming to the conclusion that the rhetoric of particular governments and political parties
which are based on white nationalism and guilt politics have indeed at times impeded,
halted or even reversed the progress made by the aboriginal community towards achieving
social justice and a complete reconciliation for the atrocities that have plagued them
throughout Australia’s history.
Social Justice
When attempting to achieve social justice for a disenfranchised community it is crucial to
advance the systems and structures that challenge inequitable circumstances. In Australia
there is a clear connection between colonisation and the atrocities of past governments to
the Aboriginal Australian community that influence the current social injustices. (***)The
first stage of repairing and reconciliation is from acknowledging these self-evident truths.
Only after this can social progress can occur. (***)This begs the question, can conservative
political movements reverse or impede social progress by questioning these self-evident
truths? It is clear that social progress has occurred in Australia over time. The issue we face
as a nation today is the disruption of this progress. We first must analyse the psychological
reasonings for these ideologies . Additionally, its is crucial to understand the social and
political progress of the Aboriginal community in Australia before deconstructing the
impediment of its progress. Subsequently, identifying patterns that have emerged in
Australian politics that have caused division in terms of Australia’s goal for reconciliation
with aboriginal Australians is another way of identifying the potential halt to social progress
and justice for the Aboriginal community.
Nationalism & Guilt Politics: Psychological Study
To understand the position of particular conservative movements that attempt at defending
the atrocities of the past and reliving themselves of responsibility it is important we
understand the psychology of guilt. Research in Western Australia has found that a there is a
confronting amount of prejudice against Indigenous Australians. (***)It was found that a
collective guilt which was linked to the past and present wrongs to the Aboriginal Australians
predicted negative attitudes. (***) Social Psychological studies have provided evidence that
claim that in a national context, confronting information about past atrocities that are
considered immoral by members of the social group one belongs to poses a threat to social
and national identity. (Roccas, Klan, & Liviatan, 2004, p. 131).This links directly to the idea
that who we are as individuals is connected to our social and national identity. This
determines the extent to how we feel collective guilt about the past. Essentially we want to
feel good about the social group or in this particular case our nation we belong to. This leads
people to develop particular justifications and reasonings for the past actions of our nation.
This psychological study shows a direct correlation between the conservative movements
which base their rhetoric on white nationalism and “guilt politics” and promoting a sense of
nationalistic pride. These political parties and people cannot make the distinction between
acknowledging the past atrocities of our governments and criticizing Australia.
Aboriginal Social & Political Progress:
With the introduction of particular Australian government policies, the rise of justice for the
aboriginal community rose. The emergence of a cultural and political aboriginal movement
is attributed to the events that transpired in the 1960s; this being the 1967 referendum and
eventually the Aboriginal tent embassy on the lawns of national parliament in 1972. This is
considered the inception of the Aboriginal rights movement and the beginning of the social
progression we see today. This movement pushed for sovereignty, self-determination, land
rights, cultural issues and much more (Anderson 2003). The achievements that have been
made from the 1960s until now have been successful in the eyes of most. Although
particular aboriginal authors such as (Anderson 2003) claim that even though there has
been success, it has been limited. He explains how there has been success in the sense of
land rights and other freedoms and rights of aboriginal people. He sees the limitations in the
movement as the movements have garnered enough change for the political and social
definitions of aboriginality. The sentiments of victimization of white Australians coming from
conservative to extremist political parties grows. These groups claim loss of the white
Australian identity. His perspective explores gives strength to the notion that the rise of
conservative parties are impeding the social progression and growth of the aboriginal
community and complete reconciliation.
Conservativism Impeding Social Progress in Australian History
Historically, numerous political parties driven by nationalistic ideals and guilt politics have
used these ideologies to undermine the progress of social justice for Aboriginal rights and
freedoms. To understand the claims made by Anderson we must delve into the issues that
have been presented by the conservative movements in Australia. It is important to look
back at our history and analyse the potential dismissal of Aboriginal rights. The dismissal of
these rights can be attributed by sentiments put forth by particular politicians and the
Australian government themselves. The Willingness of the Australian government to prevent
the application of the racial discrimination act of 1975 (cmwth) from protecting indigenous
rights highlights the fragility of those rights. (***) This extends to former Australian Prime
Minister John Howards rhetoric surrounding the native tile amendment 1998 (cmwth). These
events reveal the conflicting views of Australian in relation to the treatment and rights of
Aboriginals in Australia. Prime Minister Howards proposed amendment would limit the
rights of those native titled holders. His approach was informed by white nationalistic
ideologies such as settlement myths and Terra Nulius. This rhetoric began to ignored
legitimate claims that were presented in landmark high court cases such as Mabo.(***) This
shows a legitimate holt and potential reversal to the progress of aboriginal rights and
freedoms. This is clear evidence of conservative ideals and myths of white identity loss
fuelling the decline of aboriginal social progress. This lead to the ‘poltiics of guilt’: claims
that modern australians should not feel guilty or apoligse for the past actions or policies for
australias government and people. Howards lack of context regarding the attroctiies of the
past allowed him to make such bold statements without the post colonial context. (***)
Australia’s International Perception: Treatment of Indigenous Australians
Australia has faced criticism and scrutiny for their treatment of aboriginal people and the way
modern Australia has attempted to remedy the long lasting effects of colonialism and the
stolen generation. The Human Rights and equal opportunity commission created a report on
the activities and legacies of the aboriginal protection board. It outlined the connection
between the removal of indigenous children (stolen generation) and the effect it had on
indigenous communities.(***) These effects include high rates of suicide, mental illness,
family breakdown and substance abuse. This report shed light on the stolen generation and
allowed many Australians to understand the deep impact the policies of former governments
had on the aboriginal community.(***) This lead to a positive response from a portion of
Australians as they felt it was necessary for the population to be aware of our historical past.
In contrast those who embrace Australia from its colonial context and through a nationalistic
approach came to the conclusion that, Australians should not feel guilt for the atrocities of the
past. These perspectives were made apparent in the ‘Inquiry into the stolen generation’ where
the current government stated that there was never a generation of stolen children and the
emotional reaction to heart wrenching stories is understandable but that we cannot
authentically evaluate decisions of the past. This shows a clear halt to the social progress of
Aboriginal Communities fight for recognition of past mistreatment and has slowed any hope
for a complete reconciliation. Additionally, Australia is reluctant to acknowledge the voice of
international institutions, this has sadly damaged our reputation as a forward thinking and
progressive country.
Modern Issues: Lack of Treaty
We have investigated the connection between collective guilt and nationalism. This is evident
within particular conservative parties in Australia and with particular members of the
government. There is a clear connection between these philosophies and movements which
are protective of our White nationalist identity and the impediment of social progress and
justice for aboriginal people throughout our nations history. This leads us to the modern day
and analysing these ideals and how they are potentially obstructing progress on current
issues. This extends to the pressing issue of Australia’s lack of a treaty recognising the
Aboriginal people. Australia is the only commonwealth settler nation to not have a treaty
which acknowledges land and rights protection and the ability to self-govern within their
community. There are many aspects to analyse for the reasoning for lack of a treaty. Such as,
the division on the meaning of the word treaty, Australia’s Reluctance to acknowledge
aboriginal sovereignty, the lack of indigenous representatives and potential power
imbalances. How are these concerns affected by the growing conservative rhetoric that has
created a division on issues pertaining to indigenous justice or progress? The connection can
be made from the fact that there is limited representation of Aboriginal Australians in the
Commonwealth (National) Government. While particular political parties claim there is no
efficient way to create a treaty the lack of an aboriginal voice allows these claims to go
unargued. These conservative voices have such a strong impact on the potential progress for
Indigenous Australians because their narrative is the only one being told. It is crucial for
Australians to not allow this to continue by ensuring the Aboriginal community has enough
of a representation in the federal government.
Conclusion
Throughout this research there are particular conclusions that the analysis of these literary
sources and information has identified. It is evident that Australia’s dark history that relates
to the past mistreatment and atrocities towards the aboriginal people of Australia has
allowed the Aboriginal community to become disenfranchised. It’s clear that there has been
major progress towards the achievement of social justice for the Aboriginal community.
Although, the ideologies which are informed by nationalism, guilt politics and divisive
rhetoric has shown to impede social progress throughout our history. The government’s
willingness to overturn the racial discrimination act in 1975 and former Prime Ministers
proposed amendment which would limit the rights of native title holders is clear instances
of social progress being halted. Additionally, the dismissal of United Nations inquiry into the
treatment of Aboriginal people by the Australian Government is a blemish on the reputation
of our Nation and is an obvious indication of an social justice being impeded. It is now that
even in present day Australia this divisive rhetoric which is based on nationalistic ideologies
has not allowed us to progress to allowing the Aboriginal people of Australia to be
recognised in our constitution. These finds show that the rhetoric of particular governments
and political parties impede the progress towards social justice in the Aboriginal
Community.
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