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Faculty Mentor
Alexandru Balas
Abstract
This presentation demonstrates the effects of two of Australia's political parties, the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and the Liberal Party of Australia on the conditions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from the Land Rights Movement of 1967 to the Voice to Parliament Referendum of 2023. This research is proposed through the analysis of key federal legislations from both parties, including the Land Rights Movement, the establishment and abolition of ATSIC, the Closing the Gap initiative, and the Voice to Parliament Referendum to prove whether these legislations put into place by their respective party advanced the process of self determination and recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Ultimately, this paper argues that the legislations of the ALP only function “on paper” and do not establish true change in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and concludes that neither party has attributed to the structural inequality and emphasizes the need for genuine cooperation and self - determination of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Publication Date
5-2026
Document Type
Book
Keywords
Australia, Aboriginal Australians, Torres Straight Islanders, Australian Labour Party, Liberal Party of Australia, Transformations, International Studies
Disciplines
International and Area Studies