The record is of the second reading speech of the Aborigines Protection Bill 1909 in the NSW Legislative Assembly by Mr Wood, Colonial Secretary (pages 4492-4493). The speech confirmed that this Bill intended to give the Aborigines Protection Board greater powers for the purpose of 'better providing for the care of aborigines'.

Aborigines Protection Bill 1909 (NSW) - Second reading, Legislative Assembly, 14 December 1909

Dispossession and displacement of Aboriginal people separated them from their Country and culture. This had a significant impact on Aboriginal languages.

Impact of 'protection' and assimilation laws 

Aboriginal families were forced to cooperate with child removal practices by various methods, including legislated offences, threats and intimidation. This subject examines the punishments or penalties imposed on Aboriginal families during the process of child removal between 1788 and 1969. It also includes instances where families/children refused to cooperate with...

Punishment/penalties for refusing to cooperate  

During the 1800s, laws did not specifically restrict family contact. However, the Aboriginal child removal policies of this era were centred around protection and then assimilation, which sought to remove all elements of Aboriginal culture from a child.

Barriers to family contact

Although the law gave Aboriginal families the right to appeal child removal, research suggests there was limited use, if any, of this appeal right by Aboriginal families during this period.  

Families' rights following child removal historically

This subject examines the treatment of children in the care of the NSW government between 1788 and 1969. It explores the law and policy that regulated the treatment of children and documents that discuss experiences of people who were in the care of the state during this period. State care...

Treatment of children in state care 

The government often removed Aboriginal children from missions and reserves, with the aim of assimilating them into a ‘civilised life’. Children were often placed on government-controlled stations, into homes and into apprenticeships. Removing children under specific laws and policies for Aboriginal children persisted until the late 1960s.

Missions, reserves and stations

In the early years, laws relating to adoption concerned ‘child convicts’ or wards of the State. Other adoptions began to be regulated from 1923, when the process for private adoptions was formalised.

Adoption contact - closed adoptions

Between 1788 and 1922, laws relating to adoption applied to Aboriginal and non‑Aboriginal children equally. The laws related to the custody of child ‘convicts’ and children in the care of the State. Other adoptions were conducted privately at this time (DOC0829).

Custody of 'child convicts’ and wards of the State

Many Aboriginal people were forced to live on government-managed stations and reserves. They were often considered to be legally disqualified from voting because they were in receipt of charitable aid.

Disqualification from voting due to receiving charitable aid 

From the 1850s many Aboriginal people lived on reserves, often in homes they built themselves. From 1909 the reserves were owned by the Aborigines Protection Board, which built huts for housing. The Board sought to use housing as an assimilating tool. The poor condition of housing on reserves was recognised...

Housing on reserves

The law determined how much money Aboriginal apprentices should be paid for their work. Before 1941, these payment rates applied if there was no specific agreement between the apprentice and master. After 1941, all apprentices received the rates determined by the law. For Aboriginal people who were not apprentices, laws...

Remuneration

From 1909 to 1969, NSW laws allowed the Aborigines Protection Board to collect and keep the wages of Aboriginal people in trust accounts. This primarily impacted Aboriginal children who had been placed in apprenticeships. The system made it very difficult for people to access their wages. Labour practices such as...

Stolen wages system

From 1909, the Aborigines Protection Board and later the Aborigines Welfare Board had control over the labour of Aboriginal people living on reserves and could remove people from reserves if they determined they should be working off the reserve. Labour on reserves was often for no pay, unfair pay or...

Adult labour under the Aborigines Protection Act

From 1909 to 1969, the Aborigines Protection Board and later the Aborigines Welfare Board could remove certain Aboriginal children from their families under the Aborigines Protection Act. These children were placed in training homes and apprenticeships. Apprenticeships were used to separate Aboriginal children from their communities and assimilate them into...

Child labour under the Aborigines Protection Act

As early as 1810, laws banned the sale or supply of alcohol to Aboriginal people. This continued under the Aborigines Protection Act 1909 (NSW). It was not until 1963 that it was legal for all Aboriginal people to be supplied alcohol in NSW.

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