PDF (Whole Thesis) - USQ ePrints - University of Southern ...
PDF (Whole Thesis) - USQ ePrints - University of Southern ... PDF (Whole Thesis) - USQ ePrints - University of Southern ...
of the early interactions between Tasmania’s Aboriginal population and sealers and whales, writing that Aboriginal women had been abducted by them, the textbook then goes over the “...infamous ‘Black line’ attempt to draw a cordon around the Aborigines and remove them from the island...” (Cowie, 1982, p. 303); before detailing what Cowie calls “genocide in Tasmania” (Cowie, 1982, p. 303). Although such strong terminology is used, Cowie does not attribute an unbridled blame to the government for the situation that saw Tasmanian Aboriginals taken to Flinders Island (their later return to the mainland is ignored in this textbook). Instead, Source 7.31 points out, Cowie represents the situation as being well intended and that the impact of the policy that saw the majority of Tasmania’s Aboriginal population die, as “...not readily understandable to Europeans...” (Cowie, 1982, p. 303). Avoiding an analysis of this event through contemporary understandings, Cowie is able to represent the complexities that were present in Tasmania that led to this action by the government. For, although it is completely alien to current concepts of human rights, this action by the government, led by George Robinson was considered by many, to be the ‘right’ action to take. As the textbook had previously stated, “on the one hand it would remove the troublesome menace to the pastoralist and on the other hand it would protect the remaining Aborigines from white brutality and diseases” (Cowie, 1982, p. 303). Source 7.31. Extract of section on Tasmanian Aboriginals from Crossroads: Imperialism and race relations (Cowie, 1982, p. 303). 7.7 Category 4: Federation and the Constitution 7.7.1 Discourses of the 1967 referendum. The 1967 Referendum is only briefly mentioned in Crossroads: Imperialism and race relations (Cowie, 1982; see Source 7.32). 326
Source 7.32. 1967 Referendum extract from Crossroads: Imperialism and race relations (Cowie, 1982, p. 307) Similarly, Spanning time (Power et al., 1985) includes a limited amount of information with only one sentence included about the Referendum. Furthermore, the information is incorrect, reading: “it was not until 1967 that Aborigines had the right to vote!” (Power et al., 1985, p. 231). For a History textbook, which has a responsibility to ensure that information provided to students is historically accurate, this presents as a disappointing representation of the reason for the 1967 Referendum (see Chapter 6: Black Movement in Australia 1964-1975 for an overview of the purpose of this referendum). Although Crossroads: Imperialism and race relations (Cowie, 1982), does not go into depth about the lead up to the 1967 Referenda (called in this textbook referenda due to two questions being asked on the same ballot), it later reports on criticisms lodged at the Commonwealth government (avoiding party politics by not distinguishing between parties and prime ministers) regarding their “...apparent reluctance to use the powers granted in 1967 to legislate for the well-being of any Aborigines...” (Cowie, 1982, p. 307). Through its criticism, it is clear that the textbook is mitigating its perspective to students of lack of proactive measures to increase quality of life for Indigenous Australians. See Source 7.33 for an extract where this is clearly apparent (in particular the third paragraph). Source 7.33. Information about government inaction post-1967 Referendum extract from Crossroads: Imperialism and race relations (Cowie, 1982, p. 307). 327
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Source 7.32. 1967 Referendum extract from Crossroads: Imperialism and race<br />
relations (Cowie, 1982, p. 307)<br />
Similarly, Spanning time (Power et al., 1985) includes a limited amount <strong>of</strong> information with<br />
only one sentence included about the Referendum. Furthermore, the information is incorrect,<br />
reading: “it was not until 1967 that Aborigines had the right to vote!” (Power et al., 1985, p.<br />
231). For a History textbook, which has a responsibility to ensure that information provided<br />
to students is historically accurate, this presents as a disappointing representation <strong>of</strong> the<br />
reason for the 1967 Referendum (see Chapter 6: Black Movement in Australia 1964-1975 for<br />
an overview <strong>of</strong> the purpose <strong>of</strong> this referendum).<br />
Although Crossroads: Imperialism and race relations (Cowie, 1982), does not go into depth<br />
about the lead up to the 1967 Referenda (called in this textbook referenda due to two<br />
questions being asked on the same ballot), it later reports on criticisms lodged at the<br />
Commonwealth government (avoiding party politics by not distinguishing between parties<br />
and prime ministers) regarding their “...apparent reluctance to use the powers granted in 1967<br />
to legislate for the well-being <strong>of</strong> any Aborigines...” (Cowie, 1982, p. 307). Through its<br />
criticism, it is clear that the textbook is mitigating its perspective to students <strong>of</strong> lack <strong>of</strong><br />
proactive measures to increase quality <strong>of</strong> life for Indigenous Australians. See Source 7.33 for<br />
an extract where this is clearly apparent (in particular the third paragraph).<br />
Source 7.33. Information about government inaction post-1967 Referendum extract<br />
from Crossroads: Imperialism and race relations (Cowie, 1982, p. 307).<br />
327
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