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There was manifestly a shift from the Labor party policy
of autonomy and self-determination to one where the government
was again to take back responsibility for the Aboriginal people.
Rather than being self-determining, the Aboriginal people, under
the Liberal Party platform, would "play a leading role in setting
goals" which the government "should" pursue.
There is no emphasis in this policy, as there was in the
South Australian policy, on the active encouragement of the politicisation
of Aboriginal groups.
There is an emphasis on the preservation of cultural differences,
but not on the possibility of structural differentiation.
The policy supported the recognition of differences in the
life-style of different groups of Aboriginal people. The preamble
noted that:
... the life style of Aborigines will, of necessity,
vary between those living a more tribalised state
in or near their traditional lands and those living
in or near towns or cities. Policies must therefore
reflect this fact (Liberal and National Country
Parties’ Aboriginal Affairs Policy, 1975).
The policy set out the following statements, detailing its
assumptions and aims, recognising and promoting an Aboriginal
identity:
We recognise the fundamental right of Aborigines
to retain their racial identity and traditional
life-style or where desired to adopt partially
or wholly a European life-style;
- We will, within the limits of available finances
fund programmes which develop Aboriginal self-
sufficiency and which represent initiatives that
Aborigines themselves believe will enhance their
dignity, self-respect and self-reliance.
- We will promote cross-cultural understanding
and co-operation by a continuing process of community
education for all age groups to ensure a higher
level of mutual toleration, trust and enterprise
than has so far marked our history.
- A special obligation is also imposed upon
us all to provide opportunities for Aborigines
to preserve their traditions, languages and