Second Yirrkala Bark Petition presented to Parliament on this day 50 years ago… We have been recording on Facebook the presentation of the Yirrkala Bark Petitions in Parliament in 1963. As you know the bark petitions were the theme for NAIDOC this year and they were remembered around the country, but particularly in Yirrkala. The first bark petition was presented on 14 August 1963 protesting the granting of bauxite mining leases on the land of the people of Yirrkala without consultation with them. On 20 August, Paul Hasluck questioned the representativeness of the signatories on the petition and so the Elders of Yirrkala sent the thumb print document to the Parliament to show that they were behind the Petition. On 28 August 1963 the second Yirrkala Bark Petition was presented to Parliament to reiterate the people’s worry that their land would be taken over by mining and that their children’s futures were threatened. This is the Yirritja Petition and was presented by Mr Calwell to the Parliament and a second (plain paper) petition was presented by Mr Beazley senior. As a result of the presentation of the petitions the Parliament undertook an inquiry into the grievances of the people of Yirrkala, although the mining ultimately went ahead. The two Yirrkala Bark Petitions can be seen on display in the Australian Parliament House. To read more about the Yirrkala Bark Petitions go to our online exhibition at aiatsis.gov.au/collections/exhibitions/yirrkala/home.html
Posted on: Wed, 28 Aug 2013 12:31:25 +0000
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