Jane Bovary

Anyway, I had heard (anecdotally) that in QLD it was legal to hunt Aborigines until about 1960


No way...I find it incredible[and horrifying] that you could even think that.

It's certainly true that aboriginal Australians were treated unjustly and cruelly and some settlers probably did regard them as less than human or at least an *inferior race*. It's also true that massacres occured, but it was NEVER NEVER legal to hunt and kill them like animals. As early as 1838 seven white men were executed for violence toward Aboriginals at the Myall Creek massacre. So while I wouldn't whitewash our vile history of violence and oppression like that dickhead Windshuttle, there were at least laws in place which were supposed to offer them protection, even if in practice they were not effective enough. To suggest it was legal in Australia to hunt people like rabbits as late as 1960 is way over the top. Such claims only give Windshuttle grist for his mill.

White Australia has plenty enough to answer for without inventions:


Until the 1960s Aboriginal people did not have effective citizenship and could not vote. They were rigidly controlled by State laws. Many were confined to reserves which they could not leave without a permit. The State was guardian of all Aboriginal children and many were taken by force from their families to be raised (and abused) in institutions. Aboriginal people fought in 2 World Wars and were essential to the development of pastoral Australia, but were discriminated against in education, health, jobs, pay and in buses, cinemas and swimming pools.

echidna

Jane, so far most of what I've read only attacks Windshuttle broadly & I'm interested in any detailed dissections of Windshuttle's claims. For better or worse there's a thread over at the other at http://aussiebbs.com/viewtopic.php?t=220

Hayden & others welcome.

Sauron

What's Windshuttle, eh precious? What's Windshuttle?