The Aboriginal Protection Act was an unjust event for the Aboriginal people in 1905. There were many short term and long term effects that have caused many problems for the Aboriginal people. The short term and long term effects shaped the Aboriginal culture and the relationship between the white people and the Aboriginals. The relationship between the white Australians and the Aboriginal people has been very tense because of this traumatic event in 1905.
Context of Event
The Aboriginal Protection Act in 1905 was created to protect, control and segregate Aboriginal people from Europeans. This act, unlike the 1996 act allowed the chief-protector to invade all aspects of the Aboriginal peoples lives. The chief-protector was given permission to be the legal guardian of all Aboriginal children under the age of 16, if he considered them legitimate. The chief protector allowed any children illegitimate if their parents were married. Having married parents was very unlikely since marriage was a European tradition and Aboriginals didn’t have that tradition. The chief-protector had a lot of power and violated the rights of the Aborigines. The Aboriginals were given the right to vote if they owned a property but this was taken away in 1907.
Short Term Effects
Any Aboriginal people who lived in Perth would have to leave Perth immediately since Perth prohibited aboriginal people in 1905. Any child who was taken wouldn’t be able to say goodbye to their parents, this will make the children extremely distressed at that time. Physically abused at the camps where they took the children, they were often put into circles and then whipped. They were beaten up, sexually and emotionally abused. Many Aboriginal people resorted to drugs and alcohol; this led to overdoses and in result, it killed many Aboriginal people. Lots of Aboriginal people suffered from post-traumatic stress, they didn’t trust anyone and didn’t want to talk to anyone after this traumatic event.