What is decolonising Australia?

Decolonisation refers to the process of undoing the cultural and political effects of colonisation, which refers to the process of a country or region being brought under the control of another country and being subjected to its policies and systems of governance.

In the case of Australia, this refers to the process of acknowledging and addressing the ongoing impact of the continent’s colonisation by European powers on the First Nations people of Australia and working to rectify the wrongs committed during this period of history.

This can involve efforts to recognise and respect the rights of First Nations, as well as to preserve and celebrate their cultures and traditions. It can also involve acknowledging and addressing the ongoing systemic injustices Indigenous people face in modern Australia, and working to create a more equitable and inclusive society.

There are many different approaches and strategies that can be taken to decolonise Australia, and the specific steps that need to be taken will depend on the context and the needs of the Indigenous people in question. Here are five potential approaches that could be taken:

1. Acknowledging the history of colonisation: An important first step in decolonising Australia is acknowledging the history of colonisation and the impact it has had on the Indigenous people of the continent. This can involve acknowledging the atrocities that were committed during this period, as well as the ongoing impact of these events on Indigenous communities.
2. Recognising Indigenous rights: Another key aspect of decolonisation is recognising and respecting the rights of Indigenous people. This can involve acknowledging and protecting the rights of Indigenous people to their land, as well as their cultural and intellectual property.
3. Promoting Indigenous self-determination: Decolonisation can also involve supporting the self-determination of Indigenous communities and giving them a greater say in the decisions that affect their lives.
4. Supporting Indigenous cultures and traditions: Decolonisation can also involve preserving and celebrating Indigenous cultures and traditions, and supporting Indigenous people in maintaining and passing on their cultural practices.
5. Addressing systemic injustices: Finally, decolonisation requires addressing the ongoing systemic injustices Indigenous people face in modern Australia, such as the high rates of poverty, illness, and incarceration experienced by many Indigenous communities. This can involve creating more equitable and inclusive policies and systems that support the well-being and success of Indigenous people.

Decolonisation and the recognition of Indigenous rights are recognised as important issues in international law. Many international legal instruments address these issues, including:

• The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), sets out the rights of Indigenous people and affirms their right to self-determination, among other things.
• The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), protects the rights of all people, including Indigenous people, to self-determination and to participate in the government of their country.
• The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), requires that the rights of children, including Indigenous children, be respected and protected.
• The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, including against Indigenous people.

These and other international legal instruments provide a framework for promoting and protecting the rights of Indigenous people and supporting the process of decolonisation.

What is decolonising Australia?

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