Biography Of Sir Paul Hasluck And The Assimilation Of Aboriginal People

Accommodating Minorities in Australia

Assignment 2 Research Essay

Sir Paul Hasluck and the Assimilation of Aboriginal People

It was during the Native Welfare Conference in 1951 that the Federal Minister for Territories, Paul Hasluck advocated the benefits of assimilation for Aboriginal People . Calling attention to the hypocrisy of the Australian Government’s treatment of Aboriginal People whilst promoting human rights at an international level . As part of his address Hasluck made the following statement:

‘Assimilation in practical terms, that, in the course of time, it is expected that all persons of aboriginal blood or mixed blood in Australia will live like white Australians do. ’

To understand how significant this statement was for

In Hasluck’s early years, he was a member of the Western Australian Aboriginal Amelioration Association and as a journalist for the West Australian . While working as a journalist he spent time traveling and living with members of the Moseley Commission where he highlighted the living conditions of Aboriginal People . Hasluck’s experience living and working with Aboriginal People gave him a deep understanding of the plight of Aboriginal people and the dangers of racist thinking.

Hasluck began his federal political career in 1949 as the Liberal member for Curtin . Only two years later he became the Minister for Territories a position he held for the next twelve years . It is during this time that Hasluck established and executed the Commonwealth’s Assimilation Policy with regard to Aboriginal People .

As Minister, Hasluck continuously argued that the issues being faced by Aboriginal people needed to be viewed as a ‘social’ problem rather than a ‘racial’ issue. Hasluck believed that if Aboriginal people where to be seen and treated, as equals there must be a shift in ‘White’ mentalities

It was in 1961 Hasluck achieved consistent legislation reform with all mainland states agreeing to a common policy of assimilation . Hasluck was also single handedly responsible for significant increases in the knowledge of Aboriginal issues but also federal funding for Aboriginal educational programs within the Northern Territory during his ministry .

There were significant shifts occurring in official attitudes towards some ethnic and racial groups in the 1950s. Members that previously were regarded as undesirable before the Second World War are now being welcomed with open arms . The overt racial discrimination towards Aboriginal people was progressively disappearing with the introduction of new policies and changing of personal belief systems .

One of the most important changes was the acceptance that Aboriginal People could be assimilated into ‘White’ culture. Although blatant racial discrimination was disappearing, systemic racial discrimination remained . ‘White’ culture was seen to be the quintessential ideal for Australian society with Aboriginal Australians seen to be unsophisticated and in need of industrialization