Aborigines Protection Act 1909 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Aborigines Protection Act 1909
Parliament of New South Wales
An Act to provide for the protection and care of aborigines; to repeal the Supply of Liquors to Aborigines Prevention Act; to amend the Vagrancy Act, 1902, and the Police Offences (Amendment) Act, 1908; and for purposes consequent thereon or incidental thereto.
Date of Royal Assent	20 December 1909
Repealing legislation
Supply of Liquors to Aborigines Prevention Act 1867
Status: Repealed

The Aborigines Protection Act 1909 was a law passed by the Parliament of New South Wales in Australia. This Act aimed to "protect and care for" Aboriginal people in New South Wales. It replaced an older law from 1867 that dealt with alcohol.

This law was the first of its kind in New South Wales to specifically focus on Aboriginal people. It gave a group called the Aboriginal Protection Board control over special areas set aside for Aboriginal people, known as reserves. The Board also gained control over the lives of the Aboriginal people living on these reserves.

Later changes to this Act gave the Board even more power. They could remove Aboriginal children from their families. This led to a sad period in history known as the Stolen Generations. The Act was finally cancelled in 1969 by a new law, the Aborigines Act 1969.

What the Act Did

The Aborigines Protection Act 1909 changed some existing laws. Its main goal was to provide "protection and care" for Aboriginal people in New South Wales. However, this "protection" often meant controlling their lives.

The Act gave the Board for the Protection of Aborigines power over Aboriginal reserves. These were special areas where Aboriginal people were made to live. The Board also controlled the people living on these reserves.

The law applied to all Aboriginal people. But it had special rules that affected Aboriginal children in particular.

Changes to the Law

Over time, the Aborigines Protection Act was changed several times. These changes gave the Aborigines Protection Board more and more power.

Power to Remove Children

A very important change happened in 1915. An amendment to the Act gave the Aborigines Protection Board the power to take any Aboriginal child away from their family. They could do this at any time and for any reason they thought was "in the interest of the moral and physical welfare of such child."

This section of the law, called Section 13A, allowed the Board to remove children and place them under their control. This led to many children being taken from their homes. These removals are a key part of the Stolen Generations.

The Aborigines Protection Act 1909 was also changed in 1918, 1936, 1940, 1943, and 1964. Each change often gave the Board more control over Aboriginal people's lives.

When the Act Ended

The Aborigines Protection Act 1909 was officially cancelled in 1969. A new law, the Aborigines Act 1969, took its place.

Even though the Act was repealed, its effects lasted for many years. It deeply impacted many Aboriginal families and the lives of those who were part of the Stolen Generations in New South Wales.

See also

• Aborigines Act 1969
• Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983