Australia's Minister for Indigenous Australians has highlighted the fears and misinformation which were circulated during the campaign to return Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park to the Aṉangu Traditional Owners - concerns that mirror many false accusations still directed at Indigenous people today.
At the weekend the Prime Minister, along with government, opposition, and Territory MPs, visited Uluru on Aṉangu Country to mark the 40th anniversary of the Handback of the sacred site - a defining moment in the history of Indigenous land rights.
The handover in 1985, two years after it was announced by Bob Hawke, immediately included the signing of a 99-year lease, allowing Aṉangu peoples to jointly manage the park with the Commonwealth through the Director of National Parks. At the time, the return was fiercely contested, with racism and misinformation widely circulated.
The sacred site had been excluded from the Aboriginal Land Rights (NT) Act 1976 when it was declared Uluru-Kata Tjuta (Ayers Rock-Mount Olga) National Park in 1977. Despite lobbying from both the Pitjantjatjara Council and the Central Land Council, the Northern Territory government resisted recognising Traditional Owners' rights, instead pushing for the park to be transferred from the Commonwealth to the NT - reducing title for the Aṉangu and giving them no control over park management.
Speaking in the Senate, Malarndirri McCarthy said then-Chief Minister Ian Tuxworth's government issued pamphlets calling the handback "A National Tragedy," while reports claimed the government was handing back the site to "the wrong Aborigines".
Furthermore, she noted, there were "assertions that the Aṉangu were never interested in the area until 'they thought they could exploit its tourist potential'" - echoing many of the stereotypes still directed at First Nations Australians today.
"Despite this fierce campaign against them, the Aṉangu stood firm in courage and determination," Senator McCarthy said. "Because they knew it was always going to be about all Australians."
She described the Handback as the "culmination of decades of campaigning by the Aṉangu, and of more than 100 years of painful struggle".
"It was a recognition, in Commonwealth law, of the Aṉangu people's deep and enduring connection to Country. Their ownership under law."
The Minister added, "The Handback was not symbolic. It was transformative."
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The Prime Minister said at the weekend the Handback exemplified Australians "at our best together," acknowledging the strength of Aṉangu culture and the success of joint management.
"Forty years ago, after decades of exclusion, the Aṉangu's rightful relationship with this place was finally recognised. And the Aṉangu responded by choosing to share it with all of us," he said.
Reflecting ten years ago on the 30th anniversary, Mr Tuxworth acknowledged, "There were a lot of misconceptions about what was going to happen to the rock, which caused divisions," but added, "the project has moved on and people are doing it well and they should be congratulated".
"Whatever the contentious issues were back 30 years ago, they've been overtaken by the success of the project," he said.
Addressing the Senate on Monday, Senator McCarthy said it was evident the worries peddled in 1985 were false. She said the partnership between the Aṉangu and Parks Australia has since fostered successful tourism, conservation, and cultural education grounded in Tjukurpa (Aṉangu lore and knowledge).
"The Handback meant all Australians came together, in justice and in triumph," she said.
"In the language of the Aṉangu people - uwa palya, wiyaringu. And in my language, bauji barra."
