Whose Land is it?
At times Britain has been accused of taking possession of Australia by falsely declaring it was "terra nullius" (uninhabited by any people).. UNTRUE!
For English sea-Captain and scientist, James Cook, fully recorded in his official ship's log book the many occasions on which he had sighted wandering bands of natives and tried to converse with them. He also wrote reports and articles and spoke widely about that -- a peculiar way to hide such facts!
The obvious point is that the other meaning of "terra nullius" was being used, i.e. "not inhabited by any civilization".
Eighteen years after Cook's exploration of Australia's eastern coastline, Captain Arthur Phillip lead out the First Fleet from England and set up the first Australian colony at Sydney Cove in January 1788.
Like Cook, Captain Arthur Phillip could find no government, officials, flag, buildings, roads, towns, farms, machinery, industries or proper houses.
No people can claim full ownership of all the land that they travel across, only those areas that they settle upon permanently.
Much to do is made of the occasional earlier discovery of Australia by visitors from other countries, but those visitors did not become settlers.
Only the British settled and developed this country.
Reconciliation?
Why? White Australians and Aborigines have been reconciled for virtually 140 years and a great many Aborigines have distinguished themselves in peace and war, sport and other pursuits.
They weren't included on the electoral rolls just before Federation because many were still in remote areas and roads were not sufficiently developed.
With the 1967 Federal Referendum to adjust such matters, there were no known Aboriginal complaints, showing that in now agreeing to electoral registration they were accepting one Australian law system for all.
For political reasons and financial gain, it is aggressive mixed groups who are creating such false divisions.
Authorized by Mr Ian McLeod, Sumark Lodge, Maryvale, Warwick
Click for next page » Preamble -- Confused, Vague, Tricky?
Post: PO Box 5078 West End Qld 4101 - Tel: (07) 3844-9798.