Australia's Duplicity in Indigenous Rights

A Tale of Land vs. Recognition

Abstract

In the vast tapestry of human rights, Australia stands as a nation with a unique duality concerning the rights of its indigenous population. On one hand, it prides itself on its commitment to the rights of Indigenous people, and on the other, it rejects its recognition within the very fabric of the nation, its Constitution. This duplicity was starkly highlighted by Adani's Carmichael coal mining project, where Indigenous rights over land and heritage took center stage while simultaneously, the nation rejected constitutional recognition for its Indigenous citizens, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. This contradiction illuminates a complex and troubling paradox in Australia's treatment of its First Nations peoples.