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Aboriginal Languages Act 2017

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Aboriginal Languages Act 2017
Parliament of New South Wales
  • An Act relating to Aboriginal languages.
CitationAboriginal Languages Act 2017 (NSW)
Territorial extentNew South Wales
Enacted byLegislative Council
Enacted byLegislative Assembly
Assented to byGovernor David Hurley
Assented to24 October 2017
Commenced5 March 2020
Administered byMinister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty
Legislative history
First chamber: Legislative Council
Bill titleAboriginal Languages Bill 2017
Bill citationAboriginal Languages Bill 2017 (NSW)
Introduced bySarah Mitchell
First reading11 October 2017
Second reading17 October 2017
Third reading18 October 2017
Passed18 October 2017
Second chamber: Legislative Assembly
First reading18 October 2017
Second reading18 October 2017
Third reading18 October 2017
Passed18 October 2017
Final stages
Finally passed both chambers18 October 2017
Status: In force

The Aboriginal Languages Act 2017 is a New South Wales statute that is the first law in Australia to recognise the importance of the languages of the first nations people and the history of government decisions to suppress Aboriginal languages in New South Wales. The Act recognises that Aboriginal languages are part of the cultural heritage of New South Wales and Aboriginal people are the custodians of these languages and have the right to control and nurture them. The Act establishes a statutory body known as the Aboriginal Languages Trust.

History

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Prior to colonisation and settlement there were many languages spoken by the Aboriginal people living in what is now known as New South Wales. The first comprehensive investigation of Australian languages was conducted by William Dawes from 1788–1791.[1][2][3]

In November 2016, the New South Wales Government announced that it would be pursuing legislation aimed at protecting Aboriginal languages.[4][5][6] The Aboriginal Languages Bill 2017 was introduced into the NSW Legislative Council on 11 October 2017 with a traditional message stick ceremony.[7][8]

The NSW Aboriginal Languages Act 2017 became law on 24 October 2017.[9][10] This is the first law in Australia to protect traditional Aboriginal languages.[11] The Act recognises that

"(a)  The languages of the first peoples of the land comprising New South Wales are an integral part of the world’s oldest living culture and connect Aboriginal people to each other and to their land.

(b)  As a result of past Government decisions Aboriginal languages were almost lost, but they were spoken in secret and passed on through Aboriginal families and communities.

(c)  Aboriginal people will be reconnected with their culture and heritage by the reawakening, growing and nurturing of Aboriginal languages.

(d)  Aboriginal languages are part of the cultural heritage of New South Wales.

(e)  It is acknowledged that Aboriginal people are the custodians of Aboriginal languages and have the right to control their growth and nurturing."[12]

Aboriginal Languages Trust

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The Act states that the objective of the Aboriginal Languages Trust is to "provide a focused, coordinated and sustained effort in relation to Aboriginal language activities at local, regional and State levels".[13] The Trust operates as a not-for-profit New South Wales government agency.[13] The Trust will prepare a strategic plan to work with Aboriginal communities to help preserve and reawaken languages in New South Wales.[10]

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  • "Legislation Review Digest" (PDF). Legislation Review Committee. No. 45 of 56. 17 October 2017. pp. 13–14. ISSN 1448-6954. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 October 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2022 – via Parliament of New South Wales.
  • Mitchell, Sarah (18 October 2017). "Australian-First Aboriginal Languages Bill Passes NSW Parliament" (PDF) (Press release). Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 March 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  • "Aboriginal Languages Act 2017". No. 51. Aboriginal Affairs NSW. 24 October 2017. Archived from the original on 18 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Mander-Jones, Phyllis (2006) [1966]. "Dawes, William (1762–1836)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Archived from the original on 18 December 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  2. ^ Dawes, William; Rayner, Susannah; Brown, Stuart (2009). William Dawes : notebooks on the Aboriginal language of Sydney : a facsimile version of the notebooks from 1790-1791 on the Sydney language written by William Dawes and others. London : SOAS. ISBN 978-0-7286-0390-5.
  3. ^ "The notebooks of William Dawes on the language of Sydney". www.williamdawes.org. Archived from the original on 18 December 2024. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  4. ^ "NSW first in Australia to protect Aboriginal languages". NSW Government. Archived from the original on 11 April 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  5. ^ "OCHRE - a continuing conversation: Issues and opportunities paper legislative recognition and protection of Aboriginal languages" (PDF). NSW Aboriginal Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 June 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  6. ^ Morelli, Laura (16 November 2016). "NSW leads the way to protecting Aboriginal languages". NITV News. Archived from the original on 18 December 2024. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
  7. ^ Sarah Mitchell, Ray Kelly, Dawn Walker, Fred Nile, Adam Searle, Minister for Early Childhood Education, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, and Assistant Minister for Education (11 October 2017). "Aboriginal Languages Bill 2017 Introduction". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Parliament of New South Wales: Legislative Council. Archived from the original on 18 December 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2020.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Brennan, Bridget (11 October 2017). "NSW introduces nation's first laws to recognise and revive Indigenous languages". ABC News. Archived from the original on 18 December 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  9. ^ "Protecting NSW Aboriginal languages". Aboriginal Affairs, NSW Government. Archived from the original on 1 June 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  10. ^ a b Deep-Jones, Liz. "NSW Government passes legislation to preserve Aboriginal language". NITV. Archived from the original on 18 December 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  11. ^ Whitbourn, Michaela (15 November 2016). "NSW to become first state to pass laws protecting Indigenous languages". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 18 December 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  12. ^ Aboriginal Languages Act 2017 (NSW)
  13. ^ a b Aboriginal Languages Bill 2017 Explanatory Notes (NSW)
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