The Aborigines Act Amendment Act 1936 has been seen as a key instrument for extending the power of the Western Australian authorities in the lives of Aboriginal people in the State.
The 1936 Act extended the Chief Protector's powers in the new role of Commissioner, principally through its definition of the the term 'native', which included all Aboriginal people defined as being of 'full' descent, and any descendants 'of less than full blood', including 'half-caste' and also 'quadroons' who were under the age of 21, and who lived with other 'natives'.
Henry Reynolds reflects that the 1936 Act gave the Commissioner, A. O. Neville, 'almost complete control over the the part-Aboriginal population' of Western Australia. With these powers, Neville aimed to realise his ambition to 'eliminate' the Aboriginal 'race' through a policy of assimilation, which included the removal of Aboriginal children from their families and their placement in Homes and 'service' (work).
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Last updated:
28 May 2021
Cite this: http://www.findandconnect.gov.au/guide/wa/WE00411
First published by the Find & Connect Web Resource Project for the Commonwealth of Australia, 2011
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