Native Welfare Act 1963 (WA)
Details
The Native Welfare Act 1963 repealed Aborigines Act 1905 and all the Acts that ammended the 1905 Act. Under the 1963 Act the Commissioner of Native Welfare ceased to be the guardian of Aboriginal children, but was responsible for the 'custody, maintenance and education of the children of natives'. TheNative Welfare Act 1963 was repealed by the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Act 1972.
The Native Welfare Act 1963 came into effect on 1 July 1964. It repealed all legislation relating to Aboriginal matters from the Aborigines Act 1905 through to the Native Welfare Act Amendment Act 1960.
The Department of Native Welfare (s.7c) retained responsibility 'to provide for the custody, maintenance and education of the children of natives' and the Governor (s.37.2d) could make regulations for those purposes, but the Commissioner of Native Welfare was no longer the guardian of these children. One of the key responsibilities of the Department (s.7f) was to assist in the 'economic and social assimilation' of 'natives', and specified that only 'natives' and specified persons were to enter or remain on reserves.
1887 - 1906 Aborigines Protection Act 1886
1844 - 1906 Aboriginal Girls Protection 1844
1887 - 1906 Aborigines Protection Act 1886
1898 - 1906 Aborigines Act 1897
1906 - 1964 Aborigines Act 1905
1941 - 1963 Native Administration Act Amendment Act 1941
1960 - 1963 Native Welfare Act Amendment Act 1960
1963 - 1972 Native Welfare Act 1963
1972 - Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Act 1972
Sources used to compile this entry: To Remove and Protect: Aboriginal Lives Under Control [website], 2010, https://aiatsis.gov.au/collection/featured-collections/remove-and-protect.
Prepared by: Debra Rosser and Rebe Taylor
Created: 18 July 2011, Last modified: 16 October 2018
Last updated: 7 August 2023
Cite this: https://www.findandconnect.gov.au/ref/wa/biogs/WE00423b.htm
First published by the Find & Connect Web Resource Project for the Commonwealth of Australia, 2011
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