Election 2004: indigenous rights and institutions

• Larissa Behrendt
• Australian Review of Public Affairs

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26 August 2004John Howard was in opposition when the Australian and Torres Strait Islander Commission was established and during the parliamentary debates when its enabling legislation was introduced was one of its staunchest critics, portraying bodies like ATSIC as divisive and antagonistic to the philosophy that all Australians should be treated the same way. A key part of the Howard government's agenda on Indigenous policy included the abolition of ATSIC. Larissa Behrendt looks at the implications.