The Traditional Owners of this land are those who identify as
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

ANTAR pays respect to Elders past, present, and emerging through our dedicated advocacy for First Nations Peoples’ justice and rights.

ANTAR acknowledges the responsibility of committing to a truth-telling process that promotes an honest and respectful path forward for future generations to build upon.

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Resources The Larrakia Petition

The Larrakia Petition

Dr Harry Hobbs
Last edited: November 23, 2022

This ANTAR factsheet covers the 1972 Larrakia Petition, a powerful demonstration of the feelings of alienation and disempowerment experienced by First Peoples across the country.

Calling for land rights and political representation, the petitioners declared that without a treaty they are ‘refugees in the country of our ancestors’. The petition was not acted upon, however alongside the Yirrkala Bark Petitions, Milirrpum v Nabalco and the Gurindji Strike, the Larrakia Petition was a foundational step in the campaign for Aboriginal rights in Australia. The determination of the Larrakia people helped push the Commonwealth government to enact a land rights law in the Northern Territory in 1976.