Australian Government PolicyThe first English settlement in Australia was established in 1788. Before this, Aboriginal people lived in harmony in the country. However, after the arrival of the English, the two different cultures came into close contact and had to decide how to coexist. White Europeans did not respect Aboriginal people's right to the land and its resources. With brutal force they took control of the land and claimed it as their own. The Australians then developed their own policies on how to deal with the Aboriginal people who, as you might expect, improved their way of life. There are three historical phases of Australian government policies: dispossession, segregation and assimilation. There are also some recent policies that have recognized Aboriginal rights and increased their autonomy and well-being. This article will discuss these phases, their effects on Aboriginal people and Australia, and the future of Australian race relations. Introduction Investigating the treatment and government policies implemented against Aboriginal people is an important issue because not many know the history of these people. Just recently, social scientists have begun to look into this area. Furthermore, many people believe that the concept of racial inequality has almost disappeared in the world. By examining the case of Aboriginal people, it can show what work still needs to be done for there to be true equality for indigenous people. Australia was declared a British colony in 1770 (Hollinsworth, 1996). The first colony was established in 1788. From the beginning, Aboriginal people were treated as less than human due to racist attitudes and government policies. This paper will discuss the different political periods and… half of the paper… nada and New Zealand. New York: Oxford University Press. Patton, P. 1996. Sovereignty, law and difference in Australia: after the Mabo case. Alternatives 21(2): 149-170. Reece, B. 1996. “Inventing Aborigines.” Terrible hard biscuits. Chapman, V. and Read, P., eds. Australia: Allen & Unwin Pty Ltd. Reynolds, H. 1999. “New Frontiers: Australia.” Havemann, P., ed. Rights of indigenous peoples in Australia, Canada and New Zealand. New York: Oxford University Press. Robinson, S. 1996. “The Aboriginal Embassy: An Account of the Protests.” Terrible hard biscuits. Chapman, V. and Read, P., eds. Australia: Allen & Unwin Pty Ltd. Webber, J. 2000. “Beyond Regret: The Implications of Mabo for Australian Constitutionalism.” Yu, P. 1996. Aboriginal issues in perspective: native title rights and self-determination.Community Development Journal 31(2): 164-173.