Reconciliation and Land in Australia

Abstract

Any policies adopted by the dominant systems in Australia will continue to damage the First peoples of Australia unless there is a change to focus on seeking reconciliation, because the dominant systems are bound to sin, even when they are trying to do what is right. Reconciliation breaks this pattern because it is in line with the way that God is working in the world, and justice arises as a gift of God from the process or reconciliation. Key to this is a proper understanding of the nature of repentance and forgiveness, and hence justice, which can only be determined by being engaged in the process of reconciliation. Because land is intrinsic to the identity of the First peoples of Australia, these theological insights are applied in a study of the history of land in legislation and court cases in Australia. It is shown how this propensity to sin has worked out, as well as highlighting some acts of repentance. However, this repentance is inherently limited, and repentance and reconciliation will need to be an extensive and complex process, whilst not placing further burdens on Australia's First peoples.