Passing of Aboriginal rights champion
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Dr Bill Jonas, today expressed sadness at the death of former federal minister, the Honourable W.C. Wentworth AO, who championed Aboriginal people’s rights throughout his long and distinguished political career.
“I would like to pay tribute to one of Australia's great federal parliamentary figures, who made an enormous contribution to raising Aboriginal rights issues in the federal political arena,” said Commissioner Jonas.
Mr Wentworth was born in Sydney in 1907 and represented the Sydney electorate of Mackellar for the Liberal Party from 1949 to 1977.
In 1959 Mr Wentworth argued for a comprehensive effort by the Australian Government to record the culture of Aboriginal peoples. One of his achievements in this regard was the establishment of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies in 1964.
Dr Jonas said “The nation's first Aboriginal Affairs Minister worked diligently during his political career to improve the rights of Aboriginal people and played a leading role in advocating for Aboriginal people to be included in the 1967 census. He will be sadly missed.”
Media Contact: Paul Oliver (02) 9284 9880 or 0408 469 347
Last updated 16 June 2003.
