A c t N o . 2 5 , 1909.

A n A c t t o p r o v i d e for t h e p r o t e c t i o n a n d c a r e
of a b o r i g i n e s ; t o r e p e a l t h e S u p p l y of
Liquors to Aborigines Prevention A c t ; to
a m e n d t h e V a g r a n c y A c t , 1902, a n d t h e
P o l i c e Offences ( A m e n d m e n t ) A c t , 1 9 0 8 ;
a n d for p u r p o s e s c o n s e q u e n t t h e r e o n or
i n c i d e n t a l t h e r e t o . [20th December,
1909.]

E it enacted by t h e K i n g ' s M o s t E x c e l l e n t M a j e s t y , b y a n d w i t h
t h e advice a n d consent of t h e Legislative Council a n d Legislative
A s s e m b l y of N e w S o u t h wales in P a r l i a m e n t assembled, a n d b y t h e
a u t h o r i t y of t h e same, as follows :
1. This A c t m a y bo cited as t h e " A b o r i g i n e s P r o t e c t i o n A c t ,
1 9 0 9 , " a n d shall come into force on a date to be fixed b y p r o c l a m a t i o n
of t h e G o v e r n o r in t h e Gazette.
2. T h e A c t s specified in t h e Schedule h e r e t o are, to t h e e x t e n t
i n d i c a t e d , repealed.
3. I n t h i s A c t , unless t h e c o n t e x t or subject m a t t e r o t h e r w i s e
i n d i c a t e s or r e q u i r e s :
" A b o r i g i n e " m e a n s a n y full-blooded aboriginal n a t i v e of
Australia, a n d a n y person a p p a r e n t l y h a v i n g a n a d m i x t u r e of
a b o r i g i n a l blood w h o applies for or is in receipt of r a t i o n s or
aid from t h e b o a r d or is residing on a reserve.
" Board " m e a n s b o a r d for p r o t e c t i o n of aborigines c o n s t i t u t e d
under this Act.
" L i q u o r " m e a n s a n d includes wine, spirits, beer, porter, s t o u t ,
ale, cider, p e r r y , or a n y spirituous or f e r m e n t e d fluid w h a t e v e r
capable of p r o d u c i n g i n t o x i c a t i o n .
" L o c a l C o m m i t t e e " m e a n s c o m m i t t e e a p p o i n t e d by t h e board
t o a c t in c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e board u n d e r t h i s A c t .
" P r e s c r i b e d " m e a n s prescribed b y this A c t or t h e regulations.
" R e s e r v e " m e a n s area of l a n d heretofore or hereafter reserved
from sale or lease by t h e G o v e r n o r , or given b y or acquired
from a n y p r i v a t e person, for t h e use of aborigines.
" R e g u l a t i o n s " m e a n s r e g u l a t i o n s i n force u n d e r this Act.
" Stations " m e a n s stations on reserves.
4. (1) T h e r e shall be a board, to be styled " T h e Board for
P r o t e c t i o n of A b o r i g i n e s , " to consist of t h e I n s p e c t o r - G e n e r a l of
Police,

Police, or A c t i n g I n s p e c t o r - G e n e r a l of Police, w h o shall, ex officio, he

c h a i r m a n , and not m o r e t h a n t e n o t h e r m e m b e r s who shall be a p p o i n t e d
by the Governor.
(2) T h e board shall, subject to t h e direction of t h e M i n i s t e r ,
b e t h e a u t h o r i t y for t h e protection and care of aborigines u n d e r t h i s
Act.
(3) T h e board shall a n n u a l l y elect one of its m e m b e r s as
vice-chairman.
5. T h e board m a y a p p o i n t m a n a g e r s of stations and such o t h e r
officers as m a y be necessary.
6. T h e board m a y appoint local c o m m i t t e e s consisting of not
m o r e t h a n seven nor less t h a n t h r e e persons, to act in c o n j u n c t i o n
with t h e b o a r d , a n d also officers to be called g u a r d i a n s of aborigines ;
a n d m a y a t a n y t i m e abolish such local c o m m i t t e e s , or r e m o v e a n y
m e m b e r s therefrom, or cancel t h e a p p o i n t m e n t of a n y g u a r d i a n .
S u c h c o m m i t t e e s a n d g u a r d i a n s shall exercise a n d perform t h e
powers a n d duties prescribed by this A c t a n d t h e r e g u l a t i o n s .
7. I t shall be t h e d u t y of t h e b o a r d
(a) to, w i t h t h e consent of t h e Minister, a p p o r t i o n , d i s t r i b u t e ,
a n d a p p l y as m a y seem most fitting, a n y m o n e y s voted b y
P a r l i a m e n t , a n d a n y o t h e r funds in its possession or control,
for t h e relief (if aborigines ;
(b) to d i s t r i b u t e b l a n k e t s , c l o t h i n g , and relief to aborigines a t
t h e discretion of t h e board ;
(c) to provide for t h e custody, m a i n t e n a n c e , a n d education of
t h e children of aborigines ;
(d) to m a n a g e a n d r e g u l a t e t h e use of r e s e r v e s ;
(e) to exercise a g e n e r a l supervision a n d care over all m a t t e r s
affecting t h e interests and welfare of aborigines, and to
p r o t e c t t h e m against injustice, imposition, a n d fraud.
8. (1) A l l reserves shall be vested in t h e board, a n d it shall
n o t be lawful for a n y person o t h e r t h a n an aborigine, or a n officer
u n d e r t h e board, or a person a c t i n g u n d e r t h e board's direction, or
u n d e r t h e a u t h o r i t y of t h e r e g u l a t i o n s , to e n t e r or r e m a i n upon or
be w i t h i n t h e limits of a reserve upon w h i c h aborigines are residing,
for a n y p u r p o s e whatsoever.
(2) T h e board m a y remove from a reserve a n y aborigine
w h o is g u i l t y of a n y m i s c o n d u c t , or whO, in the opinion of t h e hoard,
should be e a r n i n g a l i v i n g a w a y from s u c h reserve.
(3) A n y b u i l d i n g erected on a reserve shall be vested
in a n d become the p r o p e r t y of t h e board, also all cattle, horses, pigs,
s h e e p , m a c h i n e r y , a n d p r o p e r t y t h e r e o n purchased or a c q u i r e d for t h e
benefit of aborigines.
K
9.

9. A n y person who gives, sells, or supplies, except in ease of

accident, or on t h e prescription of a d u l y qualified medical p r a c t i t i o n e r ,
a n y liquor to a n y aborigine, shall be guilty of a n offence a g a i n s t
t h i s A c t . N o t h i n g in t h i s section -hall a i l e d t h e operation of t h e
L i q u o r ( A m e n d m e n t ) Act, 1905.
10. W h o s o e v e r , not b e i n g an aborigine, or t h e child of an
aborigine, lodges or w a n d e r s in c o m p a n y with a n y aborigine, a n d does
not, on b e i n g required by a j u s t i c e , give to his satisfaction a good
a c c o u n t t h a t he has a law lid fixed place of residence in N e w South
W a l e s a n d lawful m e a n s of s u p p o r t , and that lie so lodged or
w a n d e r e d for some t e m p o r a r y and lawful occasion only, a n d did not
c o n t i n u e so to do beyond such occasion, shall be g u i l t y of an offence
against this Act.
11. (1) T h e board m a y , in accordance with a n d subject to t h e
provisions of t h e A p p r e n t i c e s A c t , 1 9 0 1 , by i n d e n t u r e bind or c a u s e
to be b o u n d t h e child of a n y aborigine, or the neglected child of a n y
person a p p a r e n t l y h a v i n g a n a d m i x t u r e of aboriginal blood in his
veins, to be a p p r e n t i c e d to a n y master, and may collect a n d i n s t i t u t e
proceedings for t h e recovery of any wages p a y a b l e u n d e r such i n d e n t u r e ,
a n d m a y e x p e n d the same as t h e board m a y t h i n k fir in t h e interest of
t h e child.
E v e r y child so a p p r e n t i c e d shall be u n d e r t h e supervision of
t h e b o a r d , or of such person as may be authorised in t h a t behalf b y
t h e regulations.
A n y such child so a p p r e n t i c e d shall be liable to be proceeded
a g a i n s t and p u n i s h e d for absconding, or for o t h e r m i s c o n d u c t , in t h e
s a m e w a y as a n y child a p p r e n t i c e d by his father with such child's
consent.
(2) F o r t h e purposes of this section, t h e words " neglected
child " shall have t h e same m e a n i n g as that assigned to t h e m in t h e
N e g l e c t e d Children and J u v e n i l e Offenders A c t , 1 9 0 5 :
Provided
t h a t for such p u r p o s e s a person shall be deemed a child who is above
fourteen a n d u n d e r t w e n t y - o n e years of age.
(3) N o t h i n g in. this section shall affect t h e provisions of
t h e N e g l e c t e d Children and J u v e n i l e Offenders Act, 1905.
12. A court, u p o n complaint m a d e b y t h e board t h a t a n y
person to w h o m a n y s u c h child has been a p p r e n t i c e d is n o t p e r f o r m i n g
t h e conditions of such i n d e n t u r e , or is unfit to h a v e t h e further care
or c o n t r o l of such a p p r e n t i c e , m a y s u m m o n such person to a n s w e r
such c o m p l a i n t , a n d on proof thereof on oath m a y order such a p p r e n
ticeship to be p u t an end to.
I n this section " c o u r t " has the m e a n i n g given in t h e
N e g l e c t e d Children a n d J u v e n i l e Offenders Act, 1905.
13. A n y person w h o entices a child a p p r e n t i c e d as aforesaid
to leave his lawful service, or who entices t h e child of a n y aborigine,
or

or of a n y person a p p a r e n t l y h a v i n g a n a d m i x t u r e of aboriginal blood

in his veins, to leave a n y school, home, or i n s t i t u t i o n , w i t h o u t t h e
consent of t h e board, shall he guilty of an offence a g a i n s t this A c t .
14. T h e board may cause a n y aborigines, or a n y persons
a p p a r e n t l y h a v i n g an a d m i x t u r e of aboriginal blood in their veins,
who are c a m p e d or are a b o u t to c a m p w i t h i n or n e a r a n y reserve, town,
or t o w n s h i p to r e m o v e to such distance from t h e reserve, town, or
t o w n s h i p as they may direct.
15. E v e r y b l a n k e t or o t h e r article issued by t h e G o v e r n m e n t
or by t h e board to any aborigine shall be considered to be on loan only,
a n d to he t h e p r o p e r t y of the hoard, and any u n a u t h o r i s e d person o t h e r
t h a n an aborigine who has in his possession or c u s t o d y any b l a n k e t ,
or o t h e r article or portion thereof, w h i c h reasonably appeal's from t h e
m a r k s thereon or otherwise to have been so issued shall be g u i l t y of
an offence a g a i n s t this Act.
16. (1) If it appears to a court on c o m p l a i n t by or on behalf
of t h e board that a n y n e a r relative is of ability to m a i n t a i n or to
c o n t r i b u t e to t h e m a i n t e n a n c e at the cost of t h e G o v e r n m e n t of any
child of a n aborigine u n d e r sixteen a n d over live years of age, the
court m a y on s u m m o n s order such n e a r relative to pay to t h e hoard a
reasonable s u m . in i n s t a l m e n t s or otherwise, as the court directs for or
towards
(a) t h e past m a i n t e n a n c e of such child, w h e t h e r such child he
alive or nut at t h e time of the a p p l i c a t i o n ;
(h) the future m a i n t e n a n c e of such child :
Provided t h a t in a n y p r o c e e d i n g s in respect of t h e
m a i n t e n a n c e of an illegitimate child, of w h i c h t h e d e f e n d a n t
is alleged to be t h e father, no order u n d e r t h i s section shall
be m a d e
(c) u p o n t h e evidence of t h e m o t h e r , unless her evidence be
corroborated in some m a t e r i a l p a r t i c u l a r ; or
(d) if t h e court is satisfied t h a t a t t h e t i m e t h e child was b e g o t t e n
the m o t h e r was a c o m m o n p r o s t i t u t e .
(2) W h e r e an order under this section is m a d e in respect
of a person against w h o m an order has been m a d e in respect of the
child u n d e r t h e I n f a n t P r o t e c t i o n Act, 1904, or t h e N e g l e c t e d
Children a n d J u v e n i l e Offenders A c t , 1905, t h e c o u r t m a y rescind or
a m e n d a n y s u c h l a s t - m e n t i o n e d order, so as to secure t h a t t h e said
person do not pay twice for tin; m a i n t e n a n c e of t h e same child.
(."5) A n y order m a d e u n d e r this section m a y be enforced,
appealed from, quashed, confirmed, or varied, in t h e same m a n n e r in
all respects as orders m a d e u n d e r P a r t 11 of tin I n f a n t P r o t e c t i o n
Act, 1904. A n d t h e court m a y issue a w a r r a n t for the arrest of a n y
person a b s c o n d i n g from t h e State w i t h a view to evade c o m p l i a n c e
w i t h a n y s u c h order.
1

CO

(4) I n t h i s section " c o u r t " a n d " n e a r r e l a t i v e s " h a v e ,

respectively, t h e m e a n i n g s given in t h e N e g l e c t e d C h i l d r e n a n d
J u v e n i l e Offenders Act. 1905.
17. A n y person guilty of a n offence against this A c t shall be
liable to a p e n a l t y n o t e x c e e d i n g t w e n t y p o u n d s .
18. P r o c e e d i n g s for a n offence a g a i n s t this A c t or for a
c o n t r a v e n t i o n of t h e r e g u l a t i o n s m a y be t a k e n before a stipendiary or
police m a g i s t r a t e or a n y t w o justices by a m e m b e r of a local c o m m i t t e e ,
a g u a r d i a n , a m e m b e r or a n officer of t h e board, or m e m b e r of t h e
police force.
19. A n y station or reserve on w h i c h aborigines are located,
a n d a n y b u i l d i n g s , a n d t h e stores, stock, a n d a n y o t h e r m a t t e r or
t h i n g t h e r e o n or t h e r e i n , m a y be inspected by a n y m e m b e r of t h e
board, or, on t h e a u t h o r i t y of t h e board, b y a n y m e m b e r of a local
c o m m i t t e e , g u a r d i a n , or b y a n y m e m b e r of t h e police force if s u c h
m e m b e r is also a u t h o r i s e d by t h e I n s p e c t o r - G e n e r a l of Police. T h e
p e r s o n m a k i n g s u c h inspection shall r e p o r t t h e r e o n to t h e board.
20. (1) T h e G o v e r n o r m a y m a k e r e g u l a t i o n s for all or a n y of
t h e m a t t e r s following :
(a) P r e s c r i b i n g t h e m o d e of t r a n s a c t i n g business a n d t h e duties
generally of t h e board, local c o m m i t t e e s , g u a r d i a n s , a n d
persons e m p l o y e d to carry out t h e provisions of this A c t .
(b) A u t h o r i s i n g e n t r y u p o n a reserve b y specified persons or
classes of persons for specified objects, a n d t h e conditions
u n d e r w h i c h s u c h persons m a y visit or r e m a i n u p o n a reserve,
a n d fixing t h e d u r a t i o n of t h e i r stay t h e r e u p o n , a n d providing
for t h e revocation of s u c h a u t h o r i t y .
(c) P r e s c r i b i n g t h e m o d e of distribution a n d e x p e n d i t u r e of
m o n e v s g r a n t e d by P a r l i a m e n t for t h e assistance of aborigines.
(d) A p p o r t i o n i n g a m o n g s t or for t h e benefit of aborigines t h e
e a r n i n g s of a n y aborigines l i v i n g u p o n a reserve.
(e) P r o v i d i n g for t h e care, custody, a n d e d u c a t i o n of aborigines.
(f) P r e s c r i b i n g t h e conditions on which certain c h i l d r e n m a y be
apprenticed under this Act.
(g) P r o v i d i n g for t h e m o d e of s u p p l y to aborigines of rations,
b l a n k e t s , a n d o t h e r necessaries, or any m e d i c a l or o t h e r
relief or assistance.
(h) P r o v i d i n g for t h e control of aborigines residing u p o n a reserve,
a n d for t h e inspection of c h i l d r e n a p p r e n t i c e d u n d e r this A c t .
(i) M a i n t a i n i n g discipline a n d good order u p o n reserves.
(j) A l l o t t i n g l a n d on a n y reserve for o c c u p a t i o n by individuals
or families.
(k) "For e a r n i n g o u t t h e provisions of this Act.
(1) I m p o s i n g a n y p e n a l t y not e x c e e d i n g t e n p o u n d s for t h e b r e a c h
of a n y r e g u l a t i o n .
(2)

(2) S u c h r e g u l a t i o n s shall(i) be p u b l i s h e d in t h e G a z e t t e ;
(ii) t a k e effect from t h e d a t e of publication, or from a l a t e r d a t e
to be specified in such r e g u l a t i o n s ; a n d
(iii) be laid before b o t h H o u s e s of P a r l i a m e n t w i t h i n fourteen
days after publication if P a r l i a m e n t is in session, and, if not,
t h e n within f o u r t e e n days after t h e c o m m e n c e m e n t of t h e
n e x t session. B u t if e i t h e r H o u s e of P a r l i a m e n t passes a
resolution at a n y t i m e w i t h i n fifteen s i t t i n g days after such
r e g u l a t i o n s h a v e b e e n laid before s u c h H o u s e disallowing
a n y r e g u l a t i o n , s u c h r e g u l a t i o n shall t h e r e u p o n cease to h a v e
effect.

SCHEDULE.
Reference to A c t a .

Title or short title.

Extent of repeal.

31 V i c t o r i a N o . 16 Supply of Liquors to Aborigines P r e v e n t i o n A c t The whole.

No. 74, 1902
V a g r a n c y Act, 1902
Section 4 (1 b), and
t h e definition of
" aboriginal " in
section .'!.
N o . 12, 1908
Section 3.
Police Offences ( A m e n d m e n t ) Act, 1908