被偷走的世代-澳洲法律的制定｜英文學習筆記

圖文/蔓無目的、AMEP課程講義

為期十周的Exploring Australian Citizenship的免費課程，主要是學習在成為公民前必須懂的歷史文化背景，包括認識原住民、民主信仰與價值、議會與治理、生活方式等等。

第七周主要是在探討The Stolen Generations(被偷走的世代)，這令人悲傷的歷史事件，以及澳洲法律的制定流程。

你聽過Stolen Generations嗎?

直到1970年代許多孩子從家人身邊被帶走，澳洲當時根據《原住民保護法》，強迫將原住民或托雷斯海峽島民膚色較淺的兒童帶走，並剝奪與原生家庭的關係、文化及語言，想將他們同化成白人。

多數孩子被安置在兒童之家、孤兒院或由非原住民寄養家庭撫養長大，而大部分的孩子因此再也見不到他們的家人。

The Stolen Generations refers to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children who were removed from their family, Community, culture and Country.

 They were taken under government laws that tried to assimilate(同化) Aboriginal children with lighter skin and raise them to be the same as white people.

The government wanted them toforget their culture. Many children were put into children’s homes or orphanages or were raised by non-Aboriginal foster(寄養) families.

They were prevented from contacting their families and speaking their language. Many children never found their families again.

政府帶走膚色較深或較淺的孩子?

The government took children who had dark or light skin?Light skin

為什麼? 

Why? They wanted them to become ‵white′ and forget about their Aboriginal culture. 

影片中Deanne的爺爺發生了什麼事?

He was taken away when he was one to a mission on an island. He didn't leave till he was 18.

He was not allowed to see his family or speak his language or practise his culture. It was like a prison. He was taught the European way – English, religion.  ​

Deanne 奶奶為何沒被帶走?

她父親將她塗黑後藏到河裡，
They painted her black with the sap from a tree and they hid her in the rivers. ​

多少孩子被帶走?

How many children were stolen?
Over 50,000

這項政策對原住民帶來什麼影響?

What impact has this policy had on First Nations people?

The Aborigines Protection Act had a very negative impact on Aboriginal families and culture.
《原住民保護法》對原住民家庭和文化產生了非常消極的影響。

Children taken away from their families were more likely to experience abuse and to suffer from depression and other mental illnesses.
被帶離家庭的兒童更有可能遭受虐待，並患上抑鬱症和其他精神疾病。

Because they were almost always taught to reject their Aboriginal heritage, children taken away from their families couldn't keep their links to their land or be part of the cultural and spiritual life of their Aboriginal communities.
由於他們幾乎總是被教導要拒絕他們的原住民遺產，被從家庭帶走的兒童無法保持與土地的聯繫，也無法成為原住民社區文化和精神生活的一部分。

The Aborigines Protection Act was finally dropped in 1969. But many families affected by the forced removal of children are still deeply traumatised.
《原住民保護法》最終於1969年被廢除，但是許多受強迫帶走兒童影響的家庭仍然受到深重的創傷。

Because this trauma can continue across many generations these policies still affect the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community today.
由於這種創傷可以持續幾個世代，這些政策今天仍然影響著原住民和托雷斯海峽島民社區。

制定法律

澳洲政府近年常透過制定法律為原住民發聲，除了對歷史造成的傷害彌補外，也藉由立法希望能保護原住民及其文化遺產。

政府的立法總讓民間有各種的聲音，去年2023的關於原住法案的公投沒過，有人表示:「給他們的福利夠多了不需要再為他們立法了」，也有人表示:「原住民是弱勢，當初政府對他們的傷害需要付出代價」，更是有人認為:「原住民不是政府的棋子，不希望他們因政客操弄而再次受到傷害。」

澳洲人民的意見，是不是有一點熟悉? 針對原住民台灣似乎也有同樣的聲音出現，而無論各方持的意見如何，或是政客要如何操弄都得透過流程及投票表決，最終還是寄望法律是能真正保護每一位奉公守法的人民們。

一起來看看澳洲政府制定法律的流程

1. The power to make laws on important issues such as welfare, defence, immigration and taxation comes from the Australian Constitution.
   就福利、國防、移民和稅收等重要問題制定法律的權力來自澳大利亞憲法。

2.  A proposal for a new law or a change to the current law is called a bill.
關於新法律或修改現行法律的提案稱為法案。

3.  Where are bills normally introduced, in the House of Representatives (green house) or the Senate (red house)?  House of Representatives.
法案通常在眾議院（綠屋）或參議院（紅屋）提出？ 眾議院。

4.  Once a bill is introduced, the members can debate it and then vote on it.
法案一經提出，議員們可以就該法案進行辯論，然後進行表決。

5.  If the bill is agreed to in the Lower House, it is then sent to the Senate where a similar process is followed.
如果該法案在下議院獲得同意，則將其送交參議院。

6.   If members think a bill needs to be changed, they can suggest amendments.
如果議員認為法案需要修改，他們可以提出修改建議。

7.  All bills have to be approved and signed by the Governor General. Once a bill has been signed, it becomes a law.
所有法案必須由總督批准和簽署。一旦法案簽署，它就成為法律。

👇想了解更多可以透過這段短片了解澳洲國會的立法過程