On March 13, 1978 the Queensland Government announced its intention to take over management of Aurukun Aboriginal Reserve from the Uniting Church. The people of Aurukun complained bitterly, fearing that the state was merely seeking easier access to rich bauxite deposits on their Reserve. When the Federal Government took the side of the Aborigines the stage was set for a national confrontation, which soon became front-page news across Australia.
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