Damon Mcknight
The notion that white people in Australia have a criminal background stems from the country's history of British colonisation and convict transportation. While many Australians of European descent have no connection to this past, some are descended from convicts, including those who were political prisoners or exiled for petty crimes. This history has led to a perception of criminality among white Australians, with some embracing their convict ancestry as a novelty or badge of honour. However, it is important to note that the term criminal may not accurately reflect the nature of their ancestors' offences, as serious crimes often resulted in harsh punishments like death sentences. Today, Australia faces different challenges regarding race and crime, with Indigenous Australians being disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system and experiencing higher rates of incarceration, which has been attributed to various social and historical factors.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Aboriginal people in Australia | 2% |
| Percentage of Aboriginal people in prison | 20% |
| Percentage of Aboriginal people in Western Australia prisons | 42% |
| Percentage of Indigenous people over 14 years old who used illicit drugs in the last 12 months | 28% |
| Percentage of non-Indigenous people over 14 years old who used illicit drugs in the last 12 months | 13% |
| Percentage of police detainees who attributed their criminal activity to illicit drug use | 37% |
| Percentage of males who reported medium or higher levels of psychological distress | 50% |
| Percentage of Indigenous females who reported medium or higher levels of psychological distress | 85% |
| Percentage of white people arrested between 2004/05 and 2008/09 | Increased by 4% |
| Percentage of black people arrested between 2004/05 and 2008/09 | Increased by 16% |
| Percentage of Asian people arrested between 2004/05 and 2008/09 | Increased by 26% |
| Percentage of white people expected to 'do time' | 4% |
| Percentage of Latinos expected to 'do time' | 16% |
| Percentage of black people expected to 'do time' | 29% |
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What You'll Learn
- Many Australians of European descent have no connection to Britain and its convict past
- Some Australians are descendants of Irish rebels, who were political prisoners, not criminals
- Criminal justice system in Australia has been accused of discriminating against Indigenous Australians
- Indigenous Australians are disproportionately represented in the country's criminal justice and penal institutions
- Criminal sentencing courts in Australia are making efforts to be more culturally appropriate for Indigenous defendants
Many Australians of European descent have no connection to Britain and its convict past
Australians of European descent are the majority in Australia, with 57.2% of the population having ancestry responses categorised within European groups (including 46% North-West European and 11.2% Southern and Eastern European). However, it is important to note that the number of Australians with European ancestry may be higher than what is captured in census data, as those who nominate their ancestry as "Australian" are classified within the Oceanian group. The Australian Bureau of Statistics has stated that most who nominate "Australian" as their ancestry are likely Anglo-Celtic Australians, reflecting the historical waves of immigration from the British Isles.
Indeed, historical immigration patterns have significantly influenced the ethnic makeup of Australia. From the establishment of the Colony of New South Wales by the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1788 to the Second World War, the vast majority of settlers and immigrants originated from the British Isles, particularly England, Ireland, Wales, and Scotland. This prolonged period of immigration from specific regions of Europe contributed to the high proportion of Australians of European descent today.
However, it is essential to distinguish between Australians of European descent and any association with Britain's convict past. While some Australians may have ancestral ties to transported convicts, many others do not. Large-scale immigration to Australia occurred following the gold rushes in the 1850s and after the First and Second World Wars, attracting migrants from continental Europe and other parts of the world. For example, Italian Australians and Greek Australians constituted significant immigrant groups during the post-World War II era, contributing to the diversity of European influences in Australia.
Furthermore, the passage of time and generational distance from historical events also play a role. More recent immigrants with no prior connection to Australia are less likely to have ancestral links to Britain's convict past. As one commenter on Reddit points out, "there are lots and lots of white Aussies with no connection to Britain and therefore no convict transportation past." Another commenter shares that their family came to Australia during the potato famine in the 1850s and that, as far as they are aware, their ancestors were not criminals.
In summary, while the history of European settlement in Australia is complex and intertwined with Britain's convict past, it is important to recognise that many Australians of European descent today have no direct connection to that specific aspect of history. Their presence in Australia may be due to more recent immigration patterns, different historical events, or simply the passage of time that has diluted any potential connection to transported convicts.
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Some Australians are descendants of Irish rebels, who were political prisoners, not criminals
It is important to note that not all white Australians are connected to Britain and its convict transportation past. Many Australians are descendants of Irish rebels, who were political prisoners, not criminals.
During the 19th century, Irish people maintained a strong interest in Irish politics, especially in Australia. Among the 40,000 Irish convicts transported to Australia between 1791 and 1867 were participants in the 1798 Irish Rebellion, the 1803 Rising led by Robert Emmet, and the 'Young Ireland' revolt of 1848. The 1798 rebellion, also known as the United Irishmen of '98, was a significant event in Irish history, with some Australians still holding it close to their hearts. The Irish in Australia were closely engaged with the Home Rule movement, advocating for Irish independence from colonial rule. This continued into the 20th century, with the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin and the Irish War of Independence, during which Irish nationalists in Australia were active.
Irish Australians have played a significant role in Australian politics, with Irish-born Peter Lalor leading the Eureka Rebellion in 1854 and later becoming a conservative member of parliament. Other notable Irish-Australian politicians include John O'Shanassy and Charles Gavan Duffy, Victorian premiers in the mid-19th century, and Joseph Lyons, Australia's 10th Prime Minister, who established the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
While the exact number of Australians with Irish ancestry is unknown, it is estimated that up to 30% of the population may have some degree of Irish ancestry, making it the third most common ancestry in Australia after English and Australian.
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Criminal justice system in Australia has been accused of discriminating against Indigenous Australians
The Australian criminal justice system has been accused of discriminating against Indigenous Australians. This is evidenced by the disproportionately high rates of Indigenous incarceration and their over-representation as victims of crime. As of September 2019, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners made up 28% of the total adult prisoner population, while only accounting for 3.3% of the general population. This disparity has been attributed to various historical and contemporary factors, including systemic racism and discriminatory practices within the justice system itself.
Indigenous Australians face unique interactions with the justice system due to ongoing over-policing, removal of children, and disproportionate conviction rates. This has led to concerns about systemic discrimination and calls for justice oversight and accountability. Additionally, Indigenous individuals experience higher rates of malnutrition, disease, lack of opportunity, and erosion of individual identity while in the criminal justice system.
The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC) found that the high rates of deaths were linked to underlying factors such as poor health, housing, low education and employment levels, and dysfunctional families and communities. These issues are further exacerbated by dispossession and past government policies, placing Indigenous people at a disadvantaged and unequal position in society.
To address these issues, initiatives such as circle sentencing have been implemented, which integrates Aboriginal customary tradition into the legal process. Circle sentencing involves Aboriginal adult offenders appearing before a circle of elders, community members, police, and the judiciary to decide on a sentence, rather than in a traditional courtroom setting. However, it is important to recognize that the criminal justice system's historical and current treatment of Indigenous Australians has contributed to the ongoing suspicion in national reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.
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Indigenous Australians are disproportionately represented in the country's criminal justice and penal institutions
The over-representation of Indigenous Australians in the country's criminal justice and penal institutions is a significant issue that has been recognised by both the government and the community as an area of concern. This issue is linked to the ongoing and historical experiences of Indigenous peoples resulting from European colonisation, including dispossession of land, disruption of culture and kinship systems, removal of children, racism, social exclusion, institutionalisation, and entrenched poverty.
Indigenous Australians constitute a disproportionately high percentage of the incarcerated population. For example, in New South Wales (NSW), they make up just 3% of the adult population but comprise more than 30% of the adult prison population. Similarly, Indigenous youth make up 8% of the NSW population aged 10-17 but account for 50% of the youth detention population. The latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicate that the Indigenous imprisonment rate in NSW is nearly ten times that of the non-Indigenous rate.
There are several underlying factors contributing to this over-representation. One key factor is the intergenerational impact of colonisation, which continues to affect Indigenous peoples' interactions with the criminal justice system. Additionally, health factors, such as substance abuse, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD), mental health issues, and hearing loss, have been identified as contributing to the high number of Indigenous young people entering the youth justice system.
The Australian government has acknowledged this issue and developed strategies to address it. The Closing the Gap framework aims to reduce the disadvantage and inequality experienced by Indigenous Australians, with a target to reduce the rate of Indigenous adults in incarceration by at least 15% and Indigenous youth in youth detention by at least 30%.
It is important to note that while the focus of this discussion is on the over-representation of Indigenous Australians in the criminal justice system, the presence of white people with criminal records or ancestry in Australia is also acknowledged. This is due to various factors, including historical British policies of relocating 'vagrants' to colonies and the transportation of convicts to Australia for petty crimes.
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Criminal sentencing courts in Australia are making efforts to be more culturally appropriate for Indigenous defendants
The history of European migration to Australia dates back 250 years, with many white Australians having no connection to Britain or convict ancestry. However, approximately 20% of Australians are estimated to be descended from convicts, some of whom were not criminals but Irish rebels or political prisoners.
In the present day, criminal sentencing courts in Australia are striving to become more culturally appropriate for Indigenous defendants. This is particularly important given the overrepresentation of Indigenous Australians in the criminal justice system. Specialist Indigenous sentencing courts have been established in most jurisdictions, with the aim of promoting the Anglo-Australian principle of individualised justice. These courts emphasise learning about the offender and the offence, encouraging defendants, their supporters, elders, and community members to speak, and seeking to achieve full community involvement in the sentencing process. For example, the Circle Sentencing Court in Nowra, New South Wales, which has been in operation since 2002, selects those likely to receive a custodial sentence, as regular courts have had little impact on reducing their reoffending rates. Research has found that offenders who participated in Circle Sentencing were 52% less likely to be incarcerated and 9.6% less likely to reoffend.
However, eligibility requirements and limited workloads mean that most cases involving Indigenous defendants are still sentenced in mainstream courts. In these settings, there is limited acknowledgement of cultural and customary practices, and little research on how cultural factors are considered in judicial sentencing. To address this, socio-legal researchers have studied how sentencing decisions can incorporate cultural contexts, with the ultimate goal of promoting rehabilitation and healing for Indigenous offenders.
To support reintegration into the community and reduce the risks of reoffending, the Australian Government has funded through-care providers across all states and territories except the Australian Capital Territory. These services provide intensive case work and client support during the pre-release and post-release phases, addressing the needs of detainees and reducing the chances of their return to the justice system.
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Frequently asked questions
Europeans have been migrating to Australia for 250 years, so there are plenty of white Australians with no convict ancestors. However, Britain had a policy of relocating 'vagrants' to their colonies to reduce the risk of civil unrest and starvation during frequent food shortages until the late 19th century. About 20% of Australians are descended from convicts, though not all convicts were criminals—some were Irish rebels who were political prisoners.
Any serious offenders were hanged. Petty crimes resulted in transportation to the other side of the world and exile from their country of birth.
About 20% of Australians are descended from convicts.
Australians with criminal ancestors do not face stigma. Those who had such ancestors in the past would have hidden it 100 years ago, but now it's seen as interesting and novel.
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