politics
Australia’s ‘pioneer’ colonists profited from slavery. That truth must be acknowledged
The veil is slowly being lifted on the forced or coerced migration – ‘blackbirding’ – of Pacific Islanders for labour
TL;DR
- Robert Towns, namesake of Townsville, is revealed to have profited significantly from the 'blackbirding' trade, a form of slavery involving Pacific Islanders.
- Between 1860 and 1906, approximately 62,000 Pacific Islanders were trafficked to Australia, many forced to work in harsh conditions in Queensland's sugar industry, with thousands dying.
- Author Ryan Butta's book highlights Towns' deep involvement, describing him as 'the founding father of Australian slavery'.
- The article suggests that monuments and city names honoring problematic historical figures should be used to educate about their misdeeds, rather than being removed or ignored.
- Despite evidence, some institutions and signs continue to celebrate Towns without acknowledging his role in slavery, emphasizing a need for a historical reckoning.