Child and State : Knowing and governing Indigenous Australians

There were times in Australian history when the singular, awesome power of the King was wielded over colonial subjects of the British Empire, including citizen settlers occupying new lands and subject populations whose territories had been invaded and claimed on behalf of the Crown. However, the consequences of an invasion that took place according to 18th century conventions of conquest and rule are still evident in present-day Australia. Recent events such as the Northern Territory Intervention in 2007 share some of the characteristics of sovereign power exercised at the moment of European settlement over two hundred years ago, especially moves to restrict and control the basic life conditions of Aboriginal peoples, their occupation of lands, and life sustenance. This paper focuses on one aspect of the sociology and politics of liberal modes of governing: the function of specialist knowledges underpinning shifting modes of governing Aboriginal peoples.