1) Before 1965, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples faced denial of many rights and freedoms under Australian law and policy. They were not recognized as Australian citizens and were subject to discriminatory treatment. 2) The concept of terra nullius was used to justify British colonization of Australia in the late 1700s, depicting the land as unoccupied despite the presence of indigenous peoples. 3) After colonization, Australia was essentially governed as an extension of Britain, with British systems of farming, law, government, and police imposed. This expansion limited the rights and lands of indigenous groups.