Was the removal of children an attempt at genocide?

While Neville was certainly meticulous in recording estimates of racial composition, I don’t believe this was exclusively because saw half-castes as genetically inferior or a threat to whiteness. I do believe that no matter how stupidly cruel his separation policy, he probably acted in what he felt was in the best interests of all concerned, believing:

·         Full blood Aboriginals would never adapt to the new Australia;

·         The traditional Aboriginal life was totally incompatible with the western life;

·         By taking children at a young age he would prevent them from embracing ideas incompatible with the western way of life;

·         Half-caste children could, given the right rules and conditions, be bred whiter and whiter until they became acceptable to the community at large.

This reflects Neville’s measure of whitefellas just as much as it might reflect some belief in racial superiority. 
For Neville, I think, the problem was not so much that blacks were genetically black, the problem was that half-castes would never be accepted by the larger (white) community, and there was no future for them in a black life.

Sounds sick just the same, but perhaps he deserves just a little credit for not being a total Nazi.