The Australian Historical Association (AHA) has barred Roger Karge from presenting at its annual conference in Sydney, scheduled for Monday, sparking debate over academic freedom and historical interpretation. Karge, who leads the website darkemupexposed.org, is known for challenging prominent narratives about Indigenous Australian history, particularly those surrounding the bestselling book *Dark Emu* by Melbourne University Professor Bruce Pascoe.

Karge and his team, which includes genealogists, have disputed Pascoe’s claims of Aboriginal ancestry and the historical assertions made in *Dark Emu*. Their research reportedly found no documented Aboriginal ancestors for Pascoe, who identifies as descended from three tribes. The team also contests Pascoe’s argument that Aboriginal people were originally agriculturalists living in permanent towns of up to 1,000 residents—claims Karge’s group considers to be based on misinterpreted or false sources. Pascoe has not responded to requests for clarification or evidence supporting his heritage claims.

Beyond Pascoe, Karge’s inquiries allegedly uncovered at least six other academics claiming Aboriginal identity without documented ancestry, some occupying roles designated for Indigenous Australians. According to Karge, none provided evidence to substantiate their claims, though one unnamed academic reportedly resigned quietly. Universities employing those individuals have not taken public action, a lack of response that Karge and some critics see as a reluctance to engage with challenges to established narratives.

Karge was set to present research disputing interpretations of the 1804 Risdon Cove event, where some historians have argued that 30 to 50 Aboriginal people were killed in what they describe as a massacre. Karge contends the figures are greatly exaggerated and rely on testimony from an alleged eyewitness who arrived in Tasmania two years after the incident and gave evidence more than two decades later. He suggests the death toll was closer to three.

Another contested point involves author Stephen Gapps, also slated to present at the AHA conference. Gapps promotes the view that there were organized Aboriginal resistance efforts, including guerrilla-style warfare, during early colonial conflicts. Karge disputes this portrayal, arguing the evidence for such conflicts is overstated and politically motivated. Reports indicate Gapps opposed appearing at the conference alongside Karge and publicly objected to sharing the platform.

Following these tensions, the AHA notified Karge on Sunday of his exclusion from the conference and suspended him from the association pending an investigation into alleged conduct "unbecoming a member or prejudicial to the interests of the association." The decision came after intervention by Aboriginal academic Marcia Langton, who supported the suspension as necessary to preserve the integrity and discipline of historical scholarship.

The AHA’s move has revived discussions about dissent and debate within Australian academic history, raising questions about how institutions handle controversial perspectives on Indigenous history. The association previously faced criticism after the publication of Keith Windschuttle’s *The Fabrication of Aboriginal History* in 2003, which challenged claims of genocidal campaigns against Tasmanian Aboriginals and led to internal disputes over historical interpretations.

The controversy highlights ongoing sensitivity around Australia's colonial history and Indigenous issues, with competing views on how historical narratives are constructed, verified, and shared in academic and public domains. The AHA has yet to release a detailed statement outlining the rationale behind its decision or the specific concerns regarding Karge’s conduct.