Are the Australian aboriginals the world's oldest civilization?

Today it is believed that the Aboriginals are the world's oldest civilization. For more than 50,000 years, Australia's Aboriginal people have lived and thrived in Australia's unique and challenging natural environment. Australia's rich vegetation and native wildlife helped them establish their presence on the land. Sadly, through atrocities committed during the early years of colonization, and through disease brought to the continent by European settlement there are far fewer Aboriginals today than prior to European settlement. Currently the Aboriginals number (apprx) 1.5% of the Australian population.