1967- Referendum
A referendum was held to change the Australian Constitution in 1967. According to the national museum Australia (2014) two references which discriminated against Aboriginal Australians were removed, giving the Commonwealth the power to legislate for them as a group. This change was seen by many as recognition of Aboriginal people as full Australian citizens and this meant they would be included in the census. Protesters presented the case for a Commonwealth government which would be willing to take accountability for Indigenous citizens wherever they lived for the first time.
“The 1967 Referendum is extremely significant to Aboriginal Australians. It represented the end of official discrimination and the promise of full and equal citizenship. The overwhelming ‘Yes’ vote also signalled that white Australians were ready to embrace social and political reform, and expected the Federal Government to take the lead” (Victorian curriculum and assessment, 2012).
A referendum was held to change the Australian Constitution in 1967. According to the national museum Australia (2014) two references which discriminated against Aboriginal Australians were removed, giving the Commonwealth the power to legislate for them as a group. This change was seen by many as recognition of Aboriginal people as full Australian citizens and this meant they would be included in the census. Protesters presented the case for a Commonwealth government which would be willing to take accountability for Indigenous citizens wherever they lived for the first time.
“The 1967 Referendum is extremely significant to Aboriginal Australians. It represented the end of official discrimination and the promise of full and equal citizenship. The overwhelming ‘Yes’ vote also signalled that white Australians were ready to embrace social and political reform, and expected the Federal Government to take the lead” (Victorian curriculum and assessment, 2012).