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1967 Aboriginal Rights Referendum

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1967 Aboriginal Rights Referendum

Read the historical briefing, then answer the questions using evidence from it. Remember: the referendum changed the Australian Constitution, but it did not by itself create equal rights or solve the challenges facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Historical briefing: What changed in 1967?

On 27 May 1967, Australians voted on changes to the Constitution. A constitutional referendum is a public vote on a proposed change to that document. Under Australia’s double-majority rule, a change must win a majority of votes nationally and a majority of states. The 1967 proposal changed two parts of the Constitution. It removed the words in section 51(xxvi) that had prevented the Commonwealth Parliament from making laws for Aboriginal people. It also removed section 127, which had said that Aboriginal people were not to be counted when reckoning the population. The changes allowed the Commonwealth to make laws for Aboriginal people and meant Aboriginal people would be included in official population counts. The result was an overwhelming “Yes”: about 90.77 per cent of voters supported the proposal, and all six states recorded a majority “Yes” vote. Campaigners had worked for many years to build public support. Faith Bandler was a leading campaigner and organiser. Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal activists, community groups and organisations also contributed to the campaign. The referendum was an important constitutional and symbolic change. It did not automatically give Aboriginal people the right to vote, make them Australian citizens, or guarantee equal treatment. Federal voting rights for Aboriginal people had been legislated in 1962. The referendum also did not transfer control of all laws about Aboriginal people to the Commonwealth; it gave the Commonwealth power to make such laws.

Check the facts

Use the briefing to solve these questions.

1.What is a constitutional referendum in Australia?

A public vote on a proposed change to the Constitution
An election to choose a Prime Minister
A vote held only in state parliaments
A vote to appoint High Court judges

2.Complete the double-majority rule: a referendum proposal must win a majority of votes nationally and a majority of .

3.Which two sections of the Constitution were changed in 1967? Name each section and describe the change in a few words.

4.True or false? The 1967 referendum automatically gave Aboriginal people the right to vote in federal elections.

TrueFalse

5.The “Yes” vote was about 90.77 per cent, and all six states voted “Yes”. What does this tell you about the level of support for the proposal?

6.A campaign leaflet says, “The referendum gave the Commonwealth power to make laws for Aboriginal people.” Is this a fair summary? Explain one important qualification.

7.The briefing names Faith Bandler as a leading campaigner and organiser. Give one way campaigners could help a referendum succeed, and explain why that work mattered.

8.A classmate says, “The referendum fixed all inequality because the vote was so large.” Do you agree? Use one fact from the briefing to support your response.

9.Write a short museum caption explaining why the 1967 referendum mattered and one thing it did not do. Include at least one precise fact from the briefing.