12.3 Changing the Constitution - The 1967 referendum

Question 1

Why was the 1967 referendum needed?

Answer 1

the Constitution had previously denied the Commonwealth the power to legislate for Indigenous people or to include them in national censuses, which was considered discriminatory and a barrier to effective policy making

Question 2

What were the proposals put out to the people in the 1967 referendum?

Answer 2

1. A proposal was to alter the Constitution so that the no. of members in the House of Representatives could be increased without increasing the number of senators
2. To remove any ground for the belief that the Constitution discriminated against people of the Aboriginal race and at the same time create special laws for these people

Question 3

What were the 1967 referendum results?

Answer 3

The majority of voters in the nation voted in favour with 90.77%. All of the States voted yes to the proposal

Question 4

What was the significance of the 1967 referendum?