1967 Referendum

Question 1

Referendum

Answer 1

• A vote used to approve a change in the Australian Constitution
• Require a majority of votes
• Require a majority of the states
• Before a referendum can be held, a bill outlining the proposed changes to the constitution must be passed by both houses of the Federal Parliament, or alternatively passed twice in either the House of Representatives or the Senate

Question 2

Variations in States

Answer 2

There were large variations between each State and Territory in terms of the rights afforded to Indigenous Australians because the constitution had enabled each state and territory to make their own laws about Indigenous people

Question 3

How did the ‘centralization’ of powers impact the experiences of Indigenous Australians?

Answer 3

Indigenous people would be:
- Considered citizens of their country
- Would be given rights such as freedom of movement, ownership of property, right to social services, etc
- It would not be legal to discriminate against people of a different color by the law
- Indigenous people would be treated differently by not only the law but by non-Indigenous Australians as well

Question 4

Compare the significance of the 1962 amendment to the Electoral Act and the 1967 Referendum

Answer 4

By allowing Indigenous Australians to vote in the 1962 amendment, in the 1967 referendum, Indigenous Australians could vote to change the constitution and so that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples would be counted as part of the population and the Commonwealth would be able to make laws for them.

Question 5

How successful was the Referendum

Answer 5

• Very successful
• 90.77 percent of people said ‘yes’
• Every single state and territory had a majority result for the ‘yes’ vote

Question 6

Was the 1967 Referendum significant in affording Indigenous Australians more rights and freedoms

Answer 6

• The Referendum had an enormous effect both symbolically and practically on Aboriginal people
• Aboriginal people would be counted as part of the population and acknowledged as equal citizens, and the Commonwealth would be able to make laws on their behalf
• Public recognition of Aboriginal people as full Australian citizens

Question 7

To what extent was the 1967 Referendum limited in achieving equality between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian

Answer 7

Did not give
- Right to vote
- Equal Pay
- Personal Freedoms

Question 8

How did it happen

Answer 8

• FCAATSI organized a petition calling for a referendum on sections 51 and 127 of the Constitution
• In response to this petition, the Holt Government introduced the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginals) Bill 1967 to Parliament
• The legislation was passed unanimously and finally, a referendum was announced