What is the significance of the 1967 Referendum?
The 1967 Referendum was the most successful in our history winning 93 percent of votes cast. This empowered the national government to make laws in respect of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples that could assist in addressing inequalities.
What is the 1957 referendum?
The referendum campaign effectively focused public attention on the fact that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians were second class citizens with all sorts of limitations — legislative and social — on their lives.
What influenced the 1967 Referendum?
Influenced by colonial views of the 19th century, the founding fathers of the Constitution incorporated sections which later ignited discussions which led to the 1967 referendum. These were sections 51 and 127.
When did Australia Recognise Aboriginal?
13 February 2013
On 13 February 2013, federal parliament passed an Act of Recognition which formally recognised the presence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia before white settlement.
How did the 1967 Referendum impact Australian society?
The 1967 referendum did not end discrimination in Australia but instead opened a door for the Australian Government to make specific laws that applied to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples that could assist in addressing inequalities.
Who led the 1967 Referendum?
The protest, led by Jack Patten, stresses the need for Aboriginal people to be consulted in policy decisions and their implementation, for full citizenship rights and for the Commonwealth to have greater control over Aboriginal affairs.
Who initiated the 1967 referendum?
1967—Prime Minister Harold Holt announces that the Constitution Alteration Bill has passed in both Houses of Parliament allowing for a referendum to be called on whether or not Australia should change the wording of the constitution. The date is set for 27 May 1967.
Who was the first Indigenous Australian to sit in the Australian Federal Parliament?
Neville Bonner (Senate, Qld, LIB; IND) was the first Indigenous member of parliament in 1971.
How do I get Recognised as an Aboriginal?
The letter of Confirmation must:
- be from a registered Aboriginal community organisation, that is:
- be on the organisation’s letterhead, AND.
- state that you are of Aboriginal descent, and identify as an Aboriginal person, and are accepted by the Aboriginal community as an Aboriginal person, AND.
When did Indigenous get the right to vote?
As a result, the Commonwealth Electoral Act was amended in 1962 to give all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults the right to vote in federal elections, although enrolling was not made compulsory.
How many MPs are Indigenous?
There have been 46 Indigenous persons who have served as Members of Parliament, as well as 21 who have been named Senators. After the 2021 Canadian election, the highest number of Indigenous persons were elected to Parliament in history – with 11 MPs (3.3% of the House of Commons).