1967 referendum
ATS1259
The 1967 Referendum
The 1967 referendum was the repeal of section 127 and section 51 in the Commonwealth Constitution. With the repeal of these two sections the “Federal Government were allowed to make laws for Aborigines and Aborigines were now counted in the national census”(About the 1967 Referendum). The 1967 referendum can be commonly considered the turning point in Australian history and culture for finally addressing discrimination towards the Indigenous people and taking responsibility for Aboriginal affairs. However, some do not have the same representation of the results of the 1967 referendum because of the little improvement it has done for the Indigenous people. People have a negative representation of the 1967 referendum because there is still inequality between Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals. Henry Reynolds argues the significance due to the fact that, “It was highly significant that the measure was passed with such commanding majorities in almost every part of the continent”(Reynolds). Reynolds is referring to the highest YES vote of 99.77%, to be recorded for a federal referendum in Australian history. This was significant due to the fact that Australians were aware of the conditions Indigenous people faced, and wanted the Commonwealth government to do something to help. In past history, Australians thought of themselves as a white society. The referendum signified that “Australians were ready to embrace social and political reform”(About the 1967 Referendum). There were many major and minor events that lead up to the referendum. In the 1930s, people like William Cooper, William Ferguson, and Jack Patten started organizations to raise awareness to help improve the lives of Aborigines. They did this by organizing events, such as the Day of Mourning in Sydney on January 26, 1938. This day was a protest aboriginals held to represent 150 years of cruel treatment and the take over of the land. “They also petitioned the
The 1967 Referendum
The 1967 referendum was the repeal of section 127 and section 51 in the Commonwealth Constitution. With the repeal of these two sections the “Federal Government were allowed to make laws for Aborigines and Aborigines were now counted in the national census”(About the 1967 Referendum). The 1967 referendum can be commonly considered the turning point in Australian history and culture for finally addressing discrimination towards the Indigenous people and taking responsibility for Aboriginal affairs. However, some do not have the same representation of the results of the 1967 referendum because of the little improvement it has done for the Indigenous people. People have a negative representation of the 1967 referendum because there is still inequality between Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals. Henry Reynolds argues the significance due to the fact that, “It was highly significant that the measure was passed with such commanding majorities in almost every part of the continent”(Reynolds). Reynolds is referring to the highest YES vote of 99.77%, to be recorded for a federal referendum in Australian history. This was significant due to the fact that Australians were aware of the conditions Indigenous people faced, and wanted the Commonwealth government to do something to help. In past history, Australians thought of themselves as a white society. The referendum signified that “Australians were ready to embrace social and political reform”(About the 1967 Referendum). There were many major and minor events that lead up to the referendum. In the 1930s, people like William Cooper, William Ferguson, and Jack Patten started organizations to raise awareness to help improve the lives of Aborigines. They did this by organizing events, such as the Day of Mourning in Sydney on January 26, 1938. This day was a protest aboriginals held to represent 150 years of cruel treatment and the take over of the land. “They also petitioned the
Bibliography: Reynolds, Henry. "Aboriginals and the 1967 Referendum: 30 Years on." Aboriginal Sovereignty. N.p.: n.p., n.d. 55-67. Print. Jessie M.G. Street, Report on Aborigines in Australia, May/June 1957, p.3. "Reflections: 40 Years on from the 1967 Referendum." Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement Inc., 2007. Web. 17 Aug. 2013. Peterson, Nicholas, and Will Sanders. "Google Books." Google Books. Cambridge University Press, n.d. Web. 18 Aug. 2013. "Didj "u" Know - 1967 Referendum." Didj "u" Know - 1967 Referendum. ABC, n.d. Web. 17 Aug. 2013. Behrendt, Larissa. "The 1967 Referendum 40 Years on." Reflections: 40 Years on from the 1976 Referendum. Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement Inc, n.d. Web. 17 Aug. 2013. "About the 1967 Referendum." VCAA, 212. Web. 17 Aug. 2013. "The 1967 Referendum." The 1967 Referendum. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Aug. 2013.