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How Did The 1967 Referendum Affect Australia

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of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders in the late 1950’s. This began an era of change. The 1960’s brought significant changes in Aboriginal affairs. The changes that took place in Australia were reflective of changes happening around the world. The Civil Rights Movement that took place in the U.S. was “an inspiration to the world” as it broke down racial barriers. Additionally, the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human rights “declared that people should not be discriminated against on the basis of race.” Though initially dismissed, this proved to have a positive effect on Aboriginal affairs as they acquired more rights. The progress being made in other nations excited the Aboriginal people and instilled hope that change was …show more content…

The 1967 Referendum was viewed as overwhelmingly successful as it received “over 90 percent voting in support.” The 1967 Referendum had a significant impact on Aboriginal rights in the twentieth century as it brought about changes in how the Aboriginal people were viewed by the government. The 1967 Referendum removed two parts of the constitution that referred to the Aboriginal people in a negative manner. The Referendum removed the portion of the constitution the prevented the federal parliament from enacting laws for Aboriginal people. It also repealed the section the prevented Aboriginal people from being counted in the census. Though it did not bring about any new rights or recognition for the Aboriginal people, the Referendum was important in the Aboriginal rights movement as it altered the Federation’s perception of the Aboriginal people. Furthermore, the Referendum gave the Aboriginal people hope that this would begin a new era of “law and policy making in Aboriginal affairs.” While the Aboriginal people were excited about this change, it was noted that the discrimination did not end with the Referendum. This highlights how the acquisition of rights for Aboriginal people was a fractured process as they still faced discrimination in the wake of changes that were meant to work in their favor. Although the Referendum did not increase the rights of Aboriginal people, it is still important in the Aboriginal Rights movement as it created the possibility for the Federation to create laws that could benefit or support Aboriginal

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