ASSESS THE SUCCESS OF THE 1967 REFERENDUM IN RELATION TO SOCIAL, POLITICAL, LEGAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGES IN THE RIGHTS OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLES. USE THE DOCUMENTS BELOW AND YOUR OWN RESEARCH. HAND IN A COMPLETED MINDMAP AND THE FINISHED ESSAY. LOOK AT THE DOCUMENTS AND THE VIDEOS TO HELP. On the 27th of May 1967, a Federal referendum was held to change the Constitutional law in Australia. The referendum was held to amend the constitutional law to include Aboriginal people in the census and allow the Commonwealth to make laws for them, as under constitutional law Aboriginal People were considered under the Fauna and Flora Act. Having just passed the 50th anniversary of this event many are reflecting on the fact if the legal, political, social and economic impact the referendum had in 1967 still count as successful 50 years later. According to Gabrielle Appleby …show more content…
As stated in the handout given in class, “The referendum provided a vehicle for change by empowering the Commonwealth to protectionism and assimilation.” Before the referendum, the States of Australia made laws which discriminated against and denied basic human rights such as being free to live where they wish, having access to education, receiving the same wages as non-Aboriginal people, etc. to Aboriginal people. The referendum did not guarantee such change — For the first five years after the referendum the Australian Government did not make any significant changes, as the referendum did not actually give the government full responsibility to make positive changes for Aboriginal people, it simply “opened the door for Australian Government involvement” as put by the Australian Constitution and 1967 Referendum Fact Sheet. The ongoing political commitment would be the only way to make sure the changes stayed in place; Something that fell short 50 years