1967 Referendum: A turning point in Australian indigenous rights

Indigenous Australians possess a rich and intricate history that began long before European colonization. 

For thousands of years, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples thrived throughout the continent, fostering a vibrant culture and distinctive lifestyle. 

However, the arrival of British settlers in 1788 marked a profound shift. The newcomers imposed their laws and customs, often in direct opposition to those of the Indigenous populations. 

This cultural imposition sparked prolonged periods of strife, upheaval, and aggression.

The founding of the New South Wales colony in 1788 marked the beginning of British legal imposition on Indigenous Australians. 

Colonial governors held the view that the First Nations people fell under British jurisdiction, despite having their own legal systems and traditions. 

This decree established a pattern that persisted for about 150 years, throughout which Indigenous Australians were progressively subjected to British laws and coerced into assimilation with white society.

First Nations people did not have the right to vote in elections in all states and territories in Australia until 1965.

Some Aboriginal people in certain states (e.g., South Australia and Victoria) did have voting rights much earlier, it was not equal or consistent across the country.

At different times before 1965, they were excluded from citizenship and considered 'wards of the state'.

In addition, they were not counted in the national census and were not eligible for social security or other government benefits.

The Commonwealth Franchise Act 1902 granted white women the right to vote in federal elections but "all Aboriginal natives of Australia, Asia, Africa, or the Islands of the Pacific except New Zealand" from voting unless already enrolled (which applied in Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory).

This act also introduced a property qualifying franchise, which meant that Indigenous Australian people who did not own property could not vote. 

However, during much of the early 20th century, many Indigenous Australians were forced to live on reserves and missions, where they faced restrictive government controls over their movement, employment, and cultural practices.

Organizations and individuals came together to address and seek solutions for the disparities experienced by First Nations peoples. 

In 1938, a significant protest called 'The Day of Mourning' was held on Australia Day to challenge the discrimination faced by Indigenous Australians. 

This event was organised by the Aborigines Progressive Association (APA), established in 1937 to champion the rights of Indigenous Australians.

This was one of the first organized protests to demand civil rights and recognition for Indigenous Australians.

Then, in 1956, the Yarnangu people were found to be ill and undernourished in South Australia's Maralinga region.

The health, land and traditional way of life of the people had suffered due to nuclear tests carried out by the British and Australian governments in the area.

Upon discovering the plight of the Yarnangu, the public reacted with outrage.

In response to increasing public awareness, the Federal Council for Aboriginal Advancement (FCAA) was established in 1958 to advocate for the rights of Indigenous Australians. 

A primary goal was the abolition of all discriminatory federal and state laws against First Nations people. Additionally, the council aimed to secure complete citizenship rights for them, including the right to vote.

In 1962, FCAA succeeded in having the Commonwealth Electoral Act amended to grant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples the right to vote in federal elections, but this did not apply to state elections.

Some Indigenous Australians had held voting rights in some states prior to this, and the 1962 amendment to the Commonwealth Electoral Act removed remaining restrictions at the federal level.

Even after this point, however, Indigenous voting rights in state elections varied, with the last restrictions removed by 1965 in Queensland.

The next year, Gurindji leader Vincent Lingiari led around 200 Aboriginal stockmen and their families walked off the Wave Hill cattle station in the Northern Territory to protest about poor working conditions and pay.

However, it quickly evolved into a demand for land rights and would last for seven years.

The walk-off became known as the Gove Land Rights Strike, or the Wave Hill Walk-Off, and it brought national attention to the issue of Indigenous rights.

On February 23, 1965, Australian Prime Minister Harold Holt announced a vote to be held in 1967.

Then, he introduced the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginals) Bill 1967 to Parliament on March 1, 1967, which proposed the constitutional amendments to be voted on in the referendum.

The referendum sought to change two sections of the Constitution which related to Indigenous Australians.

It asked whether Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be included in Section 51 of the Constitution, which deals with race matters, to allow the federal government to legislate specifically for them. 

In addition, voters were asked whether Section 127 of the Constitution, which excludes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from the count of the national population, should be removed.

Before the referendum, it was estimated that there were around 90,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia, representing approximately 1% of the population.

During the campaign in the months leading up to the vote, Faith Bandler, who was a prominent activist and member of the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI), played a critical role in mobilizing public support.

The referendum was held on May 27, 1967, and resulted in a resounding victory for the "yes" campaign.

More than 90% of Australians voted in favor of the amendments proposed in the referendum.

It is the most successful referendum in Australian history in terms of public support.

After the clear result, Prime Minister Holt made a speech on May 28, 1967, commenting on the results, saying he was "delighted with the overwhelming vote in every State of the Commonwealth favouring the elimination of those references in the Constitution which smack of discrimination".

The changes to the Constitution that were enacted as a result of the referendum have been described as some of the most important in Australian history.

The 1967 referendum led to many changes for Indigenous Australians. They were finally recognised as full citizens in the constitution of Australia.

In addition, they were included in the national census and became eligible for social security and other government benefits. 

The 1967 referendum was an important step in the process of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

While the referendum was symbolically significant, it did not immediately grant new rights or improve living conditions for Indigenous Australians.

Rather, it provided the federal government with the power to legislate for their benefit.

Specifically, the referendum did not address land rights or self-determination, leaving many key issues unaddressed until later campaigns in the 1970s and 1980s.

Nevertheless, it is a reminder of the power of democracy to effect change and improve the lives of those who have been disadvantaged for too long.

It is also a reminder of the importance of working together to build a more just and equitable society.