We have used historical terms; however, ‘Aborigine’* is no longer used or accepted when referring to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
On 27 May 1967, a national referendum was held to ask Australians if two references in the Australian Constitution should be removed. This meant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples would be counted in the census, and the federal government would be responsible for making laws for Indigenous peoples. An overwhelming 90.77% of Australians voted in favour of giving Aboriginal people constitutional recognition.
Before this, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were explicitly excluded from the Constitution which meant they could not access federal services such as social security and education. Only the states could make laws for them, which meant laws could vary significantly. For example, some states prevented Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from owning land. The referendum changes to the Constitution are symbolically important but they do not provide full protection from discrimination and other social disadvantages.
Thousands of people worked on the campaign to amend the Constitution. Australians rallied together to abolish what they saw as racist, discriminatory and archaic laws. Organisations including the AAPA, the Australian Aborigines League* and the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders* worked on targeted campaigns. It is regarded as one of the most successful campaigns in Australian political history.
Learn and Explore:
- There are approximately 3,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who served in World War II and many others who renounced their Aboriginality when there was an earlier ban on Aboriginal people enlisting to fight. Australian War memorial, Indigenous Service have put together names of some of the known Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People who served in World War I and II.
Stop and think:
- Knowing about past events helps us understand what happened and the importance of truth-telling. How do you think not knowing the full history of Australia affects your work and understanding of Aboriginal people?
- Take a moment to reflect on the struggles Aboriginal people faced and their strength and resilience when fighting for their rights.