40 years ago: 1967 Referendum

May Day March in Queensland prior to 1967 Referendum

The sign on the BLF float reads:

FULL CITZ. RIGHTS for
ABORIGINALS
AWARD RATES & CONDITIONS
TO APPLY IMMEDIATELY
WE DEMAND DECENT LIVING CONDITIONS
VOTE YES
For The Aboriginals on
MAY 27th.

On May 27th 1967 after years of campaigning there was a Referendum to change the Commonwealth Constitution which up until then had said:

"The Parliament shall … have powers to make laws for peace, order, and good government [for] the people of any race, other than the aboriginal race in any State". Another clause said that "In reckoning the numbers of the people of the Commonwealth … aboriginal natives shall not be counted".

The 1967 referendum achieved the highest ever Yes vote of close to 91%


Australian Council of Salaried and Prefessional Associations (ACSPA) campaign leaflet