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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that the National Archives' website and collection contain the names, images and voices of people who have died.

Some records include terms and views that are not appropriate today. They reflect the period in which they were created and are not the views of the National Archives.

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  1. Home
  2. Learning resource themes
  3. First Australians
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  5. First Australian campaigners meet with Prime Minister Harold Holt seeking support for the 1967 referendum

First Australian campaigners meet with Prime Minister Harold Holt seeking support for the 1967 referendum

From left to right are Gordon Bryant MP, Faith Bandler, Harold Holt, Douglas Nicholls, Burnum Burnum (Harry Penrith), Winnie Branson and William Wentworth MP.

Left to right: Gordon Bryant MP, Faith Bandler, Prime Minister Harold Holt, Douglas Nicholls, Burnum Burnum (Harry Penrith), Winnie Branson, William Wentworth MP

Details

Learning resource record

Creator:

Australian News and Information Bureau

Date:

1967

Citation:

A1200, L62232

Keywords:

  • First Australians
  • Canberra
  • Harold Holt

About this record

This photograph shows members of the Federal Council for the Advancement of Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (FCAATSI) with Prime Minister Harold Holt and two other federal politicians at (Old) Parliament House in Canberra. They were meeting to seek bipartisan support for a referendum to remove discriminatory clauses from the Australian Constitution.

Campaigning for change

The case for changes to the Australian Constitution to allow the Australian (federal) Government to legislate on behalf of First Australians, and for them to be counted in the national census, had been argued since the early 20th century.

In February 1967, Prime Minister Harold Holt announced that a referendum would be held asking the Australian people whether they were in favour of changing the Constitution. Members of FCAATSI met with politicians on both sides of parliament to seek bipartisan support for the referendum.

The meeting was attended by prominent First Australian campaigners including Faith Bandler and Douglas Nicholls. Bandler was a founding member of FCAATSI. She had been inspired by her father, who is believed to have been kidnapped ('blackbirded') from Vanuatu and forced to work in Queensland. Nicholls, a renowned VFL footballer, had been a campaigner for First Australian rights since the 1930s. He was later knighted and appointed Governor of South Australia.

In May 1967, an extraordinary 90.77% of voters voted in favour of changing the Constitution. It was the largest majority for any referendum in Australian history.

In spite of the overwhelming vote, and the support of both sides of parliament, many people felt that the Holt government was slow to act after the referendum. It was to be another 5 months before Holt appointed 3 men to a newly established Council for Aboriginal Affairs. Holt also set up an Office of Aboriginal Affairs within his own department – however, a separate department specifically for Aboriginal Affairs was not established until 1972.

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Rights and freedoms

First Australians have long fought for equal rights and opportunities. Influential individuals and campaigns drove change in areas such as voting rights, constitutional change and land rights.

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Politics and advocacy

Throughout the 20th century, political engagement, activism and protest have helped focus attention on the differences in rights and entitlements experienced by First Australians.

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Prime ministers and politicians

Discover records about past prime ministers and politicians and the major events and policies of their governments.

Theme

The five Justices of the first High Court of Australia in official dress.

Constitution and referendums

The Australian Constitution sets out the principles and guidelines for how the country is run. It can only be changed with the approval of the Australian people at a referendum.

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