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Counted: Faith Bandler on voting yes in the 1967 referendum

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Faith Bandler
Counted: Faith Bandler on voting yes in the 1967 referendum

SUBJECTS:  Civics and Citizenship, History

YEARS:  5–6, 9–10


In 1967, after 10 years of campaigning, Australia voted yes in the referendum on changing the way Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were referred to in the Constitution.

Many people often think the 1967 referendum "gave Aborigines the vote", but this is incorrect. This referendum, which received 90.77 per cent agreement from the voting public, was to decide whether Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be counted in the census of the population and to allow the Commonwealth to make laws relating specifically to Indigenous peoples.

Faith Bandler played an important role in campaigning for the yes vote. Do some research and find out more about this remarkable activist.

Things to think about

  1. 1.Why do you think it was important to change the way Aboriginal people were referred to in the constitution?
  2. 2.With 90.77 percent of people voting YES to change the constitution, it is the highest YES vote ever recorded in a federal referendum. Why do you think that was? What other public votes have there been in Australia?
  3. 3.What are some of the myths around the 1967 referendum?



Date of broadcast: 26 May 2017


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