What did the Australian Constitution say about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people prior to the 1967 referendum?

Following the 1967 Referendum, the words “… Prior to the Referendum, making laws for Indigenous people was the responsibility of the states, and laws varied greatly from state to state. For example, Indigenous Australians could own property in New South Wales and South Australia but not in other states.

What do you think Aboriginal life was like before colonists arrived in Australia?

Lifestyle Before Colonisation The way indigenous people lived was very different to how we live today. They lived in small communities and survived by hunting and gathering. The men would hunt large animals for food and women and children would collect fruit, plants and berries.

What did section 127 state?

THE IMPACT OF SECTION 127 Section 127 of the Constitution was titled ‘Aborigines not to be counted in reckoning population’ and stated: ‘In reckoning the numbers of the people of the Commonwealth, or of a State or other part of the Commonwealth, aboriginal natives shall not be counted.

What rights did the Aboriginal community not have?

At the time of Federation, Aborigines were excluded from the rights of Australian citizenship, including the right to vote, the right to be counted in a census and the right to be counted as part of an electorate.

Who was here first in Australia?

Aboriginal peoples
People have lived in Australia for over 65,000 years. The first people who arrived in Australia were the Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander people’s. They lived in all parts of Australia.

What was the first contact between Aboriginal and European?

In 1797 the first Europeans to make contact with the Aboriginal people of south-east Australia were shipwrecked sailors.

How did Section 127 affect aboriginals?

Section 127 was repealed in its entirety, having the immediate effect of including Aboriginal Australians in determinations of population, and Indigenous Australians have been fully included in the census since 1971 (the first census conducted after the passage of the referendum).

What happened to Aboriginal heritage in Australia?

The struggle continues. Today, about three percent of Australia’s population has Aboriginal heritage. Aboriginal Australians still struggle to retain their ancient culture and fight for recognition—and restitution—from the Australian government.

What is the status of Aboriginal rights in Australia?

Aboriginal Australians still struggle to retain their ancient culture and fight for recognition—and restitution—from the Australian government. The state of Victoria is currently working toward a first-of-its-kind treaty with its Aboriginal population that would recognize Aboriginal Australians’ sovereignty and include compensation.

What are some of the injustices faced by Aboriginal people?

Aboriginal people were subjected to a range of injustices, including mass killings or being displaced from their traditional lands and relocated on missions and reserves in the name of protection. Cultural practices were denied, and subsequently many were lost. For Aboriginal people, colonisation meant massacre, violence, disease and loss.

What was the impact of colonisation on Aboriginal culture?

Cultural practices were denied, and subsequently many were lost. For Aboriginal people, colonisation meant massacre, violence, disease and loss. There is a rich body of literature on the violent history of colonisation in Victoria including massacres, missions, segregation, deaths in custody and land rights.