Friday May 27, 2022 marks the 55th anniversary of the 1967 Referendum, where Australians voted to amend the Constitution to see Aboriginal people counted within the census.
The referendum put the following question to the Australian people:
Do you approve the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled 'An Act to alter the Constitution so as to omit certain words relating to the people of the Aboriginal race in any state and so that Aboriginals are to be counted in reckoning the population'?
An overwhelming 91 per cent of people voted for the change, which saw Aboriginal people afforded the basic human right of being recognised as part of the Australian population.
Proud Bardi-Jawi and Nyoongar woman and Shooting Stars board member, Helen Ockerby, reflected on the referendum and how important it was at the time given that Aboriginal people weren’t acknowledged as citizens within their own country.
“The fact that our people, First Nation people had to apply to become a citizen of their own country deprived our people of human rights and equality, something had to be done on a political scale. It was also extremely telling that around 91 per cent of Australians voted yes in the referendum – the message was clear that majority of people wanted to make this change together.”
It is fitting that on the 55th anniversary of the referendum the Australian public looks to be going back to vote, this time on the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which seeks to amend the constitution to implement a voice for First Nations people, giving them a say in the laws and policies that affect them.
It is this level of political buy-in that will ensure real change occurs. Ockerby notes the increase of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within parliament and what that means for change.
“There's been a lot of political change in recent years, including seeing people of colour representing at a State and Federal level, that’s paved the way for people to be involved in the decision making within the Australian parliamentary system, but there's definitely more change on the horizon which could be in the form of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.”
Even though we’ve just had a Federal Election which saw a change in Government, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders having access to voting or understanding their rights is still an issue that needs addressing. Especially in remote and regional areas of Western Australian, where Ockerby says the presence of politicians such as Divina D’Anna, Member for Kimberley, is integral.
The day also marks the start of National Reconciliation Week, where the 2022 theme, “Be Brave. Make Change.” Is a challenge to all Australians to be brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation, so we can continue to make change that benefits all Australians.
Shooting Stars believe that success starts with a strong identity to culture. We ensure that our participants have the opportunity to engage with strong Aboriginal leaders in their community, learning from them and their stores to deepen their cultural knowledge and understanding. From this, we can work towards our vision of empowered Aboriginal Girls and Women.
