National Reconciliation Week is held from 27 May to 3 June to celebrate two major milestones in Australia's history. What was the significance of the 1967 referendum held on 27 May?
- Australians voted to give the Commonwealth the authority to legislate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and include them in the census.Answer
- BThe High Court made a landmark ruling that recognized Native Title and acknowledged that Indigenous people had rights to their land before European settlement.
- CThe Prime Minister delivered a national apology to recognize the suffering of Indigenous children who were separated from their families.
Answer
The significance of the 1967 referendum was that Australians voted to give the Commonwealth the authority to legislate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and include them in the census.
The correct answer identifies that the 1967 referendum, held on 27 May, was a pivotal moment where over 90% of Australians voted to change the Constitution. This change empowered the Commonwealth to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and ensured they were counted in the national census.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The 1967 Referendum as the opening milestone of National Reconciliation Week.
Hints
1
National Reconciliation Week is framed by two legal milestones. The first one happened in 1967.
2
The 1967 milestone involved a public vote (referendum) that received over 90% support from the Australian public.
3
This successful referendum led to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people being included in the census for the first time.
Practice More
Try to remember the year of the Mabo decision to better distinguish it from the 1967 referendum.
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