Remembering the 67 referendum: Liz Swain, Charline Emzin-Boyd, Val Timms, Terry Timms and Janet Kneale. Photo Tree Faerie
Australians voted in the 1967 referendum on May 27, 1967. Harold Holt was the prime minister at the time, a Liberal MP who led a Coalition with the Country Party.
The referendum had three issues asked in two questions, regarding two bills to alter the Australian Constitution.
The first question sought to increase the number of members in the House of Representatives. The second question (Constitution Alteration [Aboriginals] Bill 1967) related to Indigenous Australians and was in two parts: voters were asked whether to give the federal government the power to make special laws for Indigenous Australians in states, and whether Indigenous Australians should be included in official population counts for constitutional purposes.
The amendments to the Constitution were overwhelmingly endorsed, winning 90.77 per cent of votes cast and having majority support in all six states. The Bill became an Act of Parliament on August 10, 1967.
Three women, in their early to mid-thirties, voted in that referendum. Each was the mother of small children and had experience in varying degrees with Aboriginal people.
Janet Kneale said that she was born into the sixth generation of a Queensland grazier dynasty.
Three generations of my family had Aboriginals working the land. The first two were just given food. The third generation, which was my mothers generation, they paid them. But, when they came to work on our property, they werent sitting at the lunch table with us, they were put in a shed out the back.
Cemented in Janets memory is a moment in time when she came upon one of the workers. I saw Mick Cook. He was eating his lunch alone on tumble-down chairs. Even though I was ten, I knew it was all wrong.
I voted in 1967. When they announced it I thought its about time. I had such pleasure to write Yes.
Liz Swain says the 67 event wasnt even a blip on her radar. I dont remember the 1967 referendum at all. I have spoken to a lot of my friends who are the same age none of them remember the referendum. There was just no opposition to it so it was non-controversial.
Val Timms says in 1967 she was surprised that they didnt already have those things in place.
I knew about it, I was amongst the ones that were helping to organise it, she said.
One thing the three women agree on is that the vote and the lead-up, in their view, was not politicised. It was a bipartisan event that wasnt about agendas. There was no opposition and almost 91 per cent of the nation agreed.
Whats happened? asks Liz.
Its become so political. It is totally divisive. Thats confusing people. Thats the problem. Not just the fact that theyve got this opposition but theyre making up all these things.
Liz says if you dont know about the issue then you need to go and find out.
Really! I was shocked when I heard the National Party came out and say they were going to vote No. This is shameful. It is totally shameful.
Val Timms says she hopes todays youth will get on board. Young people are becoming more aware and they will fight and I think theyll fight for whats right.
Janet Kneale says her memory has played that scene with Mick Cook over and over.
Ive carried that all my life. Ive followed Aboriginals and whats been going on with their meetings and trying to get a Voice.
Some might think me eccentric, I suppose, but Ive been saying for a long time theres one more thing Ive got to do before I go, and I think this is it.
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The politics of the 2023 Voice referendum non-existent in 1967 - Echonetdaily
