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Section 127 of the Australian Constitution
Section 127 of the Australian Constitution rejects counting Aboriginal people in the population of Australia -
Commonwealth Franchise Act
The Commonwealth Franchise Act was passed in 1902 and gave women full suffrage. While this was considered a progressive policy, it was limited to women of European background. People of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, African, Asian or Pacific Islander (excluding New Zealand) heritage were not eligible. -
Day of Mourning
Day of Mourning announced by Aboriginal people on 150th anniversary of the establishment of a British colony in 1788. -
Aboriginal Men can vote...
Aboriginal men who served in the armed forces given right to vote -
Commonwealth Electoral Act
Commonwealth Electoral Act allowed Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples the right to vote in Commonwealth elections. -
Yirrkala bark petition
The Australian government took 300 square kilometres of land from the Yolngu people in Arnhem Land for mining purposes. Wanting their voices to be heard, the Yolngu people submitted two bark petitions that made history Source: The 1963 Yirrkala bark petitions - Creative Spirits, retrieved from https://www.creativespirits.info/aboriginalculture/land/the-1963-yirrkala-bark-petitions -
Wave Hill Station
200 Aboriginal workers walk off Wave Hill Station in protest over pay and working conditions -
Section 127 of the Australian Constitution
Successful referendum removes Section 127 from the Australian Constitution. Section 127 Australian Constitution 1901: In reckoning the numbers of people of the Commonwealth, or of a State or other part of the Commonwealth, aboriginal natives shall not be counted. -
Gurindji people
Gurindji people given control of 3 000 square kilometres of land in Arnhem Land. The Wave Hill protests and removal of section 127 from the Australian Constitution eventually led to the return of a portion of their homelands to the Gurindji people in 1974, and the passing of the first legislation that allowed for First Nations peoples to claim land title if they could prove a traditional relationship to the country. -
Mabo
Mabo decision in the High Court rejected the British view of Australia as terra nullius -
Commonwealth Native Title Act
The Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) (NTA) is a law passed by the Australian Parliament that recognises the rights and interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in land and waters according to their traditional laws and customs.