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CHAPTER XI

THE ABORIGINAL WORLD: CONTEbPORARY THEORIZING/
CONTEMPORARY NAMING

Contemporary legislation referring to Aborigines, as an
element in contemporary theorizing, will now be examined. A
dramatic change took place in legislation for Aboriginal
people subsequent to the 1967 Referendum.

11.1 The 1967 Referendum

In May, 1967, a referendum was held for the people of the
Commonwealth of Australia. Ninety-one per cent of the vote cast
opted to give the Federal Parliament the power to pass laws for
the welfare of Aborigines - laws to remove discrimination and to
grant favourable treatment to help Aboriginal people overcome the
results of past injustices.
⅛

However, the passing of the referendum did not immediately
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і            bear fruit in legislation.

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In August 1968, Whitlam, Leader of the CLabor) Opposition,
complained that no new measures had been undertaken as a result of
the Referendum (Vol. H. of R. 60, 1968, E.G. Whitlam, Debate),
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The Federal (Liberal) Government did not take steps to use
the power granted by the Referendum. Major changes in policy
were not, in fact, initiated until 1973 when the Labor Party came
to power. It is proposed to date contemporary legislation and
policy from that period.

11.2 Contemporary legislation and policy

The 1973 policies of the Federal Labor Party were anticipated,
in many respects, in South Australia by the State Labor Party as
early as 1965.

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