In 1967 Australians voted overwhelmingly to alter the constitution to include Aboriginal people in the national census and empower the Commonwealth Government to make laws on their behalf. Before this Aboriginal people were governed by largely discriminatory laws decided on by State and Territory governments, and were counted under the Flora and Fauna Act.
Shirley Peisley, Aboriginal Activist, and face of the 1967 referendum recalls ‘so many of us wanted to be involved in the referendum because we thought we would be able to change some of those terrible things that people were talking about.’ (Radio National, Friday 25 May, 2007)
History Trust of South Australia, HT 2017.1218
