The Constitution

1967 referendum

27 May 1967

The Constitution is changed, allowing Parliament to make laws for First Nations people and count First Nations people in the census.

In 1967 over 90% of Australian voters said ‘Yes’ to changing the Australian Constitution. The 1967 referendum was the result of a long campaign to remove discriminatory references to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from the Constitution. It is remembered as a time when the nation united in its support of equality for all Australians. The 1967 referendum had the largest ‘Yes’ vote of any referendum in Australia.

The 1967 referendum modified section 51(xxvi) of the Constitution to allow the Australian Parliament to make laws specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It also removed section 127. This change allowed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to count in the census.

Despite the result of the referendum and hopes it would lead to real change in the lives of First Nations peoples, the new powers were not used to address the disadvantages experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for many years.

Although it is important for the Aboriginal people of Australia to be counted, there are many … who want not only to be counted but also to count. And they will not count until the Commonwealth accepts a greater and wider responsibility for these people.
Gordon Bryant MP, House of Representatives, 23 November 1965
View this milestone in the timeline