Anniversary marks 50 years since 1967 Referendum

To mark the anniversary South Bank’s State Library of Queensland are hosting 50 Years and Counting, a community event reflecting on the milestone.

Queensland’s deputy premier Jackie Trad, Minister for Science Leeanne Enoch and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Mark Furner will join the community for the event.

Ms Enoch said the result of the 1967 Referendum was a major milestone in Australian and Indigenous history.

“The outcome of the referendum not only improved the services available to Indigenous people, it was also a major step towards achieving better rights for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and recognition that Indigenous issues were considered at a national level,” Ms Enoch said.

“This anniversary provides us with a chance to reflect on how far we have come as a nation, but also allows us to consider how we move forward into the future to ensure that all are recognised equally.”

Mr Furner said 90.77 per cent of Australians voted yes for change in 1967.

“To this day, it’s the highest yes vote ever recorded in a federal referendum and demonstrates the strong sentiment that had swept the nation,” Mr Furner said.

“The resounding yes was just two years after Queensland became the last Australian jurisdiction to give Indigenous people the right to vote in state elections.

“I know many younger Queenslanders will find it hard to believe that just a half a century ago, Indigenous Australians officially didn’t count,” he said.

50 Years and Counting will include a keynote address by Dr Chelsea Bond, TENT talks in Richard Bell’s Tent Embassy, and guided tours of SLQ’s exhibitions Freedom Then, Freedom Now and Don’t Just Count Us, Let Us Count!.