A Race Election: Context and Implications for Australia

Abstract

Wth the exception of the 1967 Referendnm to alter s. 51 (xxvi) of the Australian Constitution, the Australian people Mve never been sent to the polls with a specific race agenda. In that May referendum, 90.8 %1 of Australians approved ofgranting the Commonwealth power to legislate over Aborigines. It was, by any measure, a major step toward reconciliation and national unity.