Committee on Overseas Professional Qualifications is established. Aboriginal delegation presents United Nations Secretary-General with a statement on conditions of Australian Aboriginal people. New South Wales Aboriginal Welfare Board is abolished.
Commonwealth Government establishes Office of Aboriginal Affairs. Czech and Slovak refugees arrive in Australia following Warsaw Pact forces’ invasion of Czechoslovakia.
Constitutional Referendum on Aboriginal Rights is held. 90% of Australian population vote to eliminate sections 51 and 127 of the Constitution, giving the Commonwealth power to legislate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and to include them in the Census.
Australia signs the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination. South Australia passes Aboriginal Lands Trust Bill and the Prohibition of Discrimination Bill, the first state act prohibiting discrimination on grounds of race, colour or country of origin. South
‘Freedom Ride’ by Aboriginal people and students is led by Charles Perkins into north-western New South Wales in support of Aboriginal rights. The ride demonstrates the extent of discrimination against Aboriginal people in country towns, including refusal of service in
Northern Territory Social Welfare Ordinance removes some discrimination against Aboriginal people. The Assimilation Section of the Department of Immigration changes its name to the Integration Section.
Yirrkala Aboriginal people from Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, protest to the Commonwealth Government about part of their reserve land being given over for mining.
The Commonwealth Electoral Act is amended to give franchise to all Aboriginal people; that is, it extends the right to vote to Aboriginal people in Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Conference of Native Welfare Ministers agrees to strategies to assist assimilation of Aboriginal people. These include the removal of discriminatory legislation and restrictive practices, the incorporation of Aboriginal people into the economy through welfare measures and education and training and
Policy of integration rather than assimilation is promoted for migrants. As Australia becomes more diverse, it is seen that migrants need more help in settlement. Ethnic organisations are seen as playing a role in this process. However, while a degree