Sir Robert Menzies gave Aboriginals the right to vote

THE Australian Constitution was written for all Australians, without deference to race, colour, creed, gender, religion, etc.

You could say it was compiled in a universal language intended to be a guide to the Administration of our Democracy.

It's instructive to realise that today’s Aboriginal, Indigenous and Torres Strait people achieved emancipation and equality long ago.

"Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples were granted citizenship along with all other Australians in 1948."

(Before this all Australians were British subjects). Citizenship did not give voting rights to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples though.*

It would only be under The Liberal Menzies Government of 1962 that Aboriginals were first given the Right to Vote.

Then under the Bob Hawke Government of 1984, voting in Elections ceased to be optional and became compulsory for Aboriginal and Torres Islanders ensuring equality with all other Australian citizens.

If you accept Sovereignty the Australian Constitution, then any inequalities experienced by todays Aboriginal or Indigenous persons are not a matter of Constitutional Law, but rather a reflection of their own racial, tribal and societal circumstances. Therefore, any proposed alteration to The Constitution is unnecessary and inappropriate.

Remember Aboriginals have always been in the Constitution as either British Subjects or Australian citizens, so to differentiate now would create an unacceptable and unnecessary form of 'Apartheid'. 

Please Vote 'NO' to save the Australian Constitution.

*Parliamentary Education Office

Thomas Quinn, Latrobe Valley