 Indigenous Australians
gain the right to vote in federal elections.
"Despite what many regarded as the most democratic constitution
in the world ... fear and loathing also figured prominently at the birth
of the nation. The question of Aborigines and women is one example.
Before Federation, women had the vote in WA and SA and Aborigines were
prohibited from voting in WA and Queensland.
Because the new parliament could not deny the vote to those who already
had the vote in any state, some Aborigines in the southern states could
continue to take part in elections while their adult children were disenfranchised
for life."
M Gordon, The Age, 9 May 2001.
The Queensland
Labor Party decides to affiliate with the national Democratic Labor Party.
Air Minister
Les Bury (Wentworth) is forced to resign after publicly expressing a less
pessimistic view of Britain's proposed entry into the European Economic
Community.
April:
Interstate direct dial between Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne allows callers
to dial numbers without the assistance of an operator to make the connection.
The last telegram transmitted by Morse Code was in December.
November: The
new Australian Ballet company's first performance is a wonderful success
when it performs Swan Lake in Sydney.
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Aborigines gain the right to vote 1
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