1. Discrimination in the Australian Voting System
Foreign Studies B/Academic English B
4 October 2016
Lecture 1

2. Lecture Overview A brief history of Australia
3 cases of discrimination in Australia’s voting system

3. A Brief History of Australia

4. Understanding the history of voting laws in Australia
Before 1770 – ______________ were living in Australia for 40,000+ years

5. Understanding the history of voting laws in Australia
Before 1770 – Aboriginal Australians were living in Australia for 40,000+ years

6. Understanding the history of voting laws in Australia
Before 1770 – Aboriginal Australians were living in Australia for 40,000+ years
1770 – Australia was “discovered” by _______ explorers

7. Understanding the history of voting laws in Australia
Before 1770 – Aboriginal Australians were living in Australia for 40,000+ years
1770 – Australia was “discovered” by British explorers

8. Pre-British Settlement Australia
Exploration by Europeans until Willem Janszoon (Dutch)
1606 Luis Váez de Torres (Spanish)
1616 Dirk Hartog (Dutch)
1619 Frederick de Houtman (Dutch)
1644 Abel Tasman (Dutch)
1696 Willem de Vlamingh (Dutch)
1699 William Dampier (British)
1770 James Cook (British)
1797–1799 George Bass (British)
1801–1803 Matthew Flinders (British)

9. Understanding the history of voting laws in Australia
Before 1770 – Aboriginal Australians were living in Australia for 40,000+ years
1770 – Australia was “discovered” by British explorers
____ – Australia was settled/colonized by Britain… Australia became a British Colony

10. Understanding the history of voting laws in Australia
Before 1770 – Aboriginal Australians were living in Australia for 40,000+ years
1770 – Australia was “discovered” by British explorers
1788 – Australia was settled/colonized by Britain… Australia became a British Colony

11. Understanding the history of voting laws in Australia
Before 1770 – Aboriginal Australians were living in Australia for 40,000+ years
1770 – Australia was “discovered” by British explorers
1788 – Australia was settled/colonized by Britain… Australia became a British Colony
1788 – 1850 Various colonies were settled, but all were under British government rule

12. Colonies of “Australia”

13. Colonies of “Australia”

14. Colonies of “Australia”

15. Colonies of “Australia”

16. Colonies of “Australia”

17. Understanding the history of voting laws in Australia
Before 1770 – Aboriginal Australians were living in Australia for 40,000+ years
1770 – Australia was “discovered” by British explorers
1788 – Australia was settled/colonized by Britain… Australia became a British Colony
1788 – 1850 Various colonies were settled, but all were under British government rule

18. Understanding the history of voting laws in Australia
Before 1770 – Aboriginal Australians were living in Australia for 40,000+ years
1770 – Australia was “discovered” by British explorers
1788 – Australia was settled/colonized by Britain… Australia became a British Colony
1788 – 1850 Various colonies were settled, but all were under British government rule
From 1850 – The colonies became self-governing and were allowed to create their own constitutions, parliaments and laws  including laws about voting

19. Colonies of “Australia”

20. Colonies of “Australia”

21. Colonies of “Australia”
Would it be useful to have a “national government”??
(1880s s)

22. Understanding the history of voting laws in Australia
Before 1770 – Aboriginal Australians were living in Australia for 40,000+ years
1770 – Australia was “discovered” by British explorers
1788 – Australia was settled/colonized by Britain… Australia became a British Colony
1788 – 1850 Various colonies were settled, but all were under British government rule
From 1850 – The colonies were allowed to create their own constitutions, parliaments and laws  including laws about voting
1901 – Federalization of Australia

23. Federalism: Powers are divided between the “Commonwealth” (=national/federal) government and the six State governments.

24. 1 federal election & 6 state elections
Federalism: Powers are divided between the “Commonwealth” (=national/federal) government and the six State governments.
7 elections…
1 federal election & 6 state elections

25. Who should be allowed to vote at “Federal Elections”??

26. Understanding the history of voting laws in Australia
Before 1770 – Aboriginal Australians were living in Australia for 40,000+ years
1770 – Australia was “discovered” by British explorers
1788 – Australia was settled/colonized by Britain… Australia became a British Colony
1788 – 1850 Various colonies were settled, but all were under British government rule
From 1850 – The colonies were allowed to create their own constitutions, parliaments and laws  including laws about voting
1901 – Federalization of Australia
1902 – The Commonwealth Franchise Act

27. Important Dates to Remember
1770
1788
1901
1902

28. Important Dates to Remember
1770 – Australia was “discovered” by Britain
1788 – Australia was “settled” by Britain
1901 – Federalization of Australia
1902 – Commonwealth Franchise Act

29. Important Points to Remember
Before 1901/1902 (pre-federalization)
FEDERAL elections?
COLONY elections?
After 1901/1902 (post-federalization)
STATE elections?

30. Important Points to Remember
Before 1901/1902 (pre-federalization)
FEDERAL elections? NO
COLONY elections? YES
After 1901/1902 (post-federalization)
FEDERAL elections?
COLONY elections?
STATE elections?

31. Important Points to Remember
Before 1901/1902 (pre-federalization)
FEDERAL elections? NO
COLONY elections? YES
After 1901/1902 (post-federalization)
FEDERAL elections? YES (under FEDERAL LAWS)
COLONY elections? NO
STATE elections? YES (under STATE LAWS)

32. Discrimination in the Voting System – 3 Cases

33. Discrimination in the Voting System Before & After The Commonwealth Franchise Act
Property Qualifications
Women
Aboriginal Australians

34. Property Qualifications

35. Property Qualifications Before the Commonwealth Franchise Act??

36. Property Qualifications
1856: Universal Manhood Suffrage

37. Property Qualifications
1872
1893
1858
1857
1856: Universal Manhood Suffrage
1896

38. Property Qualifications After the Commonwealth Franchise Act??

39. Property Qualifications
1902: Universal Suffrage
(No Property Qualifications)

40. Voting Rights for Women

41. Voting Rights for Women
Women’s Suffrage Movement

42. Voting Rights for Women Before the Commonwealth Franchise Act??

43. Voting Rights for Women
1895: Women Given the Right to Vote

44. Voting Rights for Women
1899
1895: Women Given the Right to Vote

45. Voting Rights for Women After the Commonwealth Franchise Act??

46. Voting Rights for Women
1902: Universal Suffrage
(For Women & Men over 21)
First Federal Election (1901): Only women who had the right to vote in their state could vote

47. Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians

48. Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians Before the Commonwealth Franchise Act??

49. Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians
1856: Universal Manhood Suffrage
1895: Women Given the Right to Vote

50. Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians
Included Aboriginal Australians BUT THEY WERE NOT ENOURAGED TO VOTE
1856: Universal Manhood Suffrage
1895: Women Given the Right to Vote

51. Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians
Included Aboriginal Australians BUT THEY WERE NOT ENOURAGED TO VOTE
Some colonies even DENIED ABORIGINAL PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO VOTE ※
1856: Universal Manhood Suffrage ※
1895: Women Given the Right to Vote

52. Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians After the Commonwealth Franchise Act??

53. Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians
The Commonwealth Franchise Act DENIED Aboriginal people, Islanders, and people of Asian and African background the right to vote.
(c.f. White Australia Policy)

54. Towards Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians

55. Towards Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians
1925: Mitta Bullosh (British Indian man living in Victoria)
I am British! I have the right to vote (under Section 41 of the constitution)!

56. Towards Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians
1925: Mitta Bullosh (British Indian man living in Victoria)
I am British! I have the right to vote (under Section 41 of the constitution)!
What happened next?
All Aboriginal Australians were given the right to vote
All British Indians were given the right to vote
EVERYONE in Australia (over 21) was given the right to vote
Still, only people of “European origin” were allowed to vote

57. Towards Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians
1925: Mitta Bullosh (British Indian man living in Victoria)
I am British! I have the right to vote (under Section 41 of the constitution)!
What happened next?
All Aboriginal Australians were given the right to vote
All British Indians were given the right to vote
EVERYONE in Australia (over 21) was given the right to vote
Still, only people of “European origin” were allowed to vote

58. Towards Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians
1902: Universal Suffrage (For Women & Men over 21)
1925: Universal Suffrage for Indians of British Citizenship

59. Towards Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians
1925: Mitta Bullosh (British Indian man living in Victoria)
I am British! I have the right to vote (under Section 41 of the constitution)!
1940s: Voting rights for Aboriginal Australians who have served in the defense forces
They die for their country… why can’t they vote?

60. Towards Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians

61. Towards Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians
1925: Mitta Bullosh (British Indian man living in Victoria)
I am British! I have the right to vote (under Section 41)!
1940s: Voting rights for Aboriginal Australians who have served in the defense forces
They die for their country… why can’t they vote?
What happened next?
All Aboriginal Australians were given the right to vote
All Aboriginal Australians who had served in the defense forces were given the right to vote
EVERYONE in Australia (over 21) was given the right to vote
Still, only people of “European origin” & British Indians were allowed to vote

62. Towards Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians
1925: Mitta Bullosh (British Indian man living in Victoria)
I am British! I have the right to vote (under Section 41)!
1940s: Voting rights for Aboriginal Australians who have served in the defense forces
They die for their country… why can’t they vote?
What happened next?
All Aboriginal Australians were given the right to vote
All Aboriginal Australians who had served in the defense forces were given the right to vote
EVERYONE in Australia (over 21) was given the right to vote
Still, only people of “European origin” & British Indians were allowed to vote

63. Towards Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians
1902: Universal Suffrage (For Women & Men over 21)
1925: Universal Suffrage for Indians of British Citizenship
1949: Voting rights for Aboriginal Australians who have served in the defense forces… BUT THEY WEREN’T ENCOURAGED TO VOTE

64. Towards Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians
1925: Mitta Bullosh (British Indian man living in Victoria)
I am British! I have the right to vote (under Section 41)!
1949: Voting rights for Aboriginal Australians who have served in the defense forces
They die for their country… why can’t they vote?
1960s: Concern about global racial discrimination (in the US and Apartheid South Africa)
What about Aboriginal Australians too??

65. Towards Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians

66. Towards Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians
1925: Mitta Bullosh (British Indian man living in Victoria)
I am British! I have the right to vote (under Section 41)!
1949: Voting rights for Aboriginal Australians who have served in the defense forces
They die for their country… why can’t they vote?
1960s: Concern about global racial discrimination (in the US and Apartheid South Africa)
What about Aboriginal Australians too??

67. Towards Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians
1925: Mitta Bullosh (British Indian man living in Victoria)
I am British! I have the right to vote (under Section 41)!
1949: Voting rights for Aboriginal Australians who have served in the defense forces
They die for their country… why can’t they vote?
1960s: Concern about global racial discrimination (in the US and Apartheid South Africa)
What about Aboriginal Australians too??
What happened next?

68. Towards Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians
1902: Universal Suffrage (For Women & Men over 21)
1925: Universal Suffrage for Indians of British Citizenship
1949: Voting rights for Aboriginal Australians who have served in the defense forces… BUT THEY WEREN’T ENCOURAGED TO VOTE
1962: Aboriginal Australians over 21 are given the right to vote… BUT IT IS ONLY VOLUNTARY VOTING NOT COMPULSORY VOTING

69. Towards Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians
1902: Universal Suffrage (For Women & Men over 21)
1925: Universal Suffrage for Indians of British Citizenship
1984: Aboriginal Australians are finally given the same voting rights as other Australians
1949: Voting rights for Aboriginal Australians who have served in the defense forces… BUT THEY WEREN’T ENCOURAGED TO VOTE
1962: Aboriginal Australians over 21 are given the right to vote… BUT IT IS ONLY VOLUNTARY VOTING NOT COMPULSORY VOTING

70. Is there discrimination in the voting system in Australia today?

71. There are some issues being debated…

72. Recent Cases The voting rights of Prisoners
Before 2006: Voting was possible for those serving sentences of 3 years or less
2006: The voting rights of all prisoners were revoked
Vickie Lee Roach… The Australian constitution states that “the Australian parliament should be chosen by all people of Australia”
Voting rights reinstated for those serving sentences of 3 years or less

73. Recent Cases / Issues People with disabilities (visual impairments)
The right to “vote in secret”
Is voting easy for
People who are homeless?
People from non-English speaking backgrounds?

74. Other Issues Reducing the voting age to 16?
Voting rights for permanent residents?
Voting rights for Australians living overseas?

75. Other points to think about…
Standing for elections & representation in parliament (i.e. becoming a politician)
Do women, Aboriginal Australians, and other minority groups have equal opportunities/support for this?

76. Concluding Thoughts… Voting is a hard-fought for right that we should take more seriously...

77. Selected References “History of the Indigenous Vote” (AEC)
“Indigenous People and the Vote” (Pet Stretton) 
“Electoral Milestones for women” (AEC) 
“The right to vote is not enjoyed equally by all Australians” (HREOC) 
There are also many informative articles on the history of voting and elections in Australia at the Australian Electoral Commission “Australian Electoral History” page 