Discrimination in the Australian Voting System Foreign Studies B 3 October 2017 Lecture 1
Lecture Overview A brief history of Australia 3 cases of discrimination in Australia s s voting system
A Brief History of Australia
Understanding the history of voting laws in Australia Before 1770 were living ing in Australia for 40,000+ years
Understanding the history of voting laws in Australia Before 1770 Aboriginal Australians ere Before 1770 Aboriginal Australians were living in Australia for 40,000+ years
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
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
Pre-British Settlement Australia Exploration by Europeans until 1812 1606 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)
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 Bi Britain i Australia became a British i Colony
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 Bi Britain i Australia became a British i Colony
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 Bi Britain i Australia became a British i Colony 1788 1850 Various colonies were settled, but all were under British government rule
Colonies of Australia
Colonies of Australia
Colonies of Australia
Colonies of Australia
Colonies of Australia
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 Bi Britain i Australia became a British i Colony 1788 1850 Various colonies were settled, but all were under British government rule
Understanding the history of voting laws in Australia Before 1770 Aboriginal Australians were living in Australia for 40,000+ years 1770 Australia was discovered d by British iih 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
Colonies of Australia
Colonies of Australia
Colonies of Australia Would it be useful to have a national government?? (1880s - 1890s)
Understanding the history of voting laws in Australia Before 1770 Aboriginal Australians were living in Australia for 40,000+ years 1770 Australia was discovered d by British iih 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
Federalism: Powers are divided between the Commonwealth (=national/federal) government and the six State governments. 23
Federalism: Powers are divided between the Commonwealth (=national/federal) government and the six State governments. 7 elections 1 federal election & 6 state elections 24
Who should be Who should be allowed to vote at Federal Elections??
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 l dby 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
Important Dates to Remember 1770 1788 1901 1902
Important Dates to Remember 1770 Australia was discovered by Britain 1788 Australia was settled by Britain 1901 Federalization of Australia 1902 Commonwealth Franchise Act
Important Points to Remember Before 1901/1902 (pre-federalization) i FEDERAL elections? COLONY elections? STATE elections? After 1901/1902 (post-federalization) FEDERAL elections? COLONY elections? STATE elections?
Important Points to Remember Before 1901/1902 (pre-federalization) i FEDERAL elections? NO COLONY elections? YES STATE elections? NO After 1901/1902 (post-federalization) FEDERAL elections? COLONY elections? STATE elections?
Important Points to Remember Before 1901/1902 (pre-federalization) i FEDERAL elections? NO COLONY elections? YES STATE elections? NO After 1901/1902 (post-federalization) FEDERAL elections? YES (under FEDERAL LAWS) COLONY elections? NO STATE elections? YES (under STATE LAWS)
Discrimination i i in the Voting System 3 Cases
Discrimination in the Voting System Before & After The Commonwealth Franchise Act 1. Property Qualifications 2. Women 3. Aboriginal Australians
Property Qualifications
Property Qualifications Before the Commonwealth Franchise Act??
Property Qualifications 1856: Universal Manhood Suffrage
Property Qualifications 1893 1872 1856: Universal Manhood Suffrage 1896 1857 1858
Property Qualifications After the Commonwealth Franchise Act??
1902: Universal Suffrage (No Property Qualifications) Property Qualifications
Voting Rights for Women
Voting Rights for Women Women s Suffrage Movement
Voting Rights for Women Before the Commonwealth Franchise Act??
Voting Rights for Women 1895: Women Given the Right to Vote
Voting Rights for Women 1899 1895: Women Given the Right to Vote
Voting Rights for Women After the Commonwealth Franchise Act??
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
Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians
Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians Before the Commonwealth Franchise Act??
Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians 1856: Universal Manhood Suffrage 1895: Women Given the Right to Vote
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
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
Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians After the Commonwealth Franchise Act??
Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians The Commonwealth Franchise Act DENIED Aboriginal people, p Islanders, and people of Asian and African background the right to vote. (c.f. White Australia Policy)
Towards Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians
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)!
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? a) All Aboriginal Australians were given the right to vote b) All British Indians were given the right to vote c) EVERYONE in Australia (over 21) was given the right to vote d) Still, only people of European origin were allowed to vote
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? a) All Aboriginal Australians were given the right to vote b) All British Indians were given the right to vote c) EVERYONE in Australia (over 21) was given the right to vote d) Still, only people of European origin were allowed to vote
Towards Voting Rights for Aboriginal 1902: Universal Suffrage (For Women & Men over 21) Australians 1925: Universal Suffrage for Indians of British Citizenship
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 din the defense forces They die for their country why can t they vote?
Towards Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians
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? a) All Aboriginal Australians were given the right to vote b) All Aboriginal Australians who had served in the defense forces were given the right to vote c) EVERYONE in Australia (over 21) was given the right to vote d) Still, only people of European origin & British Indians were allowed to vote
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? a) All Aboriginal Australians were given the right to vote b) All Aboriginal Australians who had served in the defense forces were given the right to vote c) EVERYONE in Australia (over 21) was given the right to vote d) Still, only people of European origin & British Indians were allowed to vote
Towards Voting Rights for Aboriginal 1902: Universal Suffrage (For Women & Men over 21) Australians 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
Towards Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians 1925: Mitta Bullosh (British i Indian man living i in Victoria) I am British! I have the right to vote (under Section 41)! 1949: Voting rights for Aboriginal i 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??
Towards Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians
Towards Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians 1925: Mitta Bullosh (British i Indian man living i in Victoria) I am British! I have the right to vote (under Section 41)! 1949: Voting rights for Aboriginal i 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??
Towards Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians 1925: Mitta Bullosh h(british i Indian man living i in Victoria) i 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 theyvote? 1960s: Concern about global racial discrimination i i (in the US and Apartheid South Africa) What about Aboriginal Australians too?? What happened next?
Towards Voting Rights for Aboriginal 1902: Universal Suffrage (For Women & Men over 21) Australians 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
Towards Voting Rights for Aboriginal 1902: Universal Suffrage (For Women & Men over 21) Australians 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 1984: Aboriginal Australians are finally given the same voting rights as other Australians 1962: Aboriginal Australians over 21 are given the right to vote BUT IT IS ONLY VOLUNTARY VOTING NOT COMPULSORY VOTING
Is there discrimination in the voting system in Australia today?
There are some issues being debated
Recent Cases h i i h f i 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 However
Recent Cases / Issues People with disabilities People with intellectual disabilities People with visual impairments not having the right to vote in secret Is voting easy for People who are homeless? People from non-english speaking backgrounds?
Other Issues Reducing the voting age to 16? Voting rights for permanent residents? Voting rights for Australians living overseas?
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 and support for this?
Concluding Thoughts Voting is a hard-fought for right that we should take more seriously...
Selected References History of the Indigenous Vote (AEC) http://www.aec.gov.au/pdf/education/resources/history_indigenous_vote.pdf Indigenous People and the Vote (Pet Stretton) http://www.aec.gov.au/voting/indigenous_vote/aborigin.htm /V ti /i t / i i Electoral Milestones for women (AEC) http://www.aec.gov.au/elections/australian_electoral_history/milestone.htm The right to vote is not enjoyed equally by all Australians (HREOC) http://www.hreoc.gov.au/human_rights/vote/index.html There are also many informative articles on the history of voting and elections in Australia at the Australian Electoral Commission Australian Electoral History page http://aec.gov.au/elections/australian_electoral_history