DiscriminationintheAustralianDiscrimination in the Australian …sullivan/2017FSB/2017FSB... ·...

Discrimination in the AustralianDiscrimination in the Australian Voting Systemg y

Foreign Studies B3 October 2017

Lecture 1

Lecture OverviewLecture Overview

• A brief history of Australia• 3 cases of discrimination in Australia’s voting3 cases of discrimination in Australia s voting

system

A Brief History of Australia

Understanding the history of voting laws in Australia• Before 1770 ere li ing in• Before 1770 – ______________ were living 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


living in Australia for 40,000+ years• 1770 – Australia was “discovered” by _______

explorersexplorers


living in Australia for 40,000+ years• 1770 – Australia was “discovered” by British

explorersexplorers

Pre British Settlement AustraliaPre-British Settlement Australia

Exploration by Europeans until 18121606 Willem Janszoon (Dutch)1606 Willem Janszoon (Dutch)1606 Luis Váez de Torres (Spanish)1616 Dirk Hartog (Dutch)1619 Frederick de Houtman (Dutch)1619 Frederick de Houtman (Dutch)1644 Abel Tasman (Dutch)1696 Willem de Vlamingh (Dutch)1699 William Dampier (British)1699 William Dampier (British)1770 James Cook (British)1797–1799 George Bass (British)1801–1803 Matthew Flinders (British)( )



explorersexplorers• ____ – Australia was settled/colonized by

B i i A li b B i i h C lBritain… Australia became a British Colony



explorersexplorers• 1788 – Australia was settled/colonized by

B i i A li b B i i h C lBritain… Australia became a British Colony




B i i A li b B i i h C lBritain… Australia became a British Colony• 1788 – 1850 Various colonies were settled, ,

but all were under British government rule

Colonies of “Australia”




B i i A li b B i i h C lBritain… Australia became a British 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• Before 1770 – Aboriginal Australians were

living in Australia for 40,000+ years0 li “di d” b i i h• 1770 – Australia was “discovered” by British

explorers• 1788 – Australia was settled/colonized by

Britain… Australia became a British Colonyy• 1788 – 1850 Various colonies were settled,

but all were under British government rulebut all were under British government rule• From 1850 – The colonies became self-

i d ll d t t th igoverning and were allowed to create their own constitutions, parliaments and laws i l di l b t tiincluding laws about voting

Colonies of “Australia”

Colonies of “Australia”Would it be usefulWould it be useful to have a “national

government”??( )(1880s - 1890s)

Understanding the history of voting laws in Australia• Before 1770 Aboriginal Australians were• Before 1770 – Aboriginal Australians were

living in Australia for 40,000+ years0 li “di d” b i i h• 1770 – Australia was “discovered” by British

explorers• 1788 – Australia was settled/colonized by

Britain… Australia became a British Colonyy• 1788 – 1850 Various colonies were settled,

but all were under British government rulebut all were under British government rule• From 1850 – The colonies were allowed to

t th i tit ti li tcreate their own constitutions, parliaments and laws including laws about voting

• 1901 – Federalization of Australia

Federalism: Powers are divided between the “Commonwealth” (=national/federal) governmentCommonwealth ( national/federal) government

and the six State governments.

23

Federalism: Powers are divided between the “Commonwealth” (=national/federal) governmentCommonwealth ( national/federal) government

and the six State governments.

7 elections… 1 federal election

& 6 state elections

24

Who should beWho should be allowed to vote at

“Federal Elections”??

Understanding the history of voting laws in Australia• Before 1770 Aboriginal Australians were living• Before 1770 – Aboriginal Australians were living

in Australia for 40,000+ years• 1770 Australia was “discovered” by British• 1770 – Australia was “discovered” by British

explorers1788 A li l d/ l i d b• 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

Important Dates to RememberImportant Dates to Remember

• 1770• 17881788• 1901• 1902

Important Dates to RememberImportant Dates to Remember

• 1770 – Australia was “discovered” by Britain• 1788 – Australia was “settled” by Britain1788 Australia was settled by Britain• 1901 – Federalization of Australia• 1902 – Commonwealth Franchise Act

Important Points to RememberImportant Points to Remember

f / ( f d li i )• Before 1901/1902 (pre-federalization)– FEDERAL elections?– COLONY elections?– STATE elections?

• After 1901/1902 (post-federalization)• After 1901/1902 (post-federalization)– FEDERAL elections?

COLONY l ti ?– COLONY elections?– STATE elections?


f / ( f d li i )• Before 1901/1902 (pre-federalization)– FEDERAL elections? NO– COLONY elections? YES– STATE elections? NO

• After 1901/1902 (post-federalization)• After 1901/1902 (post-federalization)– FEDERAL elections?

COLONY l ti ?– COLONY elections?– STATE elections?


f / ( f d li i )• Before 1901/1902 (pre-federalization)– FEDERAL elections? NO– COLONY elections? YES– STATE elections? NO

• After 1901/1902 (post-federalization)• After 1901/1902 (post-federalization)– FEDERAL elections? YES (under FEDERAL LAWS)

COLONY l ti ? NO– COLONY elections? NO– STATE elections? YES (under STATE LAWS)

Di i i ti i th V tiDiscrimination in the Voting System – 3 CasesSystem 3 Cases

Discrimination in the Voting Systemg yBefore & After

Th C l h F hi AThe Commonwealth Franchise Act

1. Property Qualifications2. Women3. Aboriginal Australians3. Aboriginal Australians

Property QualificationsProperty Qualifications

Property QualificationsBefore the Commonwealth Franchise Act??


1856 U i l1856: Universal Manhood SuffrageSuffrage


18721893

1858

1893

1856 U i l1857

1858

1856: Universal Manhood Suffrage

1896Suffrage

Property QualificationsAfter the Commonwealth Franchise Act??

Property QualificationsProperty Qualifications1902: Universal

SuffrageSuffrage (No Property

Qualifications)

Voting Rights for WomenVoting Rights for Women


Women’s Suffrage

MovementMovement

Voting Rights for WomenBefore the Commonwealth Franchise Act??


1895 W1895: Women Given the Right

to Voteto Vote


1899

1895 W1895: Women Given the Right

to Voteto Vote

Voting Rights for WomenAfter the Commonwealth Franchise Act??

Voting Rights for Womeng g1902: Universal

Suffrage Su age(For Women & Men

over 21)

First Federal Election (1901): Only women who

had the right to vote inhad the right to vote in their state could vote

Voting Rights for Aboriginal Australians

V i Ri h fVoting Rights for Aboriginal AustraliansAboriginal Australians

Before the Commonwealth Franchise Act??

Voting Rights for Aboriginal AustraliansVoting Rights for Aboriginal Australians

1856: Universal Manhood S ff

1895 W

Suffrage

1895: Women Given the Right

to Voteto Vote

Voting Rights for Aboriginal AustraliansVoting Rights for Aboriginal AustraliansIncluded AboriginalIncluded Aboriginal

Australians BUT THEY WERE NOT ENOURAGED

TO VOTE

1856: Universal Manhood S ff

1895 W

Suffrage


to Voteto Vote

Voting Rights for Aboriginal AustraliansVoting Rights for Aboriginal AustraliansSome colonies evenIncluded Aboriginal Some colonies even

DENIED ABORIGINAL PEOPLE THE RIGHT TO

Included Aboriginal Australians BUT THEY

WERE NOT ENOURAGED VOTETO VOTE

※※1856: Universal

Manhood S ff

※

1895 W

Suffrage


to Voteto Vote

V i Ri h fVoting Rights for Aboriginal AustraliansAboriginal Australians

After the Commonwealth Franchise Act??

Voting Rights for Aboriginal AustraliansVoting Rights for Aboriginal Australians

hThe Commonwealth

Franchise ActFranchise Act DENIED Aboriginal people, Islanders, p p

and people of Asian and African b k d hbackground the

right to vote. (c f White(c.f. White

Australia Policy)

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)!41 of the constitution)!



41 of the constitution)!41 of the constitution)!

What happened next?What happened next?a) All Aboriginal Australians were given the right to voteb) All British Indians were given the right to vote) EVERYONE i A li ( 21) i h i hc) EVERYONE in Australia (over 21) was given the right to vote

d) Still, only people of “European origin” were allowed to vote


1902: Universal Suffrage (ForSuffrage (For

Women & Men over 21)

1925: Universal Suffrage for Indians

of British Citizenship



41 of the constitution)!41 of the constitution)!• 1940s: Voting rights for Aboriginal Australians

h h d i h d f fwho have served in the defense forces– They die for their country… why can’t they vote?


• 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 Australianswho 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 voteb) All Aboriginal Australians who had served in the defense forcesb) All Aboriginal Australians who had served in the defense forces

were given the right to votec) EVERYONE in Australia (over 21) was given the right to voted) Still only people of “European origin” & British Indians wered) Still, only people of European origin & British Indians were

allowed to vote






1949: Voting rights for Aboriginal Australians

who have served in the defense forces… BUT

THEY WEREN’T ENCOURAGED TO VOTE


192 i ll h ( i i h di li i i• 1925: Mitta Bullosh (British Indian man living in Victoria)– I am British! I have the right to vote (under Section

41)!1949 V i i h f Ab i i l A li h• 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??


1925 Mi B ll h (B i i h I di li i i Vi i )• 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 forcesThey die for their country why can’t they vote?– They die for their country… why can t they vote?

• 1960s: Concern about global racial di i i ti (i th US d A th id S thdiscrimination (in the US and Apartheid South Africa)– What about Aboriginal Australians too??

What happened next?






1949: Voting rights for Aboriginal Australians

who have served in the 1962: Aboriginal defense forces… BUT

THEY WEREN’T ENCOURAGED TO VOTE

Australians over 21 are given the right to vote…

BUT IT IS ONLY VOLUNTARY VOTING NOT

COMPULSORY VOTING




1925: Universal Suffrage for Indians 1984: Aboriginalof British

Citizenship

1984: Aboriginal Australians are finally given the same voting

rights as other Australians1949: Voting rights for Aboriginal Australians

who have served in the 1962: Aboriginal

rights as other Australians

defense forces… BUT THEY WEREN’T

ENCOURAGED TO VOTE

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 CasesRecent 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 / IssuesRecent Cases / Issues

• People with disabilities– People with “intellectual disabilities” p– People with visual impairments not having the right

to vote in secretto vote in secret

• Is voting easy for…– People who are homeless?p– People from non-English speaking backgrounds?

Other IssuesOther Issues

• Reducing the voting age to 16?• Voting rights for permanent residents?Voting rights for permanent residents?• Voting rights for Australians living overseas?

Other points to think aboutOther points to think about…

• Standing for elections & representation in parliament (i.e. becoming a politician)p ( g p )– Do women, Aboriginal Australians, and other

minority groups have equal opportunities andminority groups have equal opportunities and support for this?

Concluding Thoughts…Concluding Thoughts…

Voting is a hard-fought for right h h ld k i lthat we should take more seriously...

Selected ReferencesSelected References• “History of the Indigenous Vote” (AEC)• “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)

htt // /V ti /i di t / b i i hthttp://www.aec.gov.au/Voting/indigenous_vote/aborigin.htm• “Electoral Milestones for women” (AEC)

http://www.aec.gov.au/elections/australian_electoral_history/milestone.htm“Th i ht t t i t j d ll b ll A t li ” (HREOC)• “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 “Australianelections in Australia at the Australian Electoral Commission “Australian Electoral History” page

http://aec.gov.au/Elections/Australian_Electoral_History

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