1967 Referendum. What did it Achieve?

Forty years after the 1967 Referendum, including native Australians in the Census and providing them with greater resources, there is still a huge economic, political and cultural divide between them and more mainstream communities. Aboriginals have a life expectancy of 17 years less than other Australians, there are endemic health and social problems such as alcohoholism, violence and poverty. Many aboriginal communities are isolated and do not have access to basic services. All the hallmarks of a benign apartheid. The current focus of the government is integration, with moves to encourage learning English, skills, health, education, job skills. A huge task.

Paul Kelly in the Australian looks at the legacy of the landmark referendum.