Governments’ policy changes

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Prior to the Referendum the Cabinet had decided that the Commonwealth would take a part in policy formulation, but that the States would continue administering Indigenous affairs.

The Government announced that the way forward would be discussed at the Aboriginal Welfare Conference of Commonwealth and State Ministers, to be held in Perth in July 1967.

The press release from this conference stated that the State Ministers had agreed that ‘as a consequence of the referendum result, Aboriginal affairs should now be seen as having been expanded into a joint Commonwealth-State responsibility; the problems of the Aboriginal and part Aboriginal people from State to State and within each State are, however, so diverse that for so long as can be seen the interests of Aborigines and part Aborigines will be best served by programmes administered by State authorities within the contact of overall policies as agreed between the States and the Commonwealth.’1

The Prime Minister, Harold Holt, announced on 7 September 1967 the setting up of an Office of Aboriginal Affairs within his Department, directed by a Council of Aboriginal Affairs.