Freedom Ride Timeline
1960
Soviets criticize Australian the United Nations General Assembly, Soviet Union leader Nikita Khrushchev criticizes Australia's treatment of its Indigenous population.
1961
Menzies defends apartheidAs South Africa leaves the British Commonwealth to avoid expulsion over its apartheid laws, Prime Minister Menzies publicly defends South Africa's right to pass such laws.
1962
National petition campaignThe Federal Council for Aboriginal Advancement (FCAA) launches a national campaign for a referendum to change the Constitution.
1963
Bark petition sentThe Yolngu people of Yirrkala send a bark petition to Canberra. The petition is signed by nine representatives of the various clan groups with interest in the land under threat from mining.
1964
New social welfare regimeThe Northern Territory Social Welfare Ordinance 1964 gives the Director of Social Welfare power 'over persons who in the opinion of the Director are socially or economically in need of assistance'.
1965
Queensland rights to voteThe Queensland Aborigines' and Torres Strait Islanders Affairs Act finally removes the barriers stopping an aboriginal native of Australia from voting. However barriers, for some people, remain. Many of the 110 regulations under the Act continue to override or ignore Aboriginal human rights.
1966
New prime ministerOn 26 January Harold Holt takes over as Australia's seventeenth Prime Minister.
1967
27 May referendum
Soviets criticize Australian the United Nations General Assembly, Soviet Union leader Nikita Khrushchev criticizes Australia's treatment of its Indigenous population.
1961
Menzies defends apartheidAs South Africa leaves the British Commonwealth to avoid expulsion over its apartheid laws, Prime Minister Menzies publicly defends South Africa's right to pass such laws.
1962
National petition campaignThe Federal Council for Aboriginal Advancement (FCAA) launches a national campaign for a referendum to change the Constitution.
1963
Bark petition sentThe Yolngu people of Yirrkala send a bark petition to Canberra. The petition is signed by nine representatives of the various clan groups with interest in the land under threat from mining.
1964
New social welfare regimeThe Northern Territory Social Welfare Ordinance 1964 gives the Director of Social Welfare power 'over persons who in the opinion of the Director are socially or economically in need of assistance'.
1965
Queensland rights to voteThe Queensland Aborigines' and Torres Strait Islanders Affairs Act finally removes the barriers stopping an aboriginal native of Australia from voting. However barriers, for some people, remain. Many of the 110 regulations under the Act continue to override or ignore Aboriginal human rights.
1966
New prime ministerOn 26 January Harold Holt takes over as Australia's seventeenth Prime Minister.
1967
27 May referendum
1968
Land rights march in Melbourne, 1968
Land rights march in Melbourne, 1968