How did Aboriginal people gain citizenship rights?
Aboriginal organisations and individuals carried on the struggle for citizenship rights over many decades. Using a range of strategies, they drew public attention to their grievances and often gained access to politicians at the highest level. At times they had the support of humanitarian, religious, scientific and feminist organisations and individual parliamentarians from both sides of politics. There was a general belief that citizenship for Aboriginal people could be achieved only through Commonwealth control. The Commonwealth did not take control; however, discrimination was removed from Commonwealth laws. The 1947 Social Services Consolidation Act made it possible for some Aboriginal people who were exempt from State protection laws to receive Commonwealth social welfare, such as old age and invalid pensions, widows’ pension and the maternity allowance. The 1948 Nationality and Citizenship Act in theory made Aboriginal people Australian citizens, because they were born in Austral
