Report of the Royal Commission on the Constitution

Résumé du livre

Reports on the powers of the Commonwealth under the Constitution and the working of the Constitution since Federation; Report on Aboriginesp. 219 mentions exclusion of Aborigines from section 51 (xxvi) - Commonwealth has no power to make laws affecting Aboriginal people; discussion of arguments for and against Commonwealth control of Aboriginal affairs; mention that Australia's reputation may be affected by its treatment of Aborigines; p. 220 desirable that the treatment of Aborigines should be in the states which control their lands; example given of protection system in state of Queensland as being the most satisfactory in the Commonwealth (refers to Bleakley Report of 1929); cattle theft reduced by cattle from Moola Bulla Station in Western Australia being killed daily to feed visiting Aborigines; Recommendations of majority p.270 propose that section 51 (xxvi) not be amended to empower the Commonwealth to make laws with respect to Aborigines; Minority report p. 303 recommendsCommonwealth control of Aboriginal affairs.