It was reinforced by the national Parliament. In 1902, the first Commonwealth Franchise Bill was introduced into the Parliament. As introduced, it would have conferred the right to vote on indigenous Australians. As enacted and subject to what was in the event an insignificant qualification, it disqualified any "Aboriginal native of Australia Asia, Africa or the Islands of the Pacific except New Zealand " from having "his name placed on the Electoral Roll". Subject to limited exceptions, the specific exclusion of any "Aboriginal native of Australia " from the Commonwealth franchise extended into the second half century of our nation's history.
Aboriginal Australians and inequality (The first 2 decades of a new century).
Aborigines did not fare well in the years up to World War 1. Full-blood Aborigines were not counted in censuses and, by the Constitution, the federal government could not legislate on Aboriginal issues: this was the responsibility of the States. Aborigines did not benefit from any social reforms and in 1902, except for those who were eligible to vote in state elections, were excluded from the Commonwealth franchise.
Treatment of Aborigines in the states varied. In Western Australia and Queensland they were perceived as a threat by many white pastoralists and were subjected often to acts of pure violence. Confrontations between white people and Aborigines on the Canning stock route were frequent, with the former spearing thousands of cattle and the latter engaging in savage retaliation. In Western Australia a 1905 Royal Commission reported on brutal treatment of Aboriginal prisoners; stockmen capturing, raping and using Aboriginal women as slave labour; and the murder of Aboriginal men. A part of the report stated " police corruption in administrating Aboriginal allowances; the chaining together (by the neck) of arrested Aborigines and Aboriginal witnesses and prisoners; forced labour for Aboriginal children, and heavy sentences for children and adults convicted of killing cattle; discrimination in court proceedings and a shortage of food " (Gibbs, 1996, p.
