Report of the Royal Commission on the Constitution

by Australia. Royal Commission on the Constitution

1929

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.