Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander PeoplesUntil the 1960s, Indigenous Australians – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – were denied their rights and access to legal system and were excluded from formal participation in the political process. They were not counted in population censuses, were not allowed to take oaths or testify in court. Most of the time, the government treated indigenous people as if they did not exist. In 1962, Aboriginal people gained the right to vote in Commonwealth elections, and gradually things began to change and laws passed by the states in years past were repealed or amended. However, it was not until the 1967 referendum that indigenous people gained the right to vote and be counted in censuses. Today, although many legal barriers to equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have been removed, it is arguable that the indigenous population continues to do so. They do not enjoy the same legal status as non-Indigenous Australians in practice. They are, however, legally recognized by the state under civil law, criminal law, international law as well as their own indigenous customary law. Civil law Historically, Indigenous Australians had virtually no access to the justice system and were considered minors under civil law, so their legal rights were restricted. In Queensland in 1962, Indigenous Australians could not enter into contracts, withdraw money from their bank accounts, start a business or make a will without official permission. In relation to their employment status under the Act, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were not paid wages and suffering. .... middle of paper ...... the lobbying and picketing that succeeded in recognizing the needs of the indigenous population were the massive marches that took place when it came to demanding that the government recognizes the land rights of indigenous peoples. Although land rights were not officially won until 1992 with the Mabo v QLD case, protests and lobbying attracted public attention and prompted awareness among non-Indigenous Australians – s They weren't already aware of it. One of the things that made lobbying for land rights so successful was that, as when Aboriginal people were campaigning for their right to vote, it was not just Aboriginal people who were marching for their rights: Australians not indigenous people of all socio-economic, racial, cultural and religious backgrounds. walked with them.