Rights and Freedoms - Timeline By stefan.stojanovski Jan 1, 1947 Japan becomes Australia’s largest overseas export market. Senator Dame Annabelle Rankin is the first woman to become a federal minister Jan 1, 1950 Federal legislation allows Aboriginal peoples to vote in federal elections under certain conditions Dec 2, 1952 ALP government is elected to office on 2 December, Gough Whitlam becomes prime minister Jan 1, 1956 Melbourne hosts the Olympic games. Oct 11, 1960 Oral contraceptives for women are commercially available Jan 1, 1962 Aboriginal people are given the vote in federal elections Jan 1, 1967 Referendum to count Aboriginal people in the census and to allow the Commonwealth to make laws for them; referendum has the highest majority ever Jan 1, 1970 Germaine Greer’s The Female Eunuch is published Jan 1, 1971 Anti-apartheid demonstrations are held during the South African Springbok rugby tour in Australia. Jan 1, 1973 Woodward Royal Commission on Aboriginal land rights recommends limited land rights Jan 1, 1975 Federal Racial Discrimination Act comes into operation. Jan 1, 1985 Major growth in trade with Asian countries Jan 1, 1987 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody Feb 13, 2008 Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivers a general national apology to the Stolen Generations. Aug 6, 2016 First atomic bomb is dropped on Hiroshima Japan on 6th August. End of World II
