My pride stopped me from applying for citizenship when I became 21. I had already had two children, the Commissioner of Native Welfare was their guardian.

Pat Kopusar, Yes Aborigines do count! 1967-1992, Wangka Maya, Pilbara Aboriginal Language Centre, May 1992

Under some state legislation, Aboriginal people could not travel from place to place, control their own money, drink alcohol or marry without permission.

In Western Australia, until 1971, the Native (Citizenship Rights) Act 1944, stated that Aboriginal people had to apply for citizenship. They had to prove that they had severed all ties with extended family and friends, were free from disease, could speak English, had been ‘civilised’ in behavior for two years, could manage their affairs and were industrious in their habits.

Citizenship did not automatically extend to their children who had to apply under the same rules for citizenship once they reached adulthood. A person could have their citizenship revoked if they were seen to have reject ‘civilised’ life, been convicted twice of any felony, found drunk or had contracted leprosy, syphilis, granuloma or yaws. Anyone could make a complaint to a magistrate to revoke someone’s citizenship. Many people referred to these Citizenship Certificates as dog tags or dog licenses. 

Many Aboriginal people in Western Australia had thought the 1967 Referendum would automatically repeal this Act given the nature of the Referendum questions.