Topic 3: Key issues in Australian history - the role of interest
groups Australia has a long history of citizen action to improve
democratic rights and ensure equality for citizens. Several of
these issues and groups are covered in the Discovering Democracy
units. In this activity students in groups will research one of
the following issues and complete a research assignment. Issue
1: Equal voting rights for women Issue 2: Political and civil
rights for Aboriginal citizens Issue 3: Rights for working
Australians - the Eight Hour Day and equal pay for women Topic
4: Miners' rights and Eureka Distribute Student handout 5. This
handout contains the focus questions that enable students to
organise their research. - What was this issue about? What key
debates took place and what were the arguments for and against?
- Which key groups and individuals were active in the resolution
of the issue? - What actions were taken by each of these
individuals and groups to resolve the issue? - How effective
were these individua