On 18 April 1961 the House of Representatives passed a motion that:  

 (1) That a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into and report
     to-  

     (a) whether the entitlement to enrolment and the right to vote
         presently conferred by the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918-
         1953 on persons referred to in section 39 of that Act should
         be extended with or without qualifications restrictions or
         conditions to -
          (i) all aboriginal natives of Australia, or
         (ii) aboriginal natives of Australia included in particular
              classes, and, if so, what classes; and, if so,
 
     (b) the modifications, if any, that should be made to the
         provisions of that Act relating to enrolment or voting to
         provide for enrolment and voting by aboriginal natives or
         any particular classes of aboriginal natives.
 
 (2) The the Select Committee consist of seven members, four to be
     appointed by the Prime Minister and three to be appointed by the
     Leader of the Opposition.
 
 (3) That every appointment of a member of the Committee be forthwith
     notified in writing to the Speaker.
 
 (4) That the Chairman of one of the members appointed by the Prime
     Minister.
 
 (5) That the Chairman of the Committee may from time to time appoint
     another member of the Committee to be Deputy Chairman, and that
     the members so appointed act as Chairman of the Committee at any
     time when the Chairman is not present at a meeting of the
     Committee.  

 (6) That the Chairman or the Deputy Chairman, when acting as
     Chairman shall have a deliberative vote and, in the event of an
     equality of voting, a casting vote.
 
 (7) That the Select Committee have power to send for persons, papers
     and records, to sit during any adjournment of the House and to
     move from place to place.
 
 (8) That the Committee report to the House not later than the 31st
     day of October, 1961, and that any member of the Committee have
     power to add a protest or dissent to the report.
 
 (9) That the foregoing provisions of this resolution, so far as they
     are inconsistent with the Standing Orders, have effect
     notwithstanding anything contained in the Standing Orders -
 
On 3 May 1961, the Speaker informed the House of the following appointments of Members as members of the Select Committee on Voting Rights of Aboriginals:  Mr Barnes, Mr Browne, Mr Howston and Mr Pearce had been appointed by the Prime Minister and Mr Beazley, Mr Luchetti and Mr Nelson by the Leader of the Opposition.
 
Mr Pearce was elected Chairman at the first meeting of the Committee.  The Sergeant-at-Arms and Clerk of Committees, Mr A R Browning, acted as Secretary to the Committee.
 
The Committee travelled at least 22,000 miles to obtain evidence from the aboriginal people, welfare officers, clergy, school teachers pastoralists, policemen, and others who have interested themselves in the advancement of the aboriginal people. Public meetings were held in the Australian Capital Territory, the Northern Territory and all mainland States of the Commonwealth.
 
Oral evidence or written statements were received from 327 witnesses, of whom 142 were descended from the original inhabitants of Australia. Apart from those who appeared at the personal invitation of the Committee, members of the public replied to general invitations advertised through the newspapers.
 
The Committee presented its report to the House on 17 October 1961.  


Source
 
Report from the Select Committee on Voting Rights of Aboriginals, 
 Part 1.  Report and Minutes of Proceedings; Part 2 Minutes of
 Evidence Commonwealth Parliamentary Papers, 23rd Parliament 3rd
 Session, 1961, Vol II, pp 1391-1969
 

Historical agency address
Canberra
Legislation administered
Resolution of the House of Representatives, 18 April 1861