After a vote by a huge majority of people in all states in a referendum, from 1967 Indigenous Australians were included in the Australian census (which counts the population). Also, the Commonwealth was given power over Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs. From 1967 on, the movement for Indigenous people’s land rights grew, and was gradually recognised, despite much opposition by some members of the community, including mining and pastoral groups. Change was very slow. The Department of Aboriginal Affairs was not created until 1972. (This was replaced by ATSIC in 1990.) However, the vote showed that ordinary people could successfully demand that the government develop its laws to become more fair.