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In Australia, referendums (also spelt referenda)^[1] are public votes held on important issues where the electorate may approve or reject a certain proposal. In contemporary usage, polls conducted on non-constitutional issues are known as plebiscites, with the term referendum being reserved solely for votes on constitutional changes, which is legally required to make a change to the Constitution of Australia.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]

In the past, however the terms were used interchangeably,^[6]^[7]^[8] with the non-constitutional 1916 Australian conscription referendum and the 2009 Western Australian daylight saving referendum being examples.

Voting in a referendum is compulsory for those on the electoral roll, in the same way that it is compulsory to vote in a general election. As of 2023, 45 nationwide referendums have been held, only eight of which have been carried. Of those eight, all but one had bi-partisan support.^[9]^[10] Since multiple referendum questions are often asked on the same ballot, there have only been 20 separate occasions that the Australian people have gone to the polls to vote on constitutional amendments—of which 8 have been concurrent with a federal election.^[11] There have also been three nationwide non-constitutional plebiscites (two on conscription and one on the national song), and one postal survey (on same-sex marriage).

Federal referendums

Constitutional provisions

Section 128 of the Constitution specifies that alterations to the Constitution cannot be made without a public vote.^[3]^[12] A bill containing the amendment must first be passed by both houses of parliament or, in certain limited circumstances, by only one house of parliament. If the bill has only been passed in one house, the governor-general must, under the deadlock provision of section 128, then decide whether or not to submit the referendum to the people. By convention, this is done on the advice of the prime minister. Since the prime minister normally controls the House of Representatives, the effect of this convention is to make it virtually impossible for a referendum to be put to the people if approved by the Senate, but not the House.^[13]

If the bill to alter the Constitution is approved by both houses or satisfies the deadlock provision, the bill is submitted to the electors for approval. The referendum is conducted according to the Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984.^[14] If the bill is approved by an absolute majority of both houses, the Constitution provides that it must be submitted to the electors no less than two months but no later than six months after passage.^[15] However, this requirement has not always been complied with, with a proposed amendment in 2013 not proceeding to a vote despite the passage of legislation.^[16] There is no similar time limitation if the bill is approved by one House of the Commonwealth Parliament only.^[13]

To pass a referendum, the bill must ordinarily achieve a double majority: a majority of those voting nationwide, as well as separate majorities in a majority of states (i.e., 4 out of 6 states). This provision, which gives the small Australian states effectively a built-in veto, was one of those constitutional provisions accepted in order for the smaller colonies to agree to Federation.^[15] In circumstances where a state is significantly affected by a referendum (such as through an alteration of its borders or through a reduction of its representation), a majority of voters in that state must also agree to the change.^[17]

When a referendum question is carried, the amending bill is presented for royal assent by the governor-general.^[18]

Territories

Prior to the 1977 referendum, only electors in the six states could vote at a referendum. Since the 1977 amendment was carried, voters of the territories have been eligible to vote in referendums. Territory votes are now counted towards the national total but the territories do not count as states for the purpose of the requirement for a majority of states.^[19]

Alteration of states

Section 123 of the Constitution also requires that where the "limits of the State" are proposed to be altered by the relevant state and federal parliaments, the approval of a majority of the electors of that state is also required. It has been argued that this provision is not limited to proposed alterations of state boundaries, but may also extend to the acquisition of land by the Commonwealth under section 51(xxxi).^[20]

Other aspects

Voting has been compulsory in Australia since 1924.^[21]

Non-constitutional plebiscites, are conducted by the government to decide a matter relating to ordinary statute law, an advisory question of policy, or as a prelude to the submission of a formal referendum question, rather than a binding and entrenched alteration (amendment) to the Constitution. Plebiscites can offer a variety of options, rather than a simple yes/no question. Four national plebiscites have been held as of 2017. Unlike in constitutional referendums, voting in previous plebiscites has been optional.^[22]

In 1998, the Howard government amended the Flags Act 1953 to require a plebiscite to change the Flag of Australia.^[23] There is some debate over whether such legislation is legally enforceable, and a new parliament could simply amend or repeal the legislation at any time.^[24]^[25]

Success rate

Australians have rejected most proposals for constitutional amendments, approving only 8 out of 45 referendums submitted to them since federation. Noting the difficulty of the referendum process, then prime minister Robert Menzies said in 1951: "The truth of the matter is that to get an affirmative vote from the Australian people on a referendum proposal is one of the labours of Hercules."^[26]

Of forty-five referendums, there have been five instances – in 1937, twice in 1946, and once each in 1977 and 1984 – where a national Yes vote has been achieved but failed to win a majority of states. In three of these instances, the referendum received a majority in three states. The converse situation, where there is a majority of states but not an overall majority, has not yet occurred.^[19]

Apart from 1937, in which Victoria and Queensland were the only two states in favour, only these cases have followed a consistent pattern: a Yes vote in the two most populous states, New South Wales and Victoria, and a No vote in most or all of the other states. The rejection of these referendums was due to the less populous states voting contrary to the most populous states.^[19]

A contributing factor to the predominance of the No vote comes from the unwillingness of the Australian voters to extend the powers of the federal government. Although none of the votes was over additional powers over commerce and industry granted to the government, at least two successful referendums can be characterised as giving the Commonwealth more powers: in 1946, the Commonwealth was given power to make laws with respect to a range of health and welfare services; and in 1967, the Commonwealth was given a power to make laws with respect to Indigenous Australians. The government hoped that support for this amendment would encourage electors to vote yes for the second referendum submitted at the same time, which would have abolished the nexus between the numbers of members in each House.^[27]^[28] However, this second law was not approved by the electors.^[19]

List of referendums and plebiscites

Each question asked electors to answer "Yes" or "No", except for the national song plebiscite where electors were asked to choose between four songs.^[29]

Additionally, legislation authorising a referendum to allow the federal government to directly fund local councils passed in 2013, however the government decided not to proceed with a vote.^[16]

Results of referendums

^[30]
Year	No.	Name	National voters	States	NSW	VIC	QLD ^[a]	SA	WA	TAS ^[b]	ACT ^[c]	NT ^[c]
1906	1	Senate Elections	82.65%	6:0	83.85%	83.10%	76.84%	86.99%	78.93%	81.32%	—	—
1910	2	State Debts	54.95%	5:1	33.34%	64.59%	64.57%	73.18%	72.80%	80.97%	—	—
1910	3	Surplus Revenue	49.04%	3:3	47.35%	45.26%	54.58%	49.06%	61.74%	59.99%	—	—
1911	4	Trade and Commerce	39.42%	1:5	36.11%	38.64%	43.75%	38.07%	54.86%	42.11%	—	—
1911	5	Monopolies	39.89%	1:5	36.72%	38.95%	44.26%	38.42%	55.84%	42.43%	—	—
1913	6	Trade and Commerce	49.38%	3:3	46.93%	49.12%	54.34%	51.32%	52.86%	45.16%	—	—
	7	Corporations	49.33%	3:3	46.79%	49.14%	54.31%	51.34%	52.84%	45.08%	—	—
	8	Industrial Matters	49.33%	3:3	46.88%	49.02%	54.36%	51.40%	52.71%	45.20%	—	—
	9	Trusts	49.78%	3:3	47.12%	49.71%	54.78%	51.67%	53.59%	45.38%	—	—
	10	Monopolies	49.33%	3:3	46.85%	49.07%	54.17%	51.26%	53.19%	45.22%	—	—
	11	Railway Disputes	49.13%	3:3	46.70%	48.79%	54.19%	51.28%	52.38%	45.01%	—	—
1919	12	Legislative Powers	49.65%	3:3	39.95%	64.65%	57.35%	25.28%	51.75%	33.43%	—	—
1919	13	Monopolies	48.64%	3:3	38.31%	63.29%	56.92%	25.54%	53.99%	34.08%	—	—
1926	14	Industry and Commerce	43.50%	2:4	51.53%	36.23%	52.10%	29.32%	29.29%	44.86%	—	—
1926	15	Essential Services	42.80%	2:4	50.39%	35.55%	50.56%	31.32%	25.90%	48.59%	—	—
1928	16	State Debts	74.30%	6:0	64.47%	87.78%	88.60%	62.68%	57.53%	66.89%	—	—
1937	17	Aviation	53.56%	2:4	47.25%	65.10%	61.87%	40.13%	47.58%	38.94%	—	—
1937	18	Marketing	36.26%	0:6	33.76%	46.58%	38.78%	20.83%	27.77%	21.88%	—	—
1944	19	Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights	45.99%	2:4	45.44%	49.31%	36.52%	50.64%	52.25%	38.92%	—	—
1946	20	Social Services	54.39%	6:0	54.00%	55.98%	51.26%	51.73%	62.26%	50.58%	—	—
	21	Marketing	50.57%	3:3	51.83%	52.37%	45.74%	48.74%	56.21%	42.55%	—	—
	22	Industrial Employment	50.30%	3:3	51.72%	52.08%	43.42%	48.20%	55.74%	41.37%	—	—
1948	23	Rents and Prices	40.66%	0:6	41.66%	44.63%	30.80%	42.15%	38.59%	35.45%	—	—
1951	24	Communists and Communism	49.44%	3:3	47.17%	48.71%	55.76%	47.29%	55.09%	50.26%	—	—
1967	25	Parliament	40.25%	1:5	51.01%	30.87%	44.13%	33.91%	29.05%	23.06%	—	—
1967	26	Aboriginals	90.77%	6:0	91.46%	94.68%	89.21%	86.26%	80.95%	90.21%	—	—
1973	27	Prices	43.81%	0:6	48.55%	45.18%	38.47%	41.16%	31.90%	38.22%	—	—
1973	28	Incomes	34.42%	0:6	40.31%	33.44%	31.70%	28.25%	25.21%	28.31%	—	—
1974	29	Simultaneous Elections	48.30%	1:5	51.06%	49.19%	44.32%	47.14%	44.07%	41.37%	—	—
	30	Mode of Altering the Constitution	47.99%	1:5	51.35%	49.22%	44.29%	44.26%	42.53%	40.72%	—	—
	31	Democratic Elections	47.20%	1:5	50.55%	47.71%	43.70%	44.11%	42.86%	40.81%	—	—
	32	Local Government Bodies	46.85%	1:5	50.79%	47.38%	43.68%	42.52%	40.67%	40.03%	—	—
1977	33	Simultaneous Elections	62.22%	3:3	70.71%	65.00%	47.51%	65.99%	48.47%	34.26%	—	—
	34	Senate Casual Vacancies	73.32%	6:0	81.62%	76.13%	58.86%	76.59%	57.11%	53.78%	—	—
	35	Referendums	77.72%	6:0	83.92%	80.78%	59.58%	83.29%	72.62%	62.25%	—	—
	36	Retirement of Judges	80.10%	6:0	84.84%	81.43%	65.24%	85.57%	78.37%	72.46%	—	—
1984	37	Terms of Senators	50.64%	2:4	52.86%	53.20%	45.65%	49.98%	46.47%	39.29%	56.68%	51.87%
1984	38	Interchange of Powers	47.06%	0:6	49.04%	49.86%	41.69%	45.94%	44.28%	34.65%	56.10%	47.78%
1988	39	Parliamentary Terms	32.92%	0:6	31.66%	36.20%	35.15%	26.76%	30.67%	25.34%	43.62%	38.13%
	40	Fair Elections	37.60%	0:6	35.57%	40.12%	44.83%	30.61%	32.02%	28.89%	51.99%	42.99%
	41	Local Government	33.62%	0:6	31.70%	36.06%	38.31%	29.85%	29.76%	27.50%	39.78%	38.80%
	42	Rights and Freedoms	30.79%	0:6	29.65%	33.42%	32.90%	26.01%	28.14%	25.49%	40.71%	37.14%
1999	43	Establishment of Republic	45.13%	0:6	46.43%	49.84%	37.44%	43.57%	41.48%	40.37%	63.27%	48.77%
1999	44	Preamble	39.34%	0:6	42.14%	42.46%	32.81%	38.10%	34.73%	35.67%	43.61%	38.52%
2023	45	Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice	39.94%	0:6	41.04%	45.85%	31.79%	35.83%	36.73%	41.06%	61.29%	39.70%

^ Queensland is the easiest state to gain majority assent in, with residents assenting to 29 constitutional amendments (the mean state assents to 17 amendments).
^ Tasmania is the hardest state to gain majority assent in, with residents assenting to 10 constitutional amendments (the mean state assents to 17 amendments).
^ ^a ^b Residents of the Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory could not vote in referendums until the passing of the 1977 Referendums Constitutional Amendment. The votes of those territories are counted in the national total, but not toward the count of states which have received a majority.

Results of plebiscites

The four plebiscites were all non-binding polls and not referendums to change the constitution. Consequently, the majority of states requirement was not applicable.

^[29]
Year	No.	Name	States	Voters	Carried
1916	-	Military Service	3:3	48.39%	No
1917	-	Military Service	2:4	46.21%	No
1977	-	National Song	5:1	43.29%	Yes^[31]
2017	-	Australian Marriage Law	6:0	61.60%	Yes

State and territory referendums

States and territories of Australia may also hold referendums. Certain examples are listed below.

In the years leading up to the Federation of Australia in 1901, all six colonies (as the states then were) passed referendums in favour of Federation.^[32]
In 1933, voters in Western Australia voted for their state to leave the Commonwealth of Australia with the aim of reverting to the British Empire as an autonomous territory. The Western Australian Government sent a delegation to Westminster; however the United Kingdom House of Commons refused to intervene, declaring it had no power to grant secession, and therefore no action was taken to implement this decision.^[33]
In 1967, voters in north-east New South Wales were asked if they favoured creating a new state in their region. The no vote won, with 54.1% of the formal vote.^[34]
In 1968, Tasmanian voters took part in a referendum to approve the granting of Australia's first casino licence to the Federal Group to operate the Wrest Point Hotel Casino in Hobart. The referendum passed with 53% of the formal vote.^[35]
In 1975, voters in Western Australia voted against permanent daylight saving/summer time.^[36]
In 1978, the Australian Capital Territory voted at a referendum on whether the ACT should be granted self-government. Voters were given the choice of becoming a self-governing territory, a local government or continuing with the Legislative Assembly being an advisory body to the Department of the Capital Territory. 63.75% voted to continue with the then current arrangement.^[37] Despite the outcome of the referendum, the Parliament of Australia passed the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act in 1988 and the ACT became a self-governing territory in 1989.
In 1981, the Tasmanian Government held a controversial referendum to decide the location of a hydro-electric dam on the Franklin River. With the electorate simply given a choice of two different dams, approximately 33% of the electorate voted informal by writing "No Dams" on their ballot paper.^[38]
In 1984, voters in Western Australia voted against permanent daylight saving/summer time for a second time.^[39]
In 1992, after trialling Daylight Saving in Queensland for a total of three years, a referendum was held, with 54.5% of Queenslanders voting against daylight saving. Regional and rural areas strongly opposed daylight saving, while those in the metropolitan south-east voted in favour of it.^[40]
In 1992, a referendum to amend constitutional law in Queensland to extend the maximum parliamentary term from three to four years was defeated by 51.1% to 48.9%.^[40]
Also in 1992, voters in Western Australia voted against permanent daylight saving/summer time for a third time.^[41]
In 1995, voters in New South Wales voted for a fixed four-year term for the state parliament.^[42]
In 2005, voters in Western Australia rejected two referendums related to weekday trading and Sunday trading.^[43]
In 2009, after a three-year trial, voters in Western Australia voted against permanent daylight saving/summer time for a fourth time in four decades.^[44]
In 2016, voters in Queensland voted 52.96% for a fixed four-year term for the state unicameral parliament.^[45]

References

Specific references

^ York, Barry (21 August 2015). "Referenda And Plebiscites: What's the Difference?". Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House.
^ "Plebiscites". Australian Electoral Commission. 3 April 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Referendums and Plebiscites". Parliamentary Education Office. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
^ Holmes, Brenton (30 June 2011). "A quick guide to plebiscites in Australia". Parliament of Australia.
^ Antony Green (12 August 2015). "Plebiscite or Referendum – What's the Difference". ABC News. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2015.
^ "The referendum". Evening News. 21 September 1897. p. 4. Retrieved 26 August 2020 – via Trove.
^ "Government by plebiscite". The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. 29 January 1898. p. 217. Retrieved 26 August 2020 – via Trove.
^ "The plebiscite or referendum". The Bendigo Independent. 3 December 1910. p. 4. Retrieved 26 August 2020 – via Trove.
^ Casey, Briggs (29 October 2023). "With the Voice referendum resoundingly defeated, will Australia ever again change the constitution?". ABC News.
^ Menon, Praveen; Jackson, Lewis; Cole, Wayne; Menon, Praveen; Jackson, Lewis (14 October 2023). "Australia rejects Indigenous referendum in setback for reconciliation". Reuters. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
^ "Referendum dates and results". Australian Electoral Commission.
^ Constitution (Cth) s 128 Mode of altering the Constitution.
^ ^a ^b Saunders, Cheryl (2001). "The Parliament as Partner: A Century of Constitutional Review". SSRN 259959.
^ "Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984"
^ ^a ^b "Referendums and Plebiscites". Parliamentary Education Office. Commonwealth of Australia. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
^ ^a ^b Brown, JA; Kildea, Paul (2016). "The Referendum that Wasn't: Constitutional Recognition of Local Government and the Australian Federal Reform Dilemma" (PDF). Federal Law Review. 44: 143–166. doi:10.1177/0067205X1604400106. hdl:10072/101051. S2CID 157713287.
^ Constitution (Cth) s 128 "No alteration diminishing the proportionate representation of any State in either House of the Parliament, or the minimum number of representatives of a State in the House of Representatives, or increasing, diminishing, or otherwise altering the limits of the State, or in any manner affecting the provisions of the Constitution in relation thereto, shall become law unless the majority of the electors voting in that State approve the proposed law".
^ Bennett, Scott (2003). "The Politics of Constitutional Amendment". Research Paper No. 11 2002–03. Australian Department of the Parliamentary Library. Archived from the original on 17 March 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Handbook of the 44th Parliament (2014) "Part 5 - Referendums and Plebiscites - Constitutional referendums". Parliamentary Library of Australia.
^ Brown, A. J (2007). "When does property become territory? Nuclear waste, federal land acquisition and constitutional requirements for state consent" (PDF). Adelaide Law Review. 7: 113–138.
^ "Electoral Backgrounder: Compulsory voting". Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
^ "Is it compulsory to vote in a plebiscite?". Parliamentary Education Office. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
^ Flags Amendment Act 1998 (Cth) s 3
^ Laurie Fergusson (22 August 1996). "Flags Amendment Bill 1996". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Commonwealth of Australia: House of Representatives. p. 3562.
^ Evans, S (2004). "Why is the Constitution Binding? Authority, Obligation and the Role of the People". Adelaide Law Review. (2004) 25 Adelaide Law Review 103 at p. 121.
^ Craig, John (1993). Australian Politics: A Source Book. Harcourt Brace. p. 39. ISBN 9780729513272.
^ "The 1967 Referendum—history and myths" (PDF). Parliamentary Library. 2 May 2007. p. 8. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
^ "Cabinet decision, 1967". Collaborating for Indigenous Rights. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c Handbook of the 44th Parliament (2014) "Part 5 - Referendums and Plebiscites - Plebiscite results". Parliamentary Library of Australia.
^ Handbook of the 44th Parliament (2014) "Part 5 – Referendums and Plebiscites – Referendum results". Parliamentary Library of Australia..
^ The plebiscite was a choice between four songs. "Advance Australia Fair" received a plurality of votes, so the plebiscite carried despite the choice not receiving a majority.^[29]
^ "Federation Fact Sheet 1 – The Referendums 1898–1900". Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
^ Musgrave, Thomas. "The Western Australian Secessionist Movement" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 August 2006. (2003) 3 Macquarie Law Journal 95.
^ "Referendum 29 April 1967". NSW Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 18 February 2011.
^ "Referendums in Tasmania". Parliament of Tasmania. 5 August 2002.
^ "1975 - First Daylight Savings Referendum". Western Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
^ "1978 Referendum". Elections ACT. 6 January 2015.
^ Tasmanian Referendums
^ "1984 - Second Daylight Savings Referendum". Western Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Election events: Referendums". Electoral Commission of Queensland. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
^ "1992 - Third Daylight Savings Referendum". Western Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
^ "Result of referendums (60)". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 20 June 1991. p. 2672. Retrieved 11 October 2021 – via Trove.
^ "2005 Retail Trading Hours Referendum". Western Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
^ "2009 Daylight Saving Referendum". Western Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
^ "2016 State Referendum - Summary". Electoral Commission of Queensland. Retrieved 5 April 2016.

General references

Federal referendums

Select sources on constitutional change in Australia 1901–1997. Part 2 – History of Australian Referendums (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia. 24 March 1997. ISBN 0644484101. An Australian Parliament report, summarising the background, "yes" and "no" cases, and results, for each referendum up to 1988.

State and territory referendums

"New South Wales Referendums". NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
"Queensland Election events". Electoral Commission of Queensland. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
"South Australian Other elections, polls and referenda". Electoral Commission of South Australia. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
Western Australia State Referendums
Referendums in Tasmania
ACT Referendums
"Referendums and plebiscites". Parliamentary Education Office.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Short description|Referendums on important public issues in Australia}}
+{{Short description|Votes on important public issues in Australia}}
 {{use Australian English|date=October 2021}}
 {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
+{{Direct Democracy}}
+In [[Australia]], '''referendums''' (also spelt '''referenda''')<ref>{{Cite web |last=York |first=Barry |date=21 August 2015 |title=Referenda And Plebiscites: What's the Difference? |url=https://www.moadoph.gov.au/explore/stories/democracy/referenda-and-plebiscites-whats-the-difference |access-date= |website=Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House}}</ref> are [[referendum|public votes]] held on important issues where the electorate may approve or reject a certain proposal. In contemporary usage, polls conducted on non-constitutional issues are known as ''plebiscites'', with the term ''referendum'' being reserved solely for votes on constitutional changes, which is [[Chapter VIII of the Constitution of Australia|legally required]] to make a change to the [[Constitution of Australia]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=3 April 2020 |title=Plebiscites |url=https://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/referendums/plebiscites.htm |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=Australian Electoral Commission |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Referendums and Plebiscites |url=https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/having-your-say/elections-and-voting/referendums-and-plebiscites/ |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=Parliamentary Education Office |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Holmes |first=Brenton |date=30 June 2011 |title=A quick guide to plebiscites in Australia |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/FlagPost/2011/June/A_quick_guide_to_plebiscites_in_Australia |access-date= |website=Parliament of Australia |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2015/08/plebiscite-or-referendum-whats-the-difference.html |title=Plebiscite or Referendum – What's the Difference |author=Antony Green |author-link=Antony Green |date=12 August 2015|publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|access-date=27 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202160941/http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2015/08/plebiscite-or-referendum-whats-the-difference.html/ |archive-date=2016-12-02 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
+In the past, however the terms were used interchangeably,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108757304 |title=The referendum |newspaper=[[The Evening News (Sydney)|Evening News]] |date=21 September 1897 |access-date=26 August 2020 |page=4 |via=[[Trove]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article163803818 |title=Government by plebiscite |newspaper=[[The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser]] |date=29 January 1898 |access-date=26 August 2020 |page=217 |via=Trove}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article227144727 |title=The plebiscite or referendum |newspaper=[[The Bendigo Independent]] |date=3 December 1910 |access-date=26 August 2020 |page=4 |via=Trove}}</ref> with the non-constitutional [[1916 Australian conscription referendum]] and the [[2009 Western Australian daylight saving referendum]] being examples.
-In [[Australia]], '''referendums''' (also spelled '''referenda''')<ref>{{Cite web |last=York |first=Barry |date=21 August 2015 |title=Referenda And Plebiscites: What's the Difference? |url=https://www.moadoph.gov.au/explore/stories/democracy/referenda-and-plebiscites-whats-the-difference |access-date= |website=Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House}}</ref> are [[referendum|public votes]] held on important issues where the electorate may approve or reject a certain proposal. The term is commonly used in reference to a '''constitutional referendum''' which is legally required to make a change to the [[Constitution of Australia]].
+Voting in a referendum is compulsory for those on the electoral roll, in the same way that it is [[Compulsory voting|compulsory to vote]] in a [[Australian electoral system|general election]]. As of 2023, 45 nationwide referendums have been held, only eight of which have been carried. Of those eight, all but one had bi-partisan support.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Casey |first=Briggs |date=2023-10-29 |title=With the Voice referendum resoundingly defeated, will Australia ever again change the constitution? |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-29/voice-referendum-defeat-will-australia-ever-change-constitution/103018686 |access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Menon |first1=Praveen |last2=Jackson |first2=Lewis |last3=Cole |first3=Wayne |last4=Menon |first4=Praveen |last5=Jackson |first5=Lewis |date=2023-10-14 |title=Australia rejects Indigenous referendum in setback for reconciliation |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/voting-begins-australia-landmark-indigenous-voice-referendum-2023-10-13/ |access-date=2023-10-14}}</ref> Since multiple referendum questions are often asked on the same ballot, there have only been 20 separate occasions that the Australian people have gone to the polls to vote on constitutional amendments—of which 8 have been concurrent with a [[Australian federal election|federal election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/referendums/Referendum_Dates_and_Results.htm|title=Referendum dates and results|publisher=Australian Electoral Commission}}</ref> There have also been three nationwide non-constitutional plebiscites (two on [[Conscription in Australia|conscription]] and one on [[1977 Australian plebiscite (National Song)|the national song]]), and one [[Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey|postal survey]] (on same-sex marriage).
-In contemporary usage, polls conducted on non-constitutional issues are known as ''plebiscites'', with the term  ''referendum'' being reserved soley for votes on constitutional changes.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=3 April 2020 |title=Plebiscites |url=https://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/referendums/plebiscites.htm |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=Australian Electoral Commission |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Referendums and Plebiscites |url=https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/having-your-say/elections-and-voting/referendums-and-plebiscites/ |access-date=2023-10-29 |website=Parliamentary Education Office |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Holmes |first=Brenton |date=30 June 2011 |title=A quick guide to plebiscites in Australia |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/FlagPost/2011/June/A_quick_guide_to_plebiscites_in_Australia |access-date= |website=Parliament of Australia |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2015/08/plebiscite-or-referendum-whats-the-difference.html |title=Plebiscite or Referendum – What's the Difference |author=Antony Green |author-link=Antony Green |date=12 August 2015|publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]|access-date=27 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202160941/http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2015/08/plebiscite-or-referendum-whats-the-difference.html/ |archive-date=2016-12-02 |url-status=dead}}</ref> This distinction has not always been made in the past however, with the non-constitutional [[1916 Australian conscription referendum]] and the [[2009 Western Australian daylight saving referendum]] being examples. Additionally, the terms ''plebiscite'' and ''referendum'' were used interchangeably in the past, with ''plebiscite'' considered to be another name for a ''referendum''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108757304 |title=The referendum |newspaper=[[The Evening News (Sydney)|Evening News]] |date=21 September 1897 |access-date=26 August 2020 |page=4 |via=[[Trove]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article163803818 |title=Government by plebiscite |newspaper=[[The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser]] |date=29 January 1898 |access-date=26 August 2020 |page=217 |via=Trove}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article227144727 |title=The plebiscite or referendum |newspaper=[[The Bendigo Independent]] |date=3 December 1910 |access-date=26 August 2020 |page=4 |via=Trove}}</ref>
-Voting in a referendum is compulsory for those on the electoral roll, in the same way that it is [[Compulsory voting|compulsory to vote]] in a [[Australian electoral system|general election]]. As of 2023, 45 nationwide referendums have been held, only eight of which have been carried, with all the referendums being carried having bipartisan support from Australia's major political parties before the referendum.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Menon |first1=Praveen |last2=Jackson |first2=Lewis |last3=Cole |first3=Wayne |last4=Menon |first4=Praveen |last5=Jackson |first5=Lewis |date=2023-10-14 |title=Australia rejects Indigenous referendum in setback for reconciliation |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/voting-begins-australia-landmark-indigenous-voice-referendum-2023-10-13/ |access-date=2023-10-14}}</ref> Since multiple referendum questions are often asked on the same ballot, there have only been 20 separate occasions that the Australian people have gone to the polls to vote on constitutional amendments—of which 8 have been concurrent with a [[Australian federal election|federal election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/referendums/Referendum_Dates_and_Results.htm|title=Referendum dates and results|publisher=Australian Electoral Commission}}</ref> There have also been three nationwide non-constitutional plebiscites (two on [[Conscription in Australia|conscription]] and one on [[1977 Australian plebiscite (National Song)|the national song]]), and one [[Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey|postal survey]] (on same-sex marriage).
 ==Federal referendums==
 ===Constitutional provisions===
 {{main|Chapter VIII of the Constitution of Australia}}
-Section 128 of the Constitution specifies that alterations to the Constitution cannot be made without a direct public vote.<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|coaca430|Constitution|128}} Mode of altering the Constitution.</ref> A bill containing the amendment must first be passed by both houses of parliament or, in certain limited circumstances, by only one house of parliament. If the bill has only been passed in one house, the [[Governor-General of Australia|Governor-General]] must, under the "deadlock provision" of section 128, then decide whether or not to submit the referendum to the people. By convention, this is done on the advice of the [[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]]. Since the Prime Minister normally controls the [[Australian House of Representatives|House of Representatives]], the effect of this convention is to make it virtually impossible for a referendum to be put to the people if approved by the [[Australian Senate|Senate]], but not the House.<ref name="saunders partner">{{cite web|last=Saunders|first=Cheryl|date=15 August 2000|title=The Parliament as Partner: A Century of Constitutional Review|url=http://www.aph.gov.au/LIBRARY/pubs/rp/2000-01/01RP03.htm|url-status=live|work=Parliament of Australia Parliamentary Library|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061208003902/http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/rp/2000-01/01RP03.htm|archivedate=8 December 2006}}</ref>
+Section 128 of the Constitution specifies that alterations to the Constitution cannot be made without a public vote.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|coaca430|Constitution|128}} Mode of altering the Constitution.</ref> A bill containing the amendment must first be passed by both houses of parliament or, in certain limited circumstances, by only one house of parliament. If the bill has only been passed in one house, the [[Governor-General of Australia|governor-general]] must, under the deadlock provision of section 128, then decide whether or not to submit the referendum to the people. By convention, this is done on the advice of the [[Prime Minister of Australia|prime minister]]. Since the prime minister normally controls the [[Australian House of Representatives|House of Representatives]], the effect of this convention is to make it virtually impossible for a referendum to be put to the people if approved by the [[Australian Senate|Senate]], but not the House.<ref name="saunders partner">{{Cite SSRN |title=The Parliament as Partner: A Century of Constitutional Review |last=Saunders |first=Cheryl |date=2001 |language=en |ssrn=259959}}</ref>
 If the bill to alter the Constitution is approved by both houses or satisfies the deadlock provision, the bill is submitted to the electors for approval. The referendum is conducted according to the ''Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984''.<ref>[https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2022C00073 "''Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984''"]</ref> If the bill is approved by an absolute majority of both houses, the Constitution provides that it must be submitted to the electors no less than two months but no later than six months after passage.<ref name="PEO" /> However, this requirement has not always been complied with, with a [[Proposed 2013 Australian constitutional referendum|proposed amendment in 2013]] not proceeding to a vote despite the passage of legislation.<ref name=":0" /> There is no similar time limitation if the bill is approved by one House of the Commonwealth Parliament only.<ref name="saunders partner" />{{Politics of Australia sidebar}}To pass a referendum, the bill must ordinarily achieve a [[double majority]]: a majority of those voting nationwide, as well as separate majorities in a majority of states (i.e., 4 out of 6 states). This provision, which gives the small Australian states effectively a built-in veto, was one of those constitutional provisions accepted in order for the smaller colonies to agree to Federation.<ref name="PEO">{{cite web|title=Referendums and Plebiscites|url=https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/having-your-say/elections-and-voting/referendums-and-plebiscites/|website=Parliamentary Education Office|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|date=3 July 2020|access-date=16 September 2020}}</ref> In circumstances where a state is significantly affected by a referendum (such as through an alteration of its borders or through a reduction of its representation), a majority of voters in that state must also agree to the change.<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|act|coaca430|Constitution|128}} "No alteration diminishing the proportionate representation of any State in either House of the Parliament, or the minimum number of representatives of a State in the House of Representatives, or increasing, diminishing, or otherwise altering the limits of the State, or in any manner affecting the provisions of the Constitution in relation thereto, shall become law unless the majority of the electors voting in that State approve the proposed law".</ref>
-When a referendum question is carried, the amending bill is presented for [[royal assent]] by the Governor-General.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Bennett |first=Scott |year=2003 |title=The Politics of Constitutional Amendment |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp0203/03rp11 |journal=Research Paper No. 11 2002–03 |publisher=Australian Department of the Parliamentary Library |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317225114/https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp0203/03rp11 |archive-date=17 March 2017 |access-date=2021-10-19}}</ref>
+When a referendum question is carried, the amending bill is presented for [[royal assent]] by the governor-general.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Bennett |first=Scott |year=2003 |title=The Politics of Constitutional Amendment |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp0203/03rp11 |journal=Research Paper No. 11 2002–03 |publisher=Australian Department of the Parliamentary Library |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317225114/https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp0203/03rp11 |archive-date=17 March 2017 |access-date=2021-10-19}}</ref>
-=== Territories ===
+===Territories===
 Prior to the [[1977 Australian referendum (Referendums)|1977 referendum]], only electors in the six states could vote at a referendum. Since the 1977 amendment was carried, voters of [[States_and_territories_of_Australia#Territories|the territories]] have been eligible to vote in referendums. Territory votes are now counted towards the national total but the territories do not count as states for the purpose of the requirement for a majority of states.<ref name="Handbook results"/>
-=== Other aspects ===
+===Alteration of states===
+[[Section 123 of the Constitution of Australia|Section 123 of the Constitution]] also requires that where the "limits of the State" are proposed to be altered by the relevant state and federal parliaments, the approval of a majority of the electors of that state is also required. It has been argued that this provision is not limited to proposed alterations of state boundaries, but may also extend to the acquisition of land by the Commonwealth under section 51(xxxi).<ref>{{cite journal |last=Brown |first=A. J |year=2007 |title=When does property become territory? Nuclear waste, federal land acquisition and constitutional requirements for state consent |url=https://www8.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AdelLawRw/2007/7.pdf |journal=Adelaide Law Review |volume=7 |pages=113-138}}</ref>
+===Other aspects===
 Voting has been compulsory in Australia since 1924.<ref>{{cite web |title=Electoral Backgrounder: Compulsory voting |url=https://www.aec.gov.au/About_AEC/Publications/backgrounders/compulsory-voting.htm |publisher=Australian Electoral Commission |access-date=14 September 2018}}</ref>
 Non-constitutional plebiscites, are conducted by the government to decide a matter relating to ordinary [[statute]] law, an advisory question of policy, or as a prelude to the submission of a formal referendum question, rather than a binding and entrenched alteration (amendment) to the Constitution. Plebiscites can offer a variety of options, rather than a simple yes/no question. Four national plebiscites have been held as of 2017. Unlike in constitutional referendums, voting in previous plebiscites has been optional.<ref>{{cite web |title=Is it compulsory to vote in a plebiscite? |url=https://questions.peo.gov.au/questions/is-it-compulsory-to-vote-in-a-plebiscite/22 |website=Parliamentary Education Office |access-date=14 September 2018}}</ref>
-In 1998, the [[Howard government]] amended the [[Flags Act 1953]] to require a plebiscite to change the [[Flag of Australia]].<ref>{{cite Legislation AU|Cth|num_act|faa1998141|Flags Amendment Act 1998|3}}</ref> There is some debate over whether such legislation is legally enforceable, and a new parliament could simply amend or repeal the legislation at any time.<ref>{{cite Hansard |jurisdiction=Commonwealth of Australia |house=House of Representatives |title=Flags Amendment Bill 1996 |url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansardr%2F1996-08-22%2F0038%22 |speaker=Laurie Fergusson |date=22 August 1996 |page=3562}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author=Evans, S |title=Why is the Constitution Binding? Authority, Obligation and the Role of the People |journal=Adelaide Law Review |year=2004 |url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AdelLawRw/2004/6.html}} (2004) 25 [[Adelaide Law Review]] 103 at p. 121.</ref>
+In 1998, the [[Howard government]] amended the ''[[Flags Act 1953]]'' to require a plebiscite to change the [[Flag of Australia]].<ref>{{cite Legislation AU|Cth|num_act|faa1998141|Flags Amendment Act 1998|3}}</ref> There is some debate over whether such legislation is legally enforceable, and a new parliament could simply amend or repeal the legislation at any time.<ref>{{cite Hansard |jurisdiction=Commonwealth of Australia |house=House of Representatives |title=Flags Amendment Bill 1996 |url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansardr%2F1996-08-22%2F0038%22 |speaker=Laurie Fergusson |date=22 August 1996 |page=3562}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author=Evans, S |title=Why is the Constitution Binding? Authority, Obligation and the Role of the People |journal=Adelaide Law Review |year=2004 |url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AdelLawRw/2004/6.html}} (2004) 25 [[Adelaide Law Review]] 103 at p. 121.</ref>
 ===Success rate===
-Australians have rejected most proposals for constitutional amendments, approving only 8 out of 45 referendums submitted to them since federation. Noting the difficulty of the referendum process, then Prime Minister [[Robert Menzies]] said in 1951, "The truth of the matter is that to get an affirmative vote from the Australian people on a referendum proposal is one of the labours of Hercules."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Craig|first1=John|title=Australian Politics: A Source Book|date=1993|publisher=Harcourt Brace|isbn=9780729513272|page=39|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s8QMAAAAYAAJ|language=en}}</ref>
+Australians have rejected most proposals for constitutional amendments, approving only 8 out of 45 referendums submitted to them since federation. Noting the difficulty of the referendum process, then prime minister [[Robert Menzies]] said in 1951: "The truth of the matter is that to get an affirmative vote from the Australian people on a referendum proposal is one of the labours of Hercules."<ref>{{cite book|last1=Craig|first1=John|title=Australian Politics: A Source Book|date=1993|publisher=Harcourt Brace|isbn=9780729513272|page=39|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s8QMAAAAYAAJ|language=en}}</ref>
 Of forty-five referendums, there have been five instances – in [[1937 Australian referendum (Aviation)|1937]], twice in [[1946 Australian referendum|1946]], and once each in [[1977 Australian referendum (Simultaneous Elections)|1977]] and [[1984 Australian referendum (Terms of Senators)|1984]] – where a national ''Yes'' vote has been achieved but failed to win a majority of states. In three of these instances, the referendum received a majority in three states. The converse situation, where there is a majority of states but not an overall majority, has not yet occurred.<ref name="Handbook results">Handbook of the 44th Parliament (2014) {{cite web |url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22handbook%2Fnewhandbook%2F2014-10-31%2F0048%22 |title=Part 5 - Referendums and Plebiscites - Constitutional referendums |publisher=[[Parliamentary Library of Australia]]}}</ref>
@@ Line 37: / Line 39: @@
 Apart from [[1937 Australian referendum (Aviation)|1937]], in which Victoria and Queensland were the only two states in favour, only these cases have followed a consistent pattern: a ''Yes'' vote in the two most populous states, New South Wales and Victoria, and a ''No'' vote in most or all of the other states. The rejection of these referendums was due to the less populous states voting contrary to the most populous states.<ref name="Handbook results"/>
-A contributing factor to the predominance of the ''No'' vote comes from the unwillingness of the Australian voters to extend the powers of the Federal government. Although none of the votes was over additional powers over commerce and industry granted to the government, at least two successful referendums can be characterised as giving the Commonwealth more powers: in 1946, the Commonwealth was given power to make laws with respect to a range of health and welfare services; and in 1967, the Commonwealth was given a power to make laws with respect to [[Aboriginal Australians]]. The government hoped that support for the aboriginal law would encourage electors to vote yes for the second referendum submitted at the same time, which would have abolished the nexus between the numbers of members in each House.<ref>{{cite web|title=The 1967 Referendum—history and myths|url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/library/prspub/JTZM6/upload_binary/jtzm62.pdf|publisher=Parliamentary Library|access-date=17 February 2018|pages=8|date=2 May 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cabinet decision, 1967|url=http://indigenousrights.net.au/civil_rights/the_referendum,_1957-67/cabinet_decision,_1967|website=Collaborating for Indigenous Rights|access-date=17 February 2018}}</ref> This second law was not approved by the electors.<ref name="Handbook results"/>
+A contributing factor to the predominance of the ''No'' vote comes from the unwillingness of the Australian voters to extend the powers of the federal government. Although none of the votes was over additional powers over commerce and industry granted to the government, at least two successful referendums can be characterised as giving the Commonwealth more powers: in 1946, the Commonwealth was given power to make laws with respect to a range of health and welfare services; and in 1967, the Commonwealth was given a power to make laws with respect to [[Indigenous Australians]]. The government hoped that support for this amendment would encourage electors to vote yes for the second referendum submitted at the same time, which would have abolished the nexus between the numbers of members in each House.<ref>{{cite web|title=The 1967 Referendum—history and myths|url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/library/prspub/JTZM6/upload_binary/jtzm62.pdf|publisher=Parliamentary Library|access-date=17 February 2018|pages=8|date=2 May 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Cabinet decision, 1967|url=http://indigenousrights.net.au/civil_rights/the_referendum,_1957-67/cabinet_decision,_1967|website=Collaborating for Indigenous Rights|access-date=17 February 2018}}</ref> However, this second law was not approved by the electors.<ref name="Handbook results"/>
 ==List of referendums and plebiscites==
+Each question asked electors to answer "Yes" or "No", except for the national song plebiscite where electors were asked to choose between four songs.<ref name="Handbook plebiscites">Handbook of the 44th Parliament (2014) {{cite web |url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22handbook%2Fnewhandbook%2F2014-10-31%2F0050%22 |title=Part 5 - Referendums and Plebiscites - Plebiscite results |publisher=[[Parliamentary Library of Australia]]}}</ref>
+Additionally, legislation authorising [[Proposed 2013 Australian constitutional referendum|a referendum to allow the federal government to directly fund local councils]] passed in 2013, however the government decided not to proceed with a vote.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal |last1=Brown |first1=JA |last2=Kildea |first2=Paul |date=2016 |title=The Referendum that Wasn't: Constitutional Recognition of Local Government and the Australian Federal Reform Dilemma |url=https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au/bitstream/handle/10072/101051/KildeaPUB2907.pdf |journal=Federal Law Review|volume=44 |pages=143–166 |doi=10.1177/0067205X1604400106 |hdl=10072/101051 |s2cid=157713287 }}</ref>
-Each question asked electors to answer "Yes" or "No", except for the National Song plebiscite where electors were asked to choose between four songs.<ref name="Handbook plebiscites">Handbook of the 44th Parliament (2014) {{cite web |url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22handbook%2Fnewhandbook%2F2014-10-31%2F0050%22 |title=Part 5 - Referendums and Plebiscites - Plebiscite results |publisher=[[Parliamentary Library of Australia]]}}</ref>
-Additonally, legislation authorising [[Proposed 2013 Australian constitutional referendum|a referendum to allow the federal government to directly fund local councils]] passed in 2013, however the government decided not to proceed with a vote.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal |last1=Brown |first1=JA |last2=Kildea |first2=Paul |date=2016 |title=The Referendum that Wasn't: Constitutional Recognition of Local Government and the Australian Federal Reform Dilemma |url=https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au/bitstream/handle/10072/101051/KildeaPUB2907.pdf |journal=Federal Law Review|volume=44 |pages=143–166 |doi=10.1177/0067205X1604400106 |hdl=10072/101051 |s2cid=157713287 }}</ref>
 ===Results of referendums===
 <!-- Use the `yes` and `no` templates for referendum results, whether a majority of states assented, and assent results for each state. Use `style="background: #CFC; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center"` and `backgroun: #FDD;` for states and territories which contribute to the national vote but NOT to the requirement for a majority in a majority of states. -->
 <!-- Feel free to add interesting facts to the table notes -->
@@ Line 56: / Line 56: @@
 ! align="right" | No.
 ! align="left" | Name
-! National Voters
+! National voters
 ! States
 ! algin="center" | [[New South Wales|NSW]]
@@ Line 64: / Line 64: @@
 ! align="center" | [[Western Australia|WA]]
 ! align="center" | [[Tasmania|TAS]] {{efn|[[Tasmania]] is the hardest state to gain majority assent in, with residents assenting to 10 constitutional amendments (the mean state assents to 17 amendments).}}
-! align="center" | [[Australian Capital Territory|ACT]] {{efn|name=efn1|Residents of the [[Australian Capital Territory]] and [[Northern Territory]] could not vote in referendums until the passing of the [[1977 Australian referendum (Referendums)|1977 Referendums Constitutional Amendment]]. As of 2023, the votes of those territories are counted in the national total, but not toward the count of states which have received a majority.}}
+! align="center" | [[Australian Capital Territory|ACT]] {{efn|name=efn1|Residents of the [[Australian Capital Territory]] and [[Northern Territory]] could not vote in referendums until the passing of the [[1977 Australian referendum (Referendums)|1977 Referendums Constitutional Amendment]]. The votes of those territories are counted in the national total, but not toward the count of states which have received a majority.}}
 ! align="center" | [[Northern Territory|NT]] {{efn|name=efn1}}
 |-
@@ Line 658: / Line 658: @@
 | style="background: #FDD; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center" | 38.52%
 |-
-|[[2023_Australian_Indigenous_Voice_referendum|2023]] {{efn|Results for this referendum are preliminary, and percentages may change, however the result is very likely not to change.}}
+|[[2023_Australian_Indigenous_Voice_referendum|2023]]
 | align="right" | 45
 |{{no|[[2023_Australian_Indigenous_Voice_referendum|Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice]]|align="left"}}
-| {{No|39.31%}}
+| {{No|39.94%}}
 | {{No|0:6}}
-| {{no|40.44%}}
+| {{no|41.04%}}
-| {{no|45.03%}}
+| {{no|45.85%}}
-| {{no|31.07%}}
+| {{no|31.79%}}
-| {{no|35.38%}}
+| {{no|35.83%}}
-| {{no|36.08%}}
+| {{no|36.73%}}
-| {{no|40.68%}}
+| {{no|41.06%}}
-| style="background: #CFC; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center"| 60.80%
+| style="background: #CFC; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center"| 61.29%
-| style="background: #FDD; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center" | 39.52%
+| style="background: #FDD; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center" | 39.70%
 |}
 {{notelist}}
 ===Results of plebiscites===
+The four plebiscites were all non-binding polls and not referendums to change the constitution. Consequently, the majority of states requirement was not applicable.
 {| class="wikitable sortable"
-|+<ref name="Handbook plebiscites"/>
+|+<ref name="Handbook plebiscites" />
 |-
 ! align="left" | Year
@@ Line 688: / Line 689: @@
 | align="right" |{{sort|11.1|–}}
 | align="left" |[[1916 Australian conscription referendum|Military Service]]
+| align="center" | 3:3{{hsp}}
-| align="center" | 3:3{{hsp}}<ref name="plebiscite">As this was a plebiscite not a referendum, there was no requirement for a majority of states.</ref>
 | {{No|48.39%}}
 | {{No}}
@@ Line 695: / Line 696: @@
 | align="right" |{{sort|11.2|–}}
 | align="left" |[[1917 Australian conscription referendum|Military Service]]
-| align="center" | 2:4{{hsp}}<ref name="plebiscite" />
+| align="center" | 2:4{{hsp}}
 | {{No|46.21%}}
 | {{No}}
@@ Line 701: / Line 702: @@
 |[[1977 Australian referendum|1977]]
 | align="right" |{{sort|36.1|–}}
-| align="left" |[[1977 Australian plebiscite (National Song)|National Song]]{{hsp}}{{refn|Choice of four songs. The song with the most votes was "[[Advance Australia Fair]]".<ref name="Handbook plebiscites"/>}}
+| align="left" |[[1977 Australian plebiscite (National Song)|National Song]]{{hsp}}
-| align="center" | 5:1{{hsp}}<ref name="plebiscite" />
+| align="center" | 5:1{{hsp}}
 | {{Yes|43.29%}}
+| {{Yes}}{{refn|The plebiscite was a choice between four songs. "[[Advance Australia Fair]]" received a plurality of votes, so the plebiscite carried despite the choice not receiving a majority.<ref name="Handbook plebiscites"/>}}
-| {{Yes}}
 |-
 |[[Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey|2017]]
 | align="right" |{{sort|44.1|–}}
 | align="left" |[[Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey|Australian Marriage Law]]
-| align="center" | 6:0{{hsp}}<ref name="survey">As this was a survey not a referendum, there was no requirement for a majority of states.</ref>
+| align="center" | 6:0{{hsp}}
 | {{Yes|61.60%}}
 | {{Yes}}
@@ Line 716: / Line 717: @@
 ==State and territory referendums==
 [[States and territories of Australia]] may also hold referendums. Certain examples are listed below.
@@ Line 741: / Line 741: @@
 ==References==
+===Specific references===
 {{Reflist}}
-==External links==
+===General references===
 Federal referendums
 * {{cite book |url=http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Committees?url=laca/inquiryinconch.htm |title=Select sources on constitutional change in Australia 1901–1997}} {{cite book |url=http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_representatives_Committees?url=laca/constitutionalchange/part2.pdf |title=Part 2 – History of Australian Referendums |isbn=0644484101 |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |date= 24 March 1997}} An Australian Parliament report, summarising the background, "yes" and "no" cases, and results, for each referendum up to 1988.
@@ Line 757: / Line 757: @@
 *{{cite web | title=Referendums and plebiscites | website=Parliamentary Education Office | url=https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/having-your-say/elections-and-voting/referendums-and-plebiscites/ }}
+== Further reading ==
+* {{Cite book |last=Williams |first=George |title=People Power: The History and Future of the Referendum in Australia |last2=Hume |first2=David |date=2010 |publisher=UNSW Press |isbn=978-1-74223-215-7 |location=Sydney, NSW |language=en}}
 {{Australian elections}}
 {{Constitution of Australia}}
 {{Politics of Australia}}
-[[Category:Referendums in Australia| ]]
+[[Category:Referendums in Australia]]
 [[Category:Australian constitutional law|Referendums]]
 [[Category:Constitutional amendments|Australia]]

v t e Federal elections and referendums in Australia
Federal elections	1901 1903 1906 1910 1913 1914 1917 1919 1922 1925 1928 1929 1931 1934 1937 1940 1943 1946 1949 1951 1953 1954 1955 1958 1961 1963 1964 1966 1967 1969 1970 1972 1974 1975 1977 1980 1983 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016 2019 2022 Nächste by-elections
Constitutional Convention	1997
Referendums	1906 1910 1911 1913 1916 1917 1919 1926 1928 1937 1944 1946 1948 1951 1967 1973 1974 1977 1984 1988 1999 2017 2023

v t e Politics of Australia
Commonwealth	Monarch Governor-General Prime Minister Cabinet (Shadow Cabinet) Executive Council Ministry Foreign relations Parliament House of Representatives Senate Opposition Leader High Court Lower Courts Constitution Statute of Westminster Australia Act
Federal elections	Pre-1972 1972 1974 1975 1977 1980 1983 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016 2019 2022 Nächste By-elections Referendums Timeline
State/territory governments	Governors and Administrators Premiers and Chief Ministers Parliaments and Assemblies State and Territory Shadow Cabinet NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT
State/territory elections	ACT 2020 Qld 2020 WA 2021 SA 2022 Vic 2022 NSW 2023 Tas 2024 NT 2024 ACT 2024 Qld 2024 WA 2025 SA 2026 Vic 2026 NSW 2027 Tas 2028 NT 2028 Timeline
Local government	New South Wales (list) Northern Territory (list) Queensland (list) South Australia (list) Tasmania (list) Victoria (list) Western Australia (list)
Political parties	Coalition (Liberal, National, Liberal National, Country Liberal) Centre Alliance Greens Katter Labor Lambie One Nation UAP Other parties Historical
Political terminology	Battlers Bjelkemander Branch stacking Casual vacancy Caucus revolt Chardonnay socialist Contempt of parliament Despatch box Donkey vote Dorothy Dixer Double dissolution Faceless men Forgotten People Group voting ticket Hardworking Families How-to-vote card Independent politicians Kirribilli agreement Langer vote Leadership spill Mortgage belt Nationalism Parliamentary secretary Playmander Pub test Quiet Australians Responsible government Stolen Generations Working Family Worm

Revision as of 01:09, 26 June 2024

Federal referendums

Constitutional provisions

Territories

Alteration of states

Other aspects

Success rate

List of referendums and plebiscites

Results of referendums

Results of plebiscites

State and territory referendums

See also

References

Specific references

General references

Further reading