Australian referendum, 1944

The 1944 Australian Referendum was held on 19 August 1944. It contained one referendum question.

Proposed Amendment

Constitution Alteration (Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights) 1944 was known as the "14 powers", or the "14 points referendum". It sought to give the federal government power over a period of five years to legislate on a wide variety of matters.

The 14 Powers

The powers the government sought to gain included:

Many of these powers also included limitations as safeguards against the abuse of legislative power.

Restrictions on Government power

Freedom of speech and Freedom of Expression were restrictions on state and government power which the commonwealth sought to legislate on.

The government also sought to apply the right to freedom of religion over state governments. [1]

Referendum

All of these points (the proposed heads of power and restrictions on power) where put to referendum in the form of a single question. It is notable that the points referring to corporations, trusts, combines, and monopolies had been previously put to referendum, and had not been carried.

The 14 proposals covered the participation of the federal government in postwar reconstruction, including control over employment, profiteering and prices, and related subjects. [2]

For and Against

The proposal was put forward and supported by the Australian Labor Party government. It was opposed by the federal opposition (United Australia Party and the Country Party).

The Prime Minister John Curtin gave his broadcast to the nation on 25 July 1944, as follows.[3] The Prime Minister said to abandon wartime controls on the declaration of peace would cause disorganization to the social system and destroy the capacity of the system to meet the need of the first few disturbed years after the war. [4]

The Country Party leader, Arthur Fadden, gave his broadcast against the motion, as follows.[5]

Question

Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled 'Constitution Alteration (Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights) 1944'?

Results

Result
State On

rolls

 Ballots issued For Against Invalid
% %
New South Wales 1,758,166 1,694,119 759,211 %45.44 911,680 %54.56 23,228
Victoria 1,266,662 1,227,571 597,848 %49.31 614,487 %50.69 15,236
Queensland 633,907 599,568 216,262 %36.52 375,862 %63.48 7,444
South Australia 403,133 392,443 196,294 %50.64 191,317 %49.36 4,832
Western Australia 278,722 272,339 140,399 %52.25 128,303 %47.75 3,637
Tasmania 143,359 139,411 53,386 %38.92 83,769 %61.08 2,256
Armed Forces*   417,082 218,452   195,148   3,482
Total for Commonwealth 4,483,949 4,325,451 1,963,400 %45.99 2,305,418 %54.01 56,633
Obtained majority in two States and an overall minority of 342,018 votes.
Not carried

* Armed forces totals are also included in their respective states.

See also

Curtin Government

Cited references

External links

http://www.aph.gov.au/binaries/library/intguide/law/docs/1944referendumbills.pdf

See also

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