Australian referendum, 1911 (Monopolies)

Constitution Alteration (Monopolies) 1910 was an Australian referendum held in the 1911 referendums which sought to alter the Australian Constitution to give the Commonwealth power to nationalise any corporation deemed by both houses of parliament to be a monopoly.

Question

Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled 'Constitution Alteration (Monopolies) 1910'?

The proposal was to add section 51a to the Constitution to read as follows:[1]

51a. When each House of the Parliament, in the same session, has by Resolution declared that the industry or business of producing manufacturing or supplying any specified goods, or of supplying any specified services, is the subject of a monopoly, the Parliament shall have power to make laws for carrying on the industry or business by or under the control of the Commonwealth, and acquiring for that purpose on just terms any property used in connexion with the industry or business.

Results

The referendum was not approved by a majority of voters, and a majority of the voters was achieved in only one state, Western Australia.[2][3]

Result
State On

rolls

Ballots

issued

For Against Informal Result
% %
New South Wales 868,194 384,188 138,237 %36.72 238,177 %63.28 7,618 No
Victoria 723,377 448,566 171,453 %38.95 268,743 %61.05 8,041 No
Queensland 293,003 162,135 70,259 %44.26 88,472 %55.74 3,200 No
South Australia 216,027 133,802 50,835 %38.42 81,479 %61.58 1,344 No
Western Australia 138,697 61,482 33,592 %55.84 26,561 %44.16 898 Yes
Tasmania 102,326 58,053 24,292 %42.43 32,960 %57.57 753 No
Total for Commonwealth 2,341,624 1,248,226 488,668 %39.89 736,392 %60.11 21,854 No
Obtained majority in one State and an overall minority of 247,724 votes.
Not carried

Discussion

This was the first of many times that similar questions were asked at a referendum. On every occasion the public decided not to vest power in the government over monopolies.

See also

References

  1. "Notification of the receipt of a Writ for a Referendum" (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 19 March 1911. p. 761 via www.legislation.gov.au..
  2. "Result of the Referendum" (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia Gazette (49). 21 June 1911. p. 1580 via www.legislation.gov.au..
  3. Handbook of the 44th Parliament "Part 5 - Referendums and Plebiscites - Referendum results". Parliamentary Library of Australia. 1 August 2014..

Further reading

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