Australian referendum, 1951
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The 1951 Australian Referendum was held on 22 September 1951. It contained one referendum question.
- (23) Communists and Communism
Contents |
[edit] Proposed Amendment
Constitution Alteration (Powers to deal with Communists and Communism) 1951 sought increase the power of the government to make laws with respect to Communists and Communism.
[edit] Results
Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled 'Constitution Alteration (Powers to deal with Communists and Communism) 1951'?
| State | On
rolls |
Ballots
issued |
For | Against | Informal | ||
| % | % | ||||||
| New South Wales | 1,944,219 | 1,861,147 | 865,838 | %47.17 | 969,868 | %52.83 | 25,441 |
| Victoria | 1,393,556 | 1,326,024 | 636,819 | %48.71 | 670,513 | %51.29 | 18,692 |
| Queensland | 709,328 | 675,916 | 373,156 | %55.76 | 296,019 | %44.24 | 6,741 |
| South Australia | 442,983 | 427,253 | 198,971 | %47.29 | 221,763 | %52.71 | 6,519 |
| Western Australia | 319,383 | 305,653 | 164,989 | %55.09 | 134,497 | %44.91 | 6,167 |
| Tasmania | 164,868 | 158,596 | 78,154 | %50.26 | 77,349 | %49.74 | 3,093 |
| Armed Forces* | 9,472 | 6,478 | 2,917 | 82 | |||
| Total for Commonwealth | 4,974,337 | 4,754,589 | 2,317,927 | %49.44 | 2,370,009 | %50.56 | 66,653 |
| Obtained majority in three States and an overall
minority of 52 082 votes. |
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| Not
carried |
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* Armed forces totals are also included in their respective states.
[edit] Discussion
The Menzies government tried to ban the Communist Party, by legislation that was declared constitutionally invalid by the High Court. Following this defeat, the government sponsored this referendum in order to attempt to overcome these constitutional obstacles. The referendum question was opposed, not surprisingly, by the Communist Party. It was also opposed by the Australian Labor Party, and even the Young Liberals, on the grounds of it restricting freedoms of speech and association.
[edit] See also
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