Australian referendum, 1910 (Surplus Revenue)

The Constitution Alteration (Finance) 1909 was an Australian referendum which sought to alter the Australian Constitution to amend section 87 (the 'Braddon Clause') which was due to lapse in 1910. It was to add to the Constitution a financial agreement reached between the States and the Commonwealth to replace the section.

The referendum was held in the Australian referendum, 1910 in conjunction with the State Debts referendum, which received a Yes vote in 5 states and was carried. The referendums were held on the same day as the 1910 federal election, which Alfred Deakin's Commonwealth Liberal Party lost to Andrew Fisher's Labour Party, with Fisher being sworn in as Prime Minister on 29 April.

Question

Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled 'Constitution Alteration (Finance) 1909'?

Results

Result
State On

rolls

 Ballots

issued

 For Against Informal Result
% %
New South Wales 834,662 512,802 227,650 47.35% 253,107 52.65% 31,411 No
Victoria 703,699 468,535 200,165 45.26% 242,119 54.74% 24,299 No
Queensland 279,031 170,634 87,130 54.58% 72,516 45.42% 9,489 Yes
South Australia 207,655 110,503 49,352 49.06% 51,250 50.94% 9,679 No
Western Australia 134,979 83,893 49,050 61.74% 30,392 38.26% 3,890 Yes
Tasmania 98,456 57,609 32,167 59.99% 21,454 40.01% 3,669 Yes
Total for Commonwealth 2,258,482 1,403,976 645,514 49.04% 670,838 50.96% 82,437 No
Obtained majority in three States and an overall minority of 25,324 votes.
Not carried

See also