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1946 Australian referendum (Industrial Employment)

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Field	Value
name	Australian Industrial Employment referendum, 1946
country	Australia
title	Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled —
"Constitution Alteration (Industrial Employment) 1946" ?
date
voting_system
outcome	Proposal rejected due to gaining a majority in only 3 of the 6 states.
map_size	220
map_caption	Majority in each state.
Queensland
Victoria
Western AustraliaNew South Wales
South Australia
Tasmania

"Constitution Alteration (Industrial Employment) 1946" ? Queensland Victoria Western AustraliaNew South Wales South Australia Tasmania The Constitution Alteration (Industrial Employment) Bill 1946, was an unsuccessful proposal to alter the Australian Constitution to give the Commonwealth power to make laws regulating employment in industry. It was put to voters for approval in a referendum held on 28 September 1946. The proposals was narrowly rejected, with a minority of 1.80% in the fourth state, South Australia.

Question

Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled 'Constitution Alteration (Industrial Employment) 1946'?

Proposed Changes to the Constitution

The proposal was to insert into section 51 that the Parliament have power to make laws with respect to::(xxxiv.A.) Terms and conditions of employment in industry, but not so as to authorize any form of industrial conscription;

Results

State	Electoral roll	Ballots issued	For	Against	Informal	Vote
1,858,749	1,757,150	833,822	778,280	48.28	145,048
1,345,537	1,261,374	609,355	560,773	47.92	91,246
660,316	612,170	243,242	43.42	316,970	51,958
420,361	399,301	179,153	48.20	192,516	27,632
300,337	279,066	142,186	112,881	44.26	23,999
154,553	144,880	52,517	41.37	74,440	17,923
	37,021	20,445	55.23	15,239	41.16	1337
4,739,853	4,453,941	2,060,275	2,035,860	49.70	357,806
Obtained majority in three states and an overall majority of 24,415 votes. Not carried

Discussion

This was the sixth occasion in which the commonwealth sought power to regulate terms and conditions of employment, rather than using the conciliation and arbitration power, having been unsuccessful in 1911, 1913, 1919, 1926 and 1944.

For a referendum to approve an amendment of the constitution, it must ordinarily achieve a double majority: approved by a majority of states (i.e., four of the six states) as well as a majority of those voting nationwide. This was the third of five referendums () to achieve an overall majority, but fail the requirement of a majority of states.

References

{{url. https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/legislation/billshistorical/HBILL194345V200055/upload_binary/055 - CONSTITUTION ALTERATION (INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYMENT) Bill 1946.pdf. ''Constitution Alteration (Industrial Employment) Bill'' 1946 (Cth).
{{Cite Legislation AU. Cth. act. coaca430. Constitution. 128 Mode of altering the Constitution.
"Part 5 - Referendums and Plebiscites - Constitutional referendums". [[Parliamentary Library of Australia]].

Info: Wikipedia Source

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