1944 Australian Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights referendum

Unsuccessful referendum in Australia October 2021 October 2021 1944 Australian Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights referendum Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled —"Constitution Alteration (Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights) 1944" ? 1944 08 19 y Australia 1,963,400 2,305,418 56,633 4,483,949 Amendment Failed The Constitution Alteration (Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights) Bill 1944 was an unsuccessful proposal to alter the Australian Constitution to give the Commonwealth an additional 14 powers for a period of five years, with Prime Minister John Curtin saying that maintaining wartime controls was necessary for Australia to re-adjust to peacetime conditions. It was put to voters for approval in an Australian referendum held on 19 August 1944. Background In 1942 Attorney-General H. V. Evatt introduced the Constitution Alteration (War Aims and Reconstruction) Bill 1942 to parliament to give plenary power to the federal government to legislate on any matter it declared relevant to achieving 'economic security and social justice'. The bill was met with heavy opposition, and the Curtin government decided to instead hold a convention to reach consensus on the bill and on the federal powers needed for post-war reconstruction. The convention decided against amending the Constitution, agreeing unanimously that the states would instead use their referral powers to temporarily give the federal government the authority to legislate in 14 specific areas.Louat Frank 1943 The Unconventional Convention https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/20631080?origin=crossref The Australian Quarterly en 15 1 7 10.2307/20631080 subscription After only some of the states passed the necessary legislation to give effect to this decision, Evatt introduced new legislation in 1944 for the agreed powers from the convention to be conferred through a constitutional amendment, requiring a referendum. He also amended the bill to include a guaranteed freedom of speech in the proposal, and to expand the constitution's freedom of religion provision to the states.Beck Luke Religious Freedom and the Australian Constitution: Origins and Future 2018 Routledge 978-1-351-25775-6 ICLARS Series on Law and Religion Ser Milton 137-139 Proposed amendment The referendum 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,https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206780230 Referendum Proposals: Meaning of the Fourteen Points The Age 21 June 1944 4 July 2018 2 Trove including control over employment, profiteering and prices, and related subjects.19 June 1944 Opening of Campaign. Official Booklet on Referendum https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27939328 4 July 2018 The Sydney Morning Herald 4 Trove The points referring to aviation, employment, marketing, trusts, corporations, combines and monopolies had previously been the subject of referendums advanced by both Labor and conservative parties that had not been carried. The 14 powers The powers the government sought to gain through the referendum included: The rehabilitation of former servicemen National health Family allowances Employment and unemployment The ability to legislate for 'The People Of The Aboriginal Race' Corporations, or combines Foreign investment Trust laws Monopolies Air transport Uniformity of railway gauges Marketing of commodities Manufacturing (production) and sales of goods National infrastructure (subject to state approval) Many of these powers also included limitations as safeguards against the abuse of legislative power. Restrictions on government power Freedom of speech Freedom of speech and freedom of expression were restrictions on state and government power that the commonwealth sought to legislate on. Freedom of religion The government also sought to apply the right to freedom of religion to state governments.http://www.aph.gov.au/binaries/library/intguide/law/docs/1944referendumbills.pdf Constitution Alteration (Post-war Reconstruction) Bill 1944 (Cth). Question The referendum was put in a single question: Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled 'Constitution Alteration (Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights) 1944'? 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). For Prime Minister John Curtin gave his broadcast to the nation on 25 July 1944. 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.https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189868685 Prime Minister states case why referendum necessary The Telegraph 26 July 1944 4 July 2018 6 Trove Against The Country Party leader, Arthur Fadden, gave his broadcast against the motion, stating: Its proposal means that in peacetime, you will work under government compulsion, you will eat and wear what the bureaucrats ration out to you: you will live in mass-produced government dwellings: and your children will work wherever the bureaucrats tell them to work! If granted nothing can be made, produced, built or grown without permission. Everything that is grown or made, carried or carted, sold or exchanged will be under government control. A yes vote would enable the Government to implement Labor's policy of socialization. Nationalization of Industry would follow.https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2684364 The Referendum: "Socialisation" if carried The Canberra Times 25 July 1944 4 July 2018 3 Trove Results Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled 'Constitution Alteration (Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights) 1944'? + ResultHandbook State Electoral roll Ballots issued For Against Informal Vote % Vote % 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 forcesArmed forces totals are also included in their respective states.   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 Results Obtained majority in two states and an overall minority of 342,018 votes. Not carried See also Curtin government Politics of Australia Referendums in Australia References Handbook Handbook of the 44th Parliament (2014) http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22handbook%2Fnewhandbook%2F2014-10-31%2F0049%22 Part 5 - Referendums and Plebiscites - Referendum results Parliamentary Library of Australia Category:1944 referendums 1944 Referendum Category:August 1944 in Australia