1992 Australian Capital Territory electoral system referendum

Territorial referendum in Australia April 2022 April 2026 1992 Australian Capital Territoryelectoral system referendum Australian Capital Territory Please put the number '1' in one of the boxes below to show which electoral system you believe should be used to elect members of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. EITHERA proportional representation (Hare–Clark) systemORA single member electorates systemA Referendum for a new electoral system for the ACT Legislative Assembly https://www.elections.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/2471057/1992-referendum-for-and-against-case-booklet.pdf Australian Electoral Commission 24 October 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20241004001622/https://www.elections.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/2471057/1992-referendum-for-and-against-case-booklet.pdf 4 October 2024 15 February 1992 Proportional Representation (Hare–Clark) Single-member electorates 101,936 54,165 9,203 184,405 A referendum was held on 15 February 1992, asking voters in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) to choose their electoral system. The referendum took place alongside the 1992 ACT election. Voters were asked to choose between the proportional Hare–Clark system (a form of single transferable voting) or Alternative Voting (single-member electorates using ranked voting). The winning option would replace the list PR system using d'Hondt, which had been introduced at the 1989 election). By a comfortable margin, voters chose Hare–Clark, which came into effect at the 1995 ACT election. A second referendum, also held in 1995, saw voters support entrenching the principles of Hare–Clark.Voting referendum https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/133336509 The Canberra Times 27 October 2024 22 18 February 19951995 Referendum 9 July 2024 https://www.elections.act.gov.au/elections/referendums/1995-referendum Elections ACT 27 October 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20241007133010/https://www.elections.act.gov.au/elections/referendums/1995-referendum 7 October 2024 Background Under Hare–Clark, the ACT would be divided into two five-member electorates and one seven-member electorate (these became Brindabella, Ginninderra and Molonglo respectively). The only other Australian jurisdiction using Hare–Clark was Tasmania, which used the system for its lower house. Under single-member electorates, 17 different seats would be created, each electing one MLA. This was the system used in the lower houses of all Australian states (excluding Tasmania, which used it for its upper house) and the federal House of Representatives.Electoral systems of Australia's parliaments and local government https://www.ecanz.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-10/1-electoral-systems.pdf Electoral Council of Australia and New Zealand 14 September 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240627122450/https://www.ecanz.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-10/1-electoral-systems.pdf 27 June 2024 October 2021 Campaign Beginning in 1990, ongoing debate took place about the ACT's electoral system.Mason Leanne Alliance still credible next vote: Kaine https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122307450 The Canberra Times 23 October 2024 3 29 August 1990 Opinion polling in 1990 and 1991 showed single-member seats with a significant lead, including as high as 53% compared to 27% for Hare–Clark.Mason Leanne Canberra voters prefer single-member electorates https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122364198/13006004 The Canberra Times 24 October 2024 1 21 May 1991 However, this began to change as the referendum date approached. A January 1992 poll showed single-member seats with only a one-point lead, and in the final Canberra Times/Datacol poll conducted just days before the vote, Hare–Clark had taken the lead with 51% compared to 29% for single-member seats. Result Hare–Clark was comfortably chosen as the preferred system, with 65.3% of voters supporting it, while 34.7% voted in favour of single-member electorates.1992 Referendum 9 July 2024 https://www.elections.act.gov.au/elections/referendums/1992-referendum Elections ACT 24 October 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240711100032/https://www.elections.act.gov.au/elections/referendums/1992-referendum 11 July 2024 The result was projected on the night of the referendum, with Hare–Clark supporters declaring it as a victory for "people power".Lamberton Hugh Resounding 'yes' for Hare-Clark https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/133931226 The Canberra Times 24 October 2024 1 16 February 1992 The referendum, like the election, was conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). Endorsements Hare–Clark Political parties ACT Liberal Party Australian DemocratsLamberton Hugh Democrats call for early referendum on ACT poll https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122354162 The Canberra Times 24 October 2024 1 1 April 1991 Better Management TeamLamberton Hugh Five more groups join Hare-Clark fight https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118165536 The Canberra Times 24 October 2024 3 22 January 1992 Fair Elections CoalitionWarden Ian Single-member polls 'unfair' https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122254894 The Canberra Times 17 November 2024 3 17 April 1989Cumming Fia Time taken to obtain poll result ludicrous https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122259283 The Canberra Times 17 November 2024 9 3 May 1989Bird Megan D'Hondt unfair: election official https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/120850070 The Canberra Times 17 November 2024 1 5 September 1989 Michael Moore Independent GroupLamberton Hugh Hare-Clark favoured by Moore, Humphries https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/120871307 The Canberra Times 24 October 2024 4 9 January 1990 New Conservative Group New Left Party Residents RallyMason Leanne Almost tripartite unity on Hare-Clark https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122356400 The Canberra Times 24 October 2024 3 12 April 1991 Organisations Australian Conservation Foundation Proportional Representation Society of Australia The Wilderness Society Individuals Ted Mack (federal independent MP)Hare-Clark the only 'fair vote' https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/133930428 The Canberra Times 24 October 2024 4 12 February 1992 Malcolm Mackerras (political analyst and psephologist)Coelli Andree Vote on voting system backed https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131176349 The Canberra Times 17 November 2024 4 February 1990 Newspapers The Canberra TimesHare-Clark is better system https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118166641 The Canberra Times 27 October 2024 8 27 January 1992 Single-member Political parties ACT Labor PartyKaine endorses Hare-Clark pact https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122356655 The Canberra Times 24 October 2024 4 13 April 1991Lamberton Hugh Bipartisan blessing for Hare-Clark https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/133931631 The Canberra Times 24 October 2024 5 18 February 1992 Opinion polling Voting intention DateFirmInterviewmode SamplesizeVoting intention white Hare–Clark electoral system PR (Hare–Clark) white Single-member district Single-member Undecided 15 February 1992 1992 referendum 63.3% 34.7% — 14 February 1992 Michael Moore Independent GroupLamberton Hugh Independents do their own polling https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/133930825 The Canberra Times 24 October 2024 4 14 February 1992 Telephone 275 48% 29% 23% 6−11 February 1992 Canberra Times/DatacolLamberton Hugh Turnaround: Hare-Clark set to triumph https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/133930723 The Canberra Times 24 October 2024 1 14 February 1992About the poll https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/133930531 The Canberra Times 24 October 2024 1 13 February 1992 Telephone 1,333 51% 29% 20% 26 January 1992 Canberra Times/DatacolLamberton Hugh Voting gap closing https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118166330 The Canberra Times 24 October 2024 2 26 January 1992Vindication' for Hare-Clark https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118166576 The Canberra Times 24 October 2024 2 27 January 1992 Telephone 38% 39% 23% 15−20 December 1991 Canberra Times/DatacolSupport for Hare-Clark increasing https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122399313 The Canberra Times 24 October 2024 2 22 December 1991ABOUT THE POLL https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122399316 The Canberra Times 24 October 2024 2 22 December 1991 Telephone 915 31% 41% 28% 30 April−16 May 1991 Canberra Times/DatacolMason Leanne Canberra voters prefer single-member electorates https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122364198/13006004 The Canberra Times 24 October 2024 1 21 May 1991Mason Leanne What ACT voters prefer https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122364198/13006005 The Canberra Times 24 October 2024 2 21 May 1991ABOUT THE POLL https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122364261 The Canberra Times 24 October 2024 2 21 May 1991System will influence results https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122363763 The Canberra Times 24 October 2024 2 19 May 1991 Telephone 808 27% 53% 20% May 1991 ABC TelevisionPoll supports Tas-type vote https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122360687 The Canberra Times 24 October 2024 4 7 May 1991Thompson Nigel Phone-in polls are phoney https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122361887 The Canberra Times 24 October 2024 8 11 May 1991 Telephone (call-in) 600 67% 33% 18−24 August 1990 Canberra Times/DatacolAlliance still credible next vote: Kaine https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122307450 The Canberra Times 23 October 2024 3 29 August 1990Canberrans rate Assembly a poor performer on all fronts https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122307452 The Canberra Times 23 October 2024 3 29 August 1990 Telephone 601 20% 47% 33% Results by party affiliation DateFirmInterviewmode SamplesizeLaborLiberalOthersHCSMDKHCSMDKHCSMDK 6−11 February 1992 Canberra Times/Datacol Telephone 1,333 39% 44% 18% 61% 24% 15% 70% 19% 12% 26 January 1992 Canberra Times/Datacol Telephone 32.6% 48.0% 19.0% 44.0% 37.0% 18.0% 46.4% 33.5% 20.0% 15−20 December 1991 Canberra Times/Datacol Telephone 915 25% 53% 22% 37% 43% 20% 42% 33% 25% 30 April−16 May 1991 Canberra Times/Datacol Telephone 808 28% 59% 14% 28% 51% 21% 39% 46% 14% References External links Official referendum booklet (archived on 4 October 2024) Category:Referendums in the Australian Capital Territory AustralianCapitalTerritory AustralianCapitalTerritoryreferendum Referendum1992