1988 Australian referendum (Local Government)

Unsuccessful constitutional proposal October 2021 October 2021 1988 Australian Local Government referendum A Proposed Law: To alter the Constitution to recognise local government.Do you approve of this proposed alteration? Australia 1988 09 03 y 3,163,488 6,248,166 126,071 10,362,959 Not carried, A majority "no" vote nationally and in all six states. 250px federal electoral division Note: Saturation of colour denotes strength of vote The Constitution Alteration (Local Government) Bill 1988,Cth bill cagb1988464 Constitution Alteration (Local Government) Bill 1988 was an unsuccessful proposal to alter the Australian Constitution to require that the states maintain a system of democratically elected local government. The amendment would have prevented states from abolishing their local governments or removing elections for them entirely if they so chose to do. Commonwealth of Australia CONSTITUTION ALTERATION (LOCAL GOVERNMENT) 1988: Second Reading https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/chamber/hansardr/1988-05-10/toc_pdf/H%201988-05-10.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf#search=%22chamber/hansardr/1988-05-10/0031%22 House of Representatives 10 May 1988 2389 2390 Lionel Bowen Attorney-General It was put to voters for approval in a referendum held on 3 September 1988. The structure of the Constitution primarily deals with the federal level and its relationship with the states, and therefore leaves the issue of local government to the states. The failure of this did not make local government unconstitutional, state parliaments are still free to establish systems of local governments through legislation under section 107 of the Federal Constitution. Each state has provided for constitutional recognition in its respective state constitution.AAP FactCheck Third-tier government claim is first rate nonsense https://www.aap.com.au/factcheck/third-tier-government-claim-is-first-rate-nonsense/ aap Australian Associated Press 30 January 2025 The "no" campaign in 1988 argued that this change would undermine states' rights, i.e. that it would move – or make it possible to move – some power from state governments to local governments. Question A Proposed Law: To alter the Constitution to recognise local government. Do you approve this proposed alteration? Proposed Changes to the Constitution The proposal was to add a new provision to the Constitution as follows (substituted text in bold):https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26132459 Notification of particulars of writs for referendums Commonwealth of Australia Gazette Special S212 25 July 1988 15 November 2019 3 Trove 119A. Each State shall provide for the establishment and continuance of a system of local government, with local government bodies elected in accordance with the laws of the State and empowered to administer, and to make by-laws for, their respective areas in accordance with the laws of the State. Results + ResultHandbookLocal Government results https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26133023 Result of referendum with respect to Local Government Commonwealth of Australia Gazette S324 27 October 1988 2021-10-23 3 Trove State Electoral roll Ballots issued For Against Informal Vote % Vote %New South Wales 3,564,856 3,297,246 1,033,364 31.70 2,226,529 68.30 37,353Victoria 2,697,096 2,491,183 882,020 36.06 1,563,957 63.94 45,206Queensland 1,693,247 1,552,293 590,868 38.31 951,332 61.6910,093South Australia 937,974 873,511 256,421 29.85 602,499 70.15 14,591Western Australia 926,636 845,209 247,830 29.76 584,863 70.24 12,516Tasmania 302,324 282,785 76,707 27.50 202,214 72.50 3,864Australian Capital Territory Territory 166,131 149,128 58,755 39.78 88,945 60.22 1,428Northern Territory Territory 74,695 56,370 21,449 38.80 33,826 61.20 1,095 Total for Commonwealth 10,362,959 9,537,725 3,163,488 33.61 6,248,166 66.39 126,071 Results Obtained a majority in no state and an overall minority of 2,335,741 votes. Not carried Discussion This was the second unsuccessful referendum on the subject of Local Government. The 1974 referendum on Local Government Bodies sought to allow the Commonwealth to grant financial assistance to local government bodies, and to borrow money on their behalf.Handbook See also 1988 Australian referendum Referendums in Australia Politics of Australia History of 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 Territory Following the 1977 referendum, votes cast in the territories count towards the national total, but are not counted toward any state total. Further reading http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_Representatives_Committees?url=laca/inquiryinconch.htm Select sources on constitutional change in Australia 1901-1997 http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/House_of_representatives_Committees?url=laca/constitutionalchange/part2.pdf Part 2 - History of Australian Referendums 0644484101 Commonwealth of Australia 24 March 1997 Bennett, Scott 2003 http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp0203/03rp11 Research Paper no. 11 2002–03: The Politics of Constitutional Amendment Parliamentary Library of Australia Canberra Australian Electoral Commission (2007) Referendum Dates and Results 1906 – Present AEC, Canberra. 1988 Category:1988 referendums Referendum Local Governments 1988 Local Government Category:Proposed laws of Australia