1984 Australian referendum (Interchange of Powers)

1984 Australian referendum (Interchange of Powers)
1 December 1984 (1984-12-01)
An Act to enable the Commonwealth and the states voluntarily to refer powers to each other.

Do you approve of this proposed alteration?
OutcomeNot carried, A majority "no" vote nationally and in all six states.
Results
Choice
 Votes %
Yes 4,074,340 47.06%
No 4,583,070 52.94%
Valid votes 8,657,410 93.30%
Invalid or blank votes 621,634 6.70%
Total votes 9,279,044 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 9,866,266 94.05%
Note: Saturation of colour denotes strength of vote

The Constitution Alteration (Interchange of Powers) Bill 1984,[1] was an unsuccessful proposal to alter the Australian Constitution so that the states and the federal government could freely interchange powers at will. It was put to voters for approval in a referendum held on 1 December 1984.

Results

An Act to enable the Commonwealth and the States voluntarily to refer powers to each other.

Do you approve this proposed alteration?

Result [2]
State Electoral roll Ballots issued For Against Informal
Vote % Vote %
New South Wales 3,423,624 3,216,256 1,475,971 49.04 1,533,799 50.96 206,486
Victoria 2,617,291 2,475,891 1,139,565 49.86 1,146,136 50.14 190,190
Queensland 1,549,749 1,447,284 578,674 41.69 809,249 58.31 59,361
South Australia 908,424 856,226 355,588 45.94 418,433 54.06 82,205
Western Australia 858,763 806,637 336,184 44.28 423,022 55.72 47,431
Tasmania 289,142 277,100 87,933 34.65 165,878 65.35 23,289
Australian Capital Territory 150,416 140,982 74,741 56.10 58,487 43.90 7,754
Northern Territory 68,857 58,668 25,684 47.78 28,066 52.22 4,918
Total for Commonwealth 9,866,266 9,279,044 4,074,340 47.06 4,583,070 52.94 621,634
Results Obtained a majority in no state and an overall minority of 508,730 votes. Not carried

See also

References

  1. ^ Constitution Alteration (Interchange of Powers) Bill 1984 (Cth).
  2. ^ Handbook of the 44th Parliament (2014) "Part 5 - Referendums and Plebiscites - Referendum results". Parliamentary Library of Australia.