The referendum of 17 November 1928 approved an amendment to the Australian constitution concerning financial relations between the Commonwealth of Australia and its states. Technically it was a vote on the Constitution Alteration (State Debts) Act 1928, which, after being approved in the referendum, became law on 13 February 1929.
The purpose of the amendment was to ensure the constitutionality of the Financial Agreement that had been reached by the federal and all state governments in 1927. This agreement discontinued the per-capita payments system that had previously existed since 1910, and restricted the borrowing rights of the states by subjecting such borrowing to control by a Loan Council.
The financial relations between the Commonwealth of Australia and the states worsened during the 1920s. A financial settlement between the governments in 1910 had introduced "per capita grants", whereby each state received annual grants from the commonwealth of 25 shillings ($2.50) per head of its population. By the mid-1920s, inflation had made serious inroads into this sum but no new formula had been found.
Referendums in Australia are polls held in Australia to approve Parliament-proposed changes to the Australian Constitution or a state or territory. Non-binding polls are usually referred to as plebiscites.
Voting in a referendum is compulsory for those on the electoral roll, in the same way that it is compulsory to vote in an Australian general election. As of 2012, 44 referenda have been held, of which only 8 have been carried.
Federal referendums
Constitutional provisions
Section 128 and section 51 of the Constitution specifies that alterations to itself cannot be made without a referendum. A bill containing the amendment must first be passed by both houses of parliament or, in certain limited circumstances, by only one house of parliament. If the bill has only been passed in one house, the Governor-General must, under the 'deadlock provision' of section 128, then decide whether or not to submit the referendum to the people. By convention, this is done on the advice of the Prime Minister. Since the Prime Minister normally controls the House of Representatives, the effect of this convention is to make it virtually impossible for a referendum to be put to the people if approved by the Senate, but not the House. In 1974, four proposals were put to the people by the Whitlam government without the support of the Senate. Two of the four proposals had been twice rejected by the Senate, a third had been rejected once and failed to pass a second time, the fourth had been twice amended by the Senate.
The 1916 Australian plebiscite was held on 28 October 1916. It was the first non-binding Australian plebiscite, and contained one question concerning military service. This plebiscite was held due to the Labor government's desire to conscript young Australian men for overseas service during World War I. It was conducted under the Military Service Referendum Act 1916.
It was a plebiscite rather than a referendum because the Australian government already had powers sufficient to introduce overseas conscription. However, due to the controversial nature of the measure and a lack of clear parliamentary support, Prime Minister Billy Hughes took the issue to a public vote to obtain symbolic, rather than legal, sanction for the move. The plebiscite sparked a divisive debate that split the public and the Labor Party in the process, and resulted in a close but clear rejection of the measure. After the re-election of Hughes in the 1917 election, a 1917 plebiscite was carried dealing with the same issue softening the conditions of conscription, and with the same result.
In preparation for the Voice Referendum later this year I go back over 100 years of referendums discussing the changes being proposed and the outcomes.
Disclaimer:
This video series is designed to give a brief overview of what happened for entertainment purposes and likely contains mistakes.
Link to my Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/Sormon
published: 02 Jul 2023
Referendum ballots - Why do we have to write Yes or No in a single box?
This video looks at the history of ballot papers for referendums at the federal level in Australia. It explains why we originally put a cross next to Yes or No, and then why the system changed so we instead had to number two boxes with 1 and 2 to show our preferences. It then explains how we got the present system of writing Yes or No in a single box. The history dispels the mystery and there's not a conspiracy in sight.
published: 03 Oct 2023
How Do Referendums Work? | AUSPOL EXPLAINED
What is the point of a referendum? What's the difference between a plebiscite and a referendum? How does Australia change its constitution? All these questions will be answered in this episode of Auspol Explained! Join me as I discuss everything you'll ever need to know about the role of referendums and how they've shaped our country over the past 119 years and counting.
Support the channel on patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/AuspolExplained
Like Auspol Explained on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Auspol-Explained-107892180702388
A copy of the script with citations can be found here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1LA8bjp0GnZRkTmnQ5CzZnaaxMNIy2nrx
Auspol Explained would like to acknowledge the Whadjuk Nyoongar people and their Elders as the owners and custodians of the Land t...
published: 31 Jan 2020
The 8 Referendum's Australia Has Ever Passed
Here are the 8 referendums that have passed throughout Australia’s history. #auspol #australia #australian #thevoice #voice #referendum #albo #albanese #referendums #voicetoparliament #voteyes #voteno #dutton #peterdutton #voting
Follow us on our socials to keep up to date with the latest news!
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@empact_news?lang=en
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published: 09 Oct 2023
The quicker the Voice has a referendum the ‘better’ the chance of Albanese ‘winning’
Former Victorian Liberal Party president Michael Kroger says the quicker the Voice to Parliament has a referendum the “better” chance Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has of “winning”.
“The longer it goes the less likely it’s chance it has at getting carried, the quicker they bring it on, the better chance Albanese’s got of winning,” he told Sky News host Paul Murray.
“Because people still don’t know what they’re voting for.
“This referendum will not get carried.”
published: 23 Mar 2023
VCE Legal Studies - Referenda affecting the division of powers
published: 01 Jun 2015
State referendums and plebiscites in Australia
This video explains the difference between referendums, which approve constitutional change, and plebiscites, which are votes on other policy issues. It explores the different types of plebiscites that have been held in the Australian States, including on alcohol (liquor licensing, pub closing hours and 'prohibition'), daylight saving, gambling, religious education, the environment (the building of a dam for hydro-electricity) and Sunday trading. It also looks at plebiscites to determine the political status of a people, including the votes in the Australian colonies to approve the Commonwealth Constitution, the Northern Territory plebiscite about statehood and the Australian Capital Territory plebiscite about self-government.
It concludes with mention of constitutional referendums that...
published: 16 Jun 2024
Federal Referendums – An Australian history
This a summary of the history of Federal Referendums in Australia. A look at the relevant and interesting ones, What are they, How they work. What changes Referendum have given us the public. How much they cost the tax payer and some other fun facts.
All inflationary calculations are sourced from RBA standard inflation figures. And from the pre-decimal to post decimal calculator, all figure are in 2020 dollars unless otherwise stated.
published: 05 Jun 2021
The Referendum Pamphlet - Its History and Usefulness | AUSPOL EXPLAINED
The official Yes and No pamphlet for a referendum is there to let the public know the arguments for and against a proposed change to the constitution - but where did it come from? And is the referendum pamphlet useful? Well, let's explore its history and why it is the way it is. This episode is of course about the general concept of the referendum pamphlet that has over a century of history and not about any specific arguments or ideas in any particular referendum pamphlet itself.
Make sure you're enrolled to vote and your details are up to date with the AEC: https://aec.gov.au
Support the channel on patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/AuspolExplained
Like Auspol Explained on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Auspol-Explained-107892180702388
Get a copy of the script with citations her...
published: 12 Sep 2023
‘Enough is enough’ Indigenous-led campaign urge First Nations recognition in constitution | ABC News
An Indigenous-led campaign will tell Australians that "the time has come" to recognise the nation's first people in the constitution.
Subscribe: http://ab.co/1svxLVE Read more here: https://ab.co/3vVRgjl
The ad will be played on Australian screens for the next couple of weeks prompting the country to support a referendum on the issue, the first since 1999.
Sally Scales is a delegate of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and she’s ready for change, saying there’s been an ‘incredible amount of complacency’.
ABC News provides around the clock coverage of news events as they break in Australia and abroad, including the latest coronavirus pandemic updates. It's news when you want it, from Australia's most trusted news organisation.
For more from ABC News, click here: https://ab.co/2kxYCZY
...
In preparation for the Voice Referendum later this year I go back over 100 years of referendums discussing the changes being proposed and the outcomes.
Disclai...
In preparation for the Voice Referendum later this year I go back over 100 years of referendums discussing the changes being proposed and the outcomes.
Disclaimer:
This video series is designed to give a brief overview of what happened for entertainment purposes and likely contains mistakes.
Link to my Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/Sormon
In preparation for the Voice Referendum later this year I go back over 100 years of referendums discussing the changes being proposed and the outcomes.
Disclaimer:
This video series is designed to give a brief overview of what happened for entertainment purposes and likely contains mistakes.
Link to my Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/Sormon
This video looks at the history of ballot papers for referendums at the federal level in Australia. It explains why we originally put a cross next to Yes or No...
This video looks at the history of ballot papers for referendums at the federal level in Australia. It explains why we originally put a cross next to Yes or No, and then why the system changed so we instead had to number two boxes with 1 and 2 to show our preferences. It then explains how we got the present system of writing Yes or No in a single box. The history dispels the mystery and there's not a conspiracy in sight.
This video looks at the history of ballot papers for referendums at the federal level in Australia. It explains why we originally put a cross next to Yes or No, and then why the system changed so we instead had to number two boxes with 1 and 2 to show our preferences. It then explains how we got the present system of writing Yes or No in a single box. The history dispels the mystery and there's not a conspiracy in sight.
What is the point of a referendum? What's the difference between a plebiscite and a referendum? How does Australia change its constitution? All these questions ...
What is the point of a referendum? What's the difference between a plebiscite and a referendum? How does Australia change its constitution? All these questions will be answered in this episode of Auspol Explained! Join me as I discuss everything you'll ever need to know about the role of referendums and how they've shaped our country over the past 119 years and counting.
Support the channel on patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/AuspolExplained
Like Auspol Explained on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Auspol-Explained-107892180702388
A copy of the script with citations can be found here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1LA8bjp0GnZRkTmnQ5CzZnaaxMNIy2nrx
Auspol Explained would like to acknowledge the Whadjuk Nyoongar people and their Elders as the owners and custodians of the Land that the video was filmed and edited on. This Land was stolen and never ceded. It always was and always will be Aboriginal Land.
What is the point of a referendum? What's the difference between a plebiscite and a referendum? How does Australia change its constitution? All these questions will be answered in this episode of Auspol Explained! Join me as I discuss everything you'll ever need to know about the role of referendums and how they've shaped our country over the past 119 years and counting.
Support the channel on patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/AuspolExplained
Like Auspol Explained on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Auspol-Explained-107892180702388
A copy of the script with citations can be found here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1LA8bjp0GnZRkTmnQ5CzZnaaxMNIy2nrx
Auspol Explained would like to acknowledge the Whadjuk Nyoongar people and their Elders as the owners and custodians of the Land that the video was filmed and edited on. This Land was stolen and never ceded. It always was and always will be Aboriginal Land.
Here are the 8 referendums that have passed throughout Australia’s history. #auspol #australia #australian #thevoice #voice #referendum #albo #albanese #referen...
Here are the 8 referendums that have passed throughout Australia’s history. #auspol #australia #australian #thevoice #voice #referendum #albo #albanese #referendums #voicetoparliament #voteyes #voteno #dutton #peterdutton #voting
Follow us on our socials to keep up to date with the latest news!
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@empact_news?lang=en
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empactnews/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmpactNews
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Empact.N/
Here are the 8 referendums that have passed throughout Australia’s history. #auspol #australia #australian #thevoice #voice #referendum #albo #albanese #referendums #voicetoparliament #voteyes #voteno #dutton #peterdutton #voting
Follow us on our socials to keep up to date with the latest news!
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@empact_news?lang=en
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empactnews/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmpactNews
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Empact.N/
Former Victorian Liberal Party president Michael Kroger says the quicker the Voice to Parliament has a referendum the “better” chance Prime Minister Anthony Alb...
Former Victorian Liberal Party president Michael Kroger says the quicker the Voice to Parliament has a referendum the “better” chance Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has of “winning”.
“The longer it goes the less likely it’s chance it has at getting carried, the quicker they bring it on, the better chance Albanese’s got of winning,” he told Sky News host Paul Murray.
“Because people still don’t know what they’re voting for.
“This referendum will not get carried.”
Former Victorian Liberal Party president Michael Kroger says the quicker the Voice to Parliament has a referendum the “better” chance Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has of “winning”.
“The longer it goes the less likely it’s chance it has at getting carried, the quicker they bring it on, the better chance Albanese’s got of winning,” he told Sky News host Paul Murray.
“Because people still don’t know what they’re voting for.
“This referendum will not get carried.”
This video explains the difference between referendums, which approve constitutional change, and plebiscites, which are votes on other policy issues. It explor...
This video explains the difference between referendums, which approve constitutional change, and plebiscites, which are votes on other policy issues. It explores the different types of plebiscites that have been held in the Australian States, including on alcohol (liquor licensing, pub closing hours and 'prohibition'), daylight saving, gambling, religious education, the environment (the building of a dam for hydro-electricity) and Sunday trading. It also looks at plebiscites to determine the political status of a people, including the votes in the Australian colonies to approve the Commonwealth Constitution, the Northern Territory plebiscite about statehood and the Australian Capital Territory plebiscite about self-government.
It concludes with mention of constitutional referendums that have been held in the States and how the referendum record has been more successful than at the Commonwealth level.
This video explains the difference between referendums, which approve constitutional change, and plebiscites, which are votes on other policy issues. It explores the different types of plebiscites that have been held in the Australian States, including on alcohol (liquor licensing, pub closing hours and 'prohibition'), daylight saving, gambling, religious education, the environment (the building of a dam for hydro-electricity) and Sunday trading. It also looks at plebiscites to determine the political status of a people, including the votes in the Australian colonies to approve the Commonwealth Constitution, the Northern Territory plebiscite about statehood and the Australian Capital Territory plebiscite about self-government.
It concludes with mention of constitutional referendums that have been held in the States and how the referendum record has been more successful than at the Commonwealth level.
This a summary of the history of Federal Referendums in Australia. A look at the relevant and interesting ones, What are they, How they work. What changes Refer...
This a summary of the history of Federal Referendums in Australia. A look at the relevant and interesting ones, What are they, How they work. What changes Referendum have given us the public. How much they cost the tax payer and some other fun facts.
All inflationary calculations are sourced from RBA standard inflation figures. And from the pre-decimal to post decimal calculator, all figure are in 2020 dollars unless otherwise stated.
This a summary of the history of Federal Referendums in Australia. A look at the relevant and interesting ones, What are they, How they work. What changes Referendum have given us the public. How much they cost the tax payer and some other fun facts.
All inflationary calculations are sourced from RBA standard inflation figures. And from the pre-decimal to post decimal calculator, all figure are in 2020 dollars unless otherwise stated.
The official Yes and No pamphlet for a referendum is there to let the public know the arguments for and against a proposed change to the constitution - but wher...
The official Yes and No pamphlet for a referendum is there to let the public know the arguments for and against a proposed change to the constitution - but where did it come from? And is the referendum pamphlet useful? Well, let's explore its history and why it is the way it is. This episode is of course about the general concept of the referendum pamphlet that has over a century of history and not about any specific arguments or ideas in any particular referendum pamphlet itself.
Make sure you're enrolled to vote and your details are up to date with the AEC: https://aec.gov.au
Support the channel on patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/AuspolExplained
Like Auspol Explained on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Auspol-Explained-107892180702388
Get a copy of the script with citations here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14O55u5QqJa14-nZujcY1vt4AVyA0Le6h/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=102352521871694219008&rtpof=true&sd=true
Auspol Explained would like to acknowledge the Whadjuk Nyoongar people and their Elders as the owners and custodians of the Land that the episode was recorded and edited on. This Land was stolen and never ceded. It always was and always will be Aboriginal Land.
The official Yes and No pamphlet for a referendum is there to let the public know the arguments for and against a proposed change to the constitution - but where did it come from? And is the referendum pamphlet useful? Well, let's explore its history and why it is the way it is. This episode is of course about the general concept of the referendum pamphlet that has over a century of history and not about any specific arguments or ideas in any particular referendum pamphlet itself.
Make sure you're enrolled to vote and your details are up to date with the AEC: https://aec.gov.au
Support the channel on patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/AuspolExplained
Like Auspol Explained on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Auspol-Explained-107892180702388
Get a copy of the script with citations here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14O55u5QqJa14-nZujcY1vt4AVyA0Le6h/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=102352521871694219008&rtpof=true&sd=true
Auspol Explained would like to acknowledge the Whadjuk Nyoongar people and their Elders as the owners and custodians of the Land that the episode was recorded and edited on. This Land was stolen and never ceded. It always was and always will be Aboriginal Land.
An Indigenous-led campaign will tell Australians that "the time has come" to recognise the nation's first people in the constitution.
Subscribe: http://ab.co/1s...
An Indigenous-led campaign will tell Australians that "the time has come" to recognise the nation's first people in the constitution.
Subscribe: http://ab.co/1svxLVE Read more here: https://ab.co/3vVRgjl
The ad will be played on Australian screens for the next couple of weeks prompting the country to support a referendum on the issue, the first since 1999.
Sally Scales is a delegate of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and she’s ready for change, saying there’s been an ‘incredible amount of complacency’.
ABC News provides around the clock coverage of news events as they break in Australia and abroad, including the latest coronavirus pandemic updates. It's news when you want it, from Australia's most trusted news organisation.
For more from ABC News, click here: https://ab.co/2kxYCZY
Watch more ABC News content ad-free on iview: https://ab.co/2OB7Mk1
Go deeper on our ABC News In-depth channel: https://ab.co/2lNeBn2
Like ABC News on Facebook: http://facebook.com/abcnews.au
Follow ABC News on Instagram: http://instagram.com/abcnews_au
Follow ABC News on Twitter: http://twitter.com/abcnews
Note: In most cases, our captions are auto-generated.
#ABCNews #ABCNewsAustralia
An Indigenous-led campaign will tell Australians that "the time has come" to recognise the nation's first people in the constitution.
Subscribe: http://ab.co/1svxLVE Read more here: https://ab.co/3vVRgjl
The ad will be played on Australian screens for the next couple of weeks prompting the country to support a referendum on the issue, the first since 1999.
Sally Scales is a delegate of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and she’s ready for change, saying there’s been an ‘incredible amount of complacency’.
ABC News provides around the clock coverage of news events as they break in Australia and abroad, including the latest coronavirus pandemic updates. It's news when you want it, from Australia's most trusted news organisation.
For more from ABC News, click here: https://ab.co/2kxYCZY
Watch more ABC News content ad-free on iview: https://ab.co/2OB7Mk1
Go deeper on our ABC News In-depth channel: https://ab.co/2lNeBn2
Like ABC News on Facebook: http://facebook.com/abcnews.au
Follow ABC News on Instagram: http://instagram.com/abcnews_au
Follow ABC News on Twitter: http://twitter.com/abcnews
Note: In most cases, our captions are auto-generated.
#ABCNews #ABCNewsAustralia
In preparation for the Voice Referendum later this year I go back over 100 years of referendums discussing the changes being proposed and the outcomes.
Disclaimer:
This video series is designed to give a brief overview of what happened for entertainment purposes and likely contains mistakes.
Link to my Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/Sormon
This video looks at the history of ballot papers for referendums at the federal level in Australia. It explains why we originally put a cross next to Yes or No, and then why the system changed so we instead had to number two boxes with 1 and 2 to show our preferences. It then explains how we got the present system of writing Yes or No in a single box. The history dispels the mystery and there's not a conspiracy in sight.
What is the point of a referendum? What's the difference between a plebiscite and a referendum? How does Australia change its constitution? All these questions will be answered in this episode of Auspol Explained! Join me as I discuss everything you'll ever need to know about the role of referendums and how they've shaped our country over the past 119 years and counting.
Support the channel on patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/AuspolExplained
Like Auspol Explained on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Auspol-Explained-107892180702388
A copy of the script with citations can be found here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1LA8bjp0GnZRkTmnQ5CzZnaaxMNIy2nrx
Auspol Explained would like to acknowledge the Whadjuk Nyoongar people and their Elders as the owners and custodians of the Land that the video was filmed and edited on. This Land was stolen and never ceded. It always was and always will be Aboriginal Land.
Here are the 8 referendums that have passed throughout Australia’s history. #auspol #australia #australian #thevoice #voice #referendum #albo #albanese #referendums #voicetoparliament #voteyes #voteno #dutton #peterdutton #voting
Follow us on our socials to keep up to date with the latest news!
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@empact_news?lang=en
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empactnews/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmpactNews
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Empact.N/
Former Victorian Liberal Party president Michael Kroger says the quicker the Voice to Parliament has a referendum the “better” chance Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has of “winning”.
“The longer it goes the less likely it’s chance it has at getting carried, the quicker they bring it on, the better chance Albanese’s got of winning,” he told Sky News host Paul Murray.
“Because people still don’t know what they’re voting for.
“This referendum will not get carried.”
This video explains the difference between referendums, which approve constitutional change, and plebiscites, which are votes on other policy issues. It explores the different types of plebiscites that have been held in the Australian States, including on alcohol (liquor licensing, pub closing hours and 'prohibition'), daylight saving, gambling, religious education, the environment (the building of a dam for hydro-electricity) and Sunday trading. It also looks at plebiscites to determine the political status of a people, including the votes in the Australian colonies to approve the Commonwealth Constitution, the Northern Territory plebiscite about statehood and the Australian Capital Territory plebiscite about self-government.
It concludes with mention of constitutional referendums that have been held in the States and how the referendum record has been more successful than at the Commonwealth level.
This a summary of the history of Federal Referendums in Australia. A look at the relevant and interesting ones, What are they, How they work. What changes Referendum have given us the public. How much they cost the tax payer and some other fun facts.
All inflationary calculations are sourced from RBA standard inflation figures. And from the pre-decimal to post decimal calculator, all figure are in 2020 dollars unless otherwise stated.
The official Yes and No pamphlet for a referendum is there to let the public know the arguments for and against a proposed change to the constitution - but where did it come from? And is the referendum pamphlet useful? Well, let's explore its history and why it is the way it is. This episode is of course about the general concept of the referendum pamphlet that has over a century of history and not about any specific arguments or ideas in any particular referendum pamphlet itself.
Make sure you're enrolled to vote and your details are up to date with the AEC: https://aec.gov.au
Support the channel on patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/AuspolExplained
Like Auspol Explained on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Auspol-Explained-107892180702388
Get a copy of the script with citations here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/14O55u5QqJa14-nZujcY1vt4AVyA0Le6h/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=102352521871694219008&rtpof=true&sd=true
Auspol Explained would like to acknowledge the Whadjuk Nyoongar people and their Elders as the owners and custodians of the Land that the episode was recorded and edited on. This Land was stolen and never ceded. It always was and always will be Aboriginal Land.
An Indigenous-led campaign will tell Australians that "the time has come" to recognise the nation's first people in the constitution.
Subscribe: http://ab.co/1svxLVE Read more here: https://ab.co/3vVRgjl
The ad will be played on Australian screens for the next couple of weeks prompting the country to support a referendum on the issue, the first since 1999.
Sally Scales is a delegate of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and she’s ready for change, saying there’s been an ‘incredible amount of complacency’.
ABC News provides around the clock coverage of news events as they break in Australia and abroad, including the latest coronavirus pandemic updates. It's news when you want it, from Australia's most trusted news organisation.
For more from ABC News, click here: https://ab.co/2kxYCZY
Watch more ABC News content ad-free on iview: https://ab.co/2OB7Mk1
Go deeper on our ABC News In-depth channel: https://ab.co/2lNeBn2
Like ABC News on Facebook: http://facebook.com/abcnews.au
Follow ABC News on Instagram: http://instagram.com/abcnews_au
Follow ABC News on Twitter: http://twitter.com/abcnews
Note: In most cases, our captions are auto-generated.
#ABCNews #ABCNewsAustralia
The referendum of 17 November 1928 approved an amendment to the Australian constitution concerning financial relations between the Commonwealth of Australia and its states. Technically it was a vote on the Constitution Alteration (State Debts) Act 1928, which, after being approved in the referendum, became law on 13 February 1929.
The purpose of the amendment was to ensure the constitutionality of the Financial Agreement that had been reached by the federal and all state governments in 1927. This agreement discontinued the per-capita payments system that had previously existed since 1910, and restricted the borrowing rights of the states by subjecting such borrowing to control by a Loan Council.
The financial relations between the Commonwealth of Australia and the states worsened during the 1920s. A financial settlement between the governments in 1910 had introduced "per capita grants", whereby each state received annual grants from the commonwealth of 25 shillings ($2.50) per head of its population. By the mid-1920s, inflation had made serious inroads into this sum but no new formula had been found.