Australian_referendum,_1988_(Local_Government)

1988 Australian referendum (Local Government)

1988 Australian referendum (Local Government)

Unsuccessful constitutional proposal

The Constitution Alteration (Local Government) Bill 1988,[1] was an unsuccessful proposal to alter the Australian Constitution to recognise local government. It was put to voters for approval in a referendum held on 3 September 1988. The structure of the Constitution recognises government at federal and state levels, but makes no mention of local government.

Quick Facts Results, Choice ...

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? The proposal was to add a new provision to the Constitution as follows :[2]

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

More information State, Electoral roll ...

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.[3]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Constitution Alteration (Local Government) Bill 1988 (Cth)
  2. [2]
    "Notification of particulars of writs for referendums". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette Special. No. S212. 25 July 1988. p. 3. Retrieved 15 November 2019 – via Trove.
  3. [3]
    Handbook of the 44th Parliament (2014) "Part 5 - Referendums and Plebiscites - Referendum results". Parliamentary Library of Australia.
  4. [4]
    "Result of referendum with respect to Local Government". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. No. S324. 27 October 1988. p. 3. Retrieved 23 October 2021 – via Trove.
  5. [5]
    Following the 1977 referendum, votes cast in the territories count towards the national total, but are not counted toward any state total.

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