Australian referendum, 1911 (Monopolies)

Constitution Alteration (Monopolies) 1910 attempted to give the government the power to nationalise any corporation deemed by both houses of parliament to be a monopoly. The question was put to a referendum in the Australian referendum, 1911.

Results

Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled 'Constitution Alteration (Monopolies) 1910'?

Result

State	On rolls	Ballots issued	For		Against		Informal
				%		%
New South Wales	868,194	384,188	138,237	%36.72	238,177	%63.28	7,618
Victoria	723,377	448,566	171,453	%38.95	268,743	%61.05	8,041
Queensland	293,003	162,135	70,259	%44.26	88,472	%55.74	3,200
South Australia	216,027	133,802	50,835	%38.42	81,479	%61.58	1,344
Western Australia	138,697	61,482	33,592	%55.84	26,561	%44.16	898
Tasmania	102,326	58,053	24,292	%42.43	32,960	%57.57	753
Total for Commonwealth	2,341,624	1,248,226	488,668	%39.89	736,392	%60.11	21,854
Obtained majority in one State and an overall minority of 247,724 votes.
Not carried

Discussion

This was the first of many times that similar questions were asked at a referendum. On every occasion the public decided not to vest power in the government over monopolies.