Australian referendum, 1944

The 1944 Australian Referendum was held on 19 August 1944. It contained one referendum question.

• (16) Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights (not carried)

Proposed Amendment

Constitution Alteration (Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights) 1944 was known as the 14 powers, or 14 points referendum. It sought to give the government power over a period of five years, to legislate on a wide variety of matters.

The 14 Powers

The powers the government sought to gain included:

• Ex-servicemen rehabilitation
• National health
• Family allowances
• the ability to legislate for Indigenous Australians
• Corporations, or Combines
• Trusts
• Monopolies
• Freedom of Speech
• Freedom of Religion
• Safeguards against the abuse of legislative power

All of these points were put to referendum in the form of a single question. It is notable that the points referring to corporations, trusts, combines and monopolies had been previously put to referendum, and had not been carried.

The 14 proposals covered the participation of the federal government in post war reconstruction, including control over employment, profiteering and prices and related subjects.

For and Against

The proposal was put forward and supported by the Labor government. It was opposed by federal opposition (United Australia Party and the Country Party. The Prime Minister John Curtin gave this broadcast to the nation on 25 July 1944. The Prime Minister said to abandon war-time controls on the declaration of peace would cause disorganization to the social system and destroy the capacity of the system to meet the need of the first few disturbed years after the war.

Country Party leader Arthur Fadden gave this broadcast against the motion.

Results

Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled 'Constitution Alteration (Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights) 1944'?

Result

State	On rolls	Ballots issued	For		Against		Informal
				%		%
New South Wales	1,758,166	1,694,119	759,211	%45.44	911,680	%54.56	23,228
Victoria	1,266,662	1,227,571	597,848	%49.31	614,487	%50.69	15,236
Queensland	633,907	599,568	216,262	%36.52	375,862	%63.48	7,444
South Australia	403,133	392,443	196,294	%50.64	191,317	%49.36	4,832
Western Australia	278,722	272,339	140,399	%52.25	128,303	%47.75	3,637
Tasmania	143,359	139,411	53,386	%38.92	83,769	%61.08	2,256
Armed Forces*		417,082	218,452		195,148		3,482
Total for Commonwealth	4,483,949	4,325,451	1,963,400	%45.99	2,305,418	%54.01	56,633
Obtained majority in two States and an overall minority of 342,018 votes.
Not carried

* Armed forces totals are also included in their respective states.

See also

Curtin Government