Australian referendum, 1988 (Parliamentary Terms)

Constitution Alteration (Parliamentary Terms) 1988 proposed to alter the constitution such that Senate terms be reduced from six to four years, and House of Representative terms be increased from three years to four years. It also proposed for the fourth time that Senate and House elections occour symultaniously. The proposal was put to a referendum in the Australian referendum, 1988.

Results

A Proposed Law: To alter the Constitution to provide for 4 year maximum terms for members of both Houses of the Commonwealth Parliament.

Do you approve this proposed alteration?

Result

State	On rolls	Ballots issued	For		Against		Informal
				%		%
New South Wales	3,564,856	3,297,246	1,032,621	%31.66	2,228,503	%68.34	36,122
Victoria	2,697,096	2,491,183	886,128	%36.20	1,561,759	%63.80	43,296
Queensland	1,693,247	1,542,293	538,779	%35.15	993,822	%64.85	9,692
South Australia	937,974	873,511	229,938	%26.76	629,454	%73.24	14,119
Western Australia	926,636	845,209	255,556	%30.67	577,555	%69.33	12,098
Tasmania	302,324	282,785	70,698	%25.34	208,297	%74.66	3,790
Australian Capital Territory	166,131	149,128	64,458	%43.62	83,328	%56.38	1,342
Northern Territory	74,695	56,370	21,092	%38.13	34,222	%61.87	1,056
Total for Commonwealth	10,362,959	9,537,725	3,099,270	%32.91	6,316,940	%67.09	121,515
Obtained majority in no State and an overall minority of 3 217 670 votes.
Not carried

Discussion

This proposal was arguably the biggest proposed change in actual political process that has been raised in a referendum, with the possible exception of the Republic Referendum of 1999 which proposed a rather minimal actual change. The clear 'No' vote on this issue clearly demonstrated that the voters were unconvinced by any major change in the political process.

See Also

See also: Australian referendum, 1988 (Parliamentary Terms), Australia, Australian plebiscite, 1916, Australian plebiscite, 1917, Australian referendum, 1906, Australian referendum, 1910, Australian referendum, 1911, Australian referendum, 1913