1913 Australian referendum (Industrial Matters)
# 1913 Australian referendum (Industrial Matters)

The Constitution Alteration (Industrial Matters) Bill 1912, was an unsuccessful referendum held in 1913 that sought to alter the Australian Constitution to give the Commonwealth legislative power in respect to industrial matters.

## Question

Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled 'Constitution Alteration (Industrial Matters) 1912'?

The proposal was to alter the text of section 51 of the Constitution to read as follows:

   51. The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have Legislative power to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to:
   (xxxv.) Conciliation and arbitration for the prevention and settlement of industrial disputes extending beyond the limits of any one State:
          Labour, and employment, and unemployment, including-
             (a) the terms and conditions of labour and employment in any trade, industry, occupation, or calling;
             (b) the rights and obligations of employers and employés;
             (c) strikes and lockouts;
             (d) the maintenance of industrial peace; and
             (e) the settlement of industrial disputes.

## Results

Result :

| State | Electoral roll | Ballots issued | For | For | Against | Against | Informal |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| State | Electoral roll | Ballots issued | Vote | % | Vote | % | Informal |
| New South Wales | 1,036,187 | 717,855 | 318,622 | 46.88 | 361,044 | 53.12 | 36,933 |
| Victoria | 830,391 | 626,861 | 297,892 | 49.02 | 309,804 | 50.98 | 18,837 |
| Queensland | 363,082 | 280,525 | 147,171 | 54.36 | 123,554 | 45.64 | 9,579 |
| South Australia | 244,026 | 195,463 | 96,626 | 51.40 | 91,361 | 48.60 | 7,259 |
| Western Australia | 179,784 | 132,149 | 66,451 | 52.71 | 59,612 | 47.29 | 5,753 |
| Tasmania | 106,746 | 80,398 | 34,839 | 45.20 | 42,236 | 54.80 | 3,197 |
| Total for Commonwealth | 2,760,216 | 2,033,251 | 961,601 | 49.33 | 987,611 | 50.67 | 81,558 |
| Results | Obtained majority in three states and an overall minority of 26,010 votes. Not carried | Obtained majority in three states and an overall minority of 26,010 votes. Not carried | Obtained majority in three states and an overall minority of 26,010 votes. Not carried | Obtained majority in three states and an overall minority of 26,010 votes. Not carried | Obtained majority in three states and an overall minority of 26,010 votes. Not carried | Obtained majority in three states and an overall minority of 26,010 votes. Not carried | Obtained majority in three states and an overall minority of 26,010 votes. Not carried |

## Discussion

The 1911 referendum asked a single question that dealt with trade and commerce, corporations and industrial matters. This resolution separated each of those matters into a different question. Like its forebear, none of these resolutions were carried. On each of the many occasions a similar question was asked at a referendum the public decided not to vest power in the Commonwealth over these matters.

* 1911 referendum on trade and commerce
