1913 Australian referendum (Monopolies)
# 1913 Australian referendum (Monopolies)

The Constitution Alteration (Nationalization of Monopolies) 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 monopolies.

## Question

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

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

   51a. (1) When each House of the Parliament, in the same session, has by resolution, passed by an absolute majority of its members, declared that the industry or business of producing, manufacturing, or supplying any specified services, is the subject of a monopoly, the Parliament shall have power to make laws for carrying on the industry or business by or under the control of the Commonwealth, and acquiring for that purpose on just terms any property used in connexion with the industry or business.
       (2) This section shall not apply to any industry or business conducted or carried on by the Government of a State or any public authority constituted under a State.

## Results

The referendum was not approved by a majority of voters, and a majority of the voters was achieved in only three states.

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 | 301,192 | 46.85 | 341,724 | 53.15 | 73,683 |
| Victoria | 830,391 | 626,861 | 287,379 | 49.07 | 298,326 | 50.93 | 40,828 |
| Queensland | 363,082 | 280,525 | 139,019 | 54.17 | 117,609 | 45.83 | 23,676 |
| South Australia | 244,026 | 195,463 | 91,411 | 51.26 | 86,915 | 48.74 | 16,920 |
| Western Australia | 179,784 | 132,149 | 64,988 | 53.19 | 57,184 | 46.81 | 9,644 |
| Tasmania | 106,746 | 80,398 | 33,176 | 45.22 | 40,189 | 54.78 | 6,907 |
| Total for Commonwealth | 2,760,216 | 2,033,251 | 917,165 | 49.33 | 941,947 | 50.67 | 171,658 |
| Results | Obtained majority in three states and an overall minority of 24,782 votes. Not carried | Obtained majority in three states and an overall minority of 24,782 votes. Not carried | Obtained majority in three states and an overall minority of 24,782 votes. Not carried | Obtained majority in three states and an overall minority of 24,782 votes. Not carried | Obtained majority in three states and an overall minority of 24,782 votes. Not carried | Obtained majority in three states and an overall minority of 24,782 votes. Not carried | Obtained majority in three states and an overall minority of 24,782 votes. Not carried |

## Discussion

The 1911 referendum asked a single question that dealt with the acquisition of monopolies. This resolution separated laws in relation to monopolies and the acquisition of monopolies into different questions. Like its forebear, neither resolution was 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 monopolies
