1946 Australian referendum (Industrial Employment)
# 1946 Australian referendum (Industrial Employment)

The Constitution Alteration (Industrial Employment) Bill 1946, was an unsuccessful proposal to alter the Australian Constitution to give the Commonwealth power to make laws regulating employment in industry. It was put to voters for approval in a referendum held on 28 September 1946. The proposals was narrowly rejected, with a minority of 1.80% in the fourth state, South Australia.

## Question

Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled 'Constitution Alteration (Industrial Employment) 1946'?

The proposal was to insert into section 51 that the Parliament have power to make laws with respect to:

   :(xxxiv.A.) Terms and conditions of employment in industry, but not so as to authorize any form of industrial conscription;

## Results

Result :

| State | Electoral roll | Ballots issued | For | For | Against | Against | Informal |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| State | Electoral roll | Ballots issued | Vote | % | Vote | % | Informal |
| New South Wales | 1,858,749 | 1,757,150 | 833,822 | 51.72 | 778,280 | 48.28 | 145,048 |
| Victoria | 1,345,537 | 1,261,374 | 609,355 | 52.08 | 560,773 | 47.92 | 91,246 |
| Queensland | 660,316 | 612,170 | 243,242 | 43.42 | 316,970 | 56.58 | 51,958 |
| South Australia | 420,361 | 399,301 | 179,153 | 48.20 | 192,516 | 51.80 | 27,632 |
| Western Australia | 300,337 | 279,066 | 142,186 | 55.74 | 112,881 | 44.26 | 23,999 |
| Tasmania | 154,553 | 144,880 | 52,517 | 41.37 | 74,440 | 58.63 | 17,923 |
| Armed forces | | 37,021 | 20,445 | 55.23 | 15,239 | 41.16 | 1337 |
| Total for Commonwealth | 4,739,853 | 4,453,941 | 2,060,275 | 50.30 | 2,035,860 | 49.70 | 357,806 |
| Results | Obtained majority in three states and an overall majority of 24,415 votes. Not carried | Obtained majority in three states and an overall majority of 24,415 votes. Not carried | Obtained majority in three states and an overall majority of 24,415 votes. Not carried | Obtained majority in three states and an overall majority of 24,415 votes. Not carried | Obtained majority in three states and an overall majority of 24,415 votes. Not carried | Obtained majority in three states and an overall majority of 24,415 votes. Not carried | Obtained majority in three states and an overall majority of 24,415 votes. Not carried |

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

## Discussion

This was the sixth occasion in which the commonwealth sought power to regulate terms and conditions of employment, rather than using the conciliation and arbitration power, having been unsuccessful in 1911, 1913, 1919, 1926 and 1944.

For a referendum to approve an amendment of the constitution, it must ordinarily achieve a double majority: approved by a majority of states (i.e., four of the six states) as well as a majority of those voting nationwide. This was the third of five referendums (as of October 2021) to achieve an overall majority, but fail the requirement of a majority of states.

