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Quiz about Australian Referendums
Quiz about Australian Referendums

Australian Referendums Trivia Quiz


In Australia, proposed changes to the constitution must be approved by referendum, in which all people of voting age must participate. This quiz covers some of the history of federal and state referendums held during the 20th century.

A multiple-choice quiz by lorance79. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
lorance79
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
241,953
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
327
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. What is necessary for a bill in a federal referendum to be carried in Australia? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. 44 referendums to change the Australian Constitution were held in the 20th century. How many of these were carried? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. In 1967 a referendum regarding a particular group in Australian society received a "YES" vote of over 90%, and passed in all six states. What group am I talking about? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. In 1933, a state referendum was held in Western Australia. 68% of people voted in favour of the bill, but it was never implemented. What was the subject of the referendum? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. In 1988 Australians strongly rejected a referendum titled "Rights and Freedoms". Which of the following was NOT referred to in the question? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. In 1981 Tasmania held a referendum to determine the location of a proposed hydroelectric dam. One of the biggest environmental campaigns led to tens of thousands of electors writing what on their ballot papers? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Western Australia held a state referendum on the same issue four times in four consecutive decades, and each time the proposal was voted down. What was the issue that kept recurring? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. In 1988 the Australian parliament passed a bill that went against the wishes expressed by the majority of voters in an earlier state/territory referendum. What did the referendum and subsequent law concern?
Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. In 1946 all six Australian states passed a referendum that extended the powers of the government in what area? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. The 1977 referendum included a plebiscite about what Australia's national song should be (for occasions where there wasn't a Royal or Vice-Regal presence). Which unlikely folk song received more than one in four votes? Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. What is necessary for a bill in a federal referendum to be carried in Australia?

Answer: A majority of all voters nationally, and a majority in at least 4 states

This is known as the 'double majority'. Five times throughout the 20th century, a majority 'yes' vote was recorded nationally, but a majority was achieved in less than 4 separate states.
2. 44 referendums to change the Australian Constitution were held in the 20th century. How many of these were carried?

Answer: 8

Historically, Australians have tended to vote against referendums. The Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies said, "to get an affirmative vote from the Australian people on a referendum proposal is one of the labours of Hercules". The low rate at which referendums have been approved is often attributed to the double majority rule.
3. In 1967 a referendum regarding a particular group in Australian society received a "YES" vote of over 90%, and passed in all six states. What group am I talking about?

Answer: Australian Aborigines

The "Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal People) 1967" received one of the strongest endorsements in Australian history. This referendum had two parts: it gave the parliament power to make special laws in relation to Indigenous Australians; and it mandated that Indigenous people be counted in the national census.

The Constitution had previously allowed for laws to be created with respect to any race except Aboriginal Australians, and it also excluded them from population counts used to determine parliamentary representation.
4. In 1933, a state referendum was held in Western Australia. 68% of people voted in favour of the bill, but it was never implemented. What was the subject of the referendum?

Answer: Secession from the Commonwealth of Australia

The WA government sent a delegation to Westminster, asking that the state be considered an autonomous British Territory, but Britain refused to intervene and nothing came of it.
5. In 1988 Australians strongly rejected a referendum titled "Rights and Freedoms". Which of the following was NOT referred to in the question?

Answer: Freedom of speech

The referendum did not receive bipartisan support and so it is unsurprising that it failed. The most common argument against the "Rights and Freedoms" proposal was that the Constitutional change, being generally worded, was open to abuse.

The majority of electors in every state and territory voted against the question, and it was supported by less than 31% of voters nation-wide.
6. In 1981 Tasmania held a referendum to determine the location of a proposed hydroelectric dam. One of the biggest environmental campaigns led to tens of thousands of electors writing what on their ballot papers?

Answer: No dams

The Tasmanian government wanted to construct a hydroelectric dam on the Gordon River, which would have had a damaging effect on the World Heritage-listed Franklin River valley. A protest movement, spearheaded by the Wilderness Society, raised community awareness of the environmental issues. The Premier attempted to broker a compromise by suggesting an alternative dam site on the same river, but parliament refused to pass either option. The matter was taken to referendum, but with the only option being between one of the two proposed dam sites, a large public campaign encouraged voters to write in "no dams". One in three did so.

A month after the referendum Premier Doug Lowe resigned, and within 6 months the state government was swept from power. In 1983 the federal government also changed, and soon passed a law prohibiting dam construction in the Franklin River area. Bob Brown, leader of the environmental campaign, went on to become Senator for Tasmania for 12 years and leader of the Australian Greens Party.
7. Western Australia held a state referendum on the same issue four times in four consecutive decades, and each time the proposal was voted down. What was the issue that kept recurring?

Answer: Daylight savings time

Voters in Western Australia first turned down proposals to implement permanent daylight savings time in summer in 1975. The question was raised again in 1984, 1993 and 2009 with the same result each time. Who knows when it will come up again?
8. In 1988 the Australian parliament passed a bill that went against the wishes expressed by the majority of voters in an earlier state/territory referendum. What did the referendum and subsequent law concern?

Answer: Self-government for the Australian Capital Territory

In 1978, almost 64% of ACT residents elected to continue the territory's existing governance arrangement, in which its Legislative Assembly functioned as an advisory committee to the federal Department of the Capital Territory. Despite the strongly expressed preference, the national parliament passed the "Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act" in 1988. From 1989 the ACT became a self-governing territory.
9. In 1946 all six Australian states passed a referendum that extended the powers of the government in what area?

Answer: Social services

Prior to the 1946 vote the Commonwealth had explicit powers to legislate for invalid (disability) and old-age pensions. The parliament had passed laws concerning other social services but their constitutional basis was uncertain. In particular, a 1944 High Court case found that the Pharmaceutical Benefits Act, which aimed to provide Australians with subsidised medicines, was unconstitutional.

The amendment passed in 1946 gave the Commonwealth authority to legislate a range of benefits and allowances to families, students, unemployed people, and people requiring medical care.
10. The 1977 referendum included a plebiscite about what Australia's national song should be (for occasions where there wasn't a Royal or Vice-Regal presence). Which unlikely folk song received more than one in four votes?

Answer: Waltzing Matilda

The most popular option chosen was "Advance Australia Fair", receiving 43% of votes cast. "God Save the Queen" was the official song for regal, vice-regal and defence occasions, but was favoured by less than 19% of voters for other occasions.

"Waltzing Matilda" received almost a third of votes in Victoria and almost half of those cast by residents of the Australian Capital Territory. Not bad at all for a song about a sheep thief!
Source: Author lorance79

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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