A referendum is held to change the Australian Constitution. The final results are recorded as follows:
| Voting Category | Result |
|---|---|
| Total National 'Yes' Vote | |
| States with a 'Yes' Majority | New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland |
| States with a 'No' Majority | South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania |
| Territories with a 'Yes' Majority | Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory |
Based on these results, why is the proposed change to the Constitution rejected?
- The 'double majority' requires a majority of voters in at least four out of the six states; territory results contribute to the national total but do not count toward the state-based majority.Answer
- BThe referendum failed because a successful change to the Constitution requires a 'Yes' vote from a majority of voters in all six states and both territories to ensure total national consensus.
- CThe proposal was rejected because the national 'Yes' vote must reach a 'super-majority' threshold of when the state-based majority is split evenly at three states each.
Answer
The referendum failed because the 'double majority' requires a majority of voters in at least four states, and the majorities achieved in the territories do not count toward this state-based requirement.
The 'double majority' rule requires two separate majorities to be successful: a majority of all voters nationwide and a majority of voters in at least four of the six states. In this scenario, the national majority was achieved with , but only three states (NSW, VIC, QLD) recorded a 'Yes' majority. Although the ACT and NT also voted 'Yes', territories do not count as states for the second part of the 'double majority' requirement, meaning the threshold of four states was not reached.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The Double Majority Requirement
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