A national referendum is held to propose a change to the Australian Constitution. After the votes are counted, the results are recorded as follows:
| Region | Majority Vote Result |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | Yes |
| Victoria | Yes |
| Queensland | Yes |
| Western Australia | No |
| South Australia | No |
| Tasmania | No |
| Territories (ACT and NT) | Yes () |
| Total National Vote | **Yes ()** |
Based on these results and the rules for changing the Australian Constitution, what is the final outcome of the referendum?
- The referendum fails because a majority of voters in at least four states did not vote 'Yes'.Answer
- BThe referendum is successful because a majority of all Australians () voted 'Yes' and three states reached a majority.
- CThe referendum is successful because the strong 'Yes' vote in the Territories compensates for the lower number of states that voted 'Yes'.
Answer
The referendum fails because a majority of voters in at least four states did not vote 'Yes'.
To change the Australian Constitution, a 'double majority' is required. This means more than half of the total voters in Australia must vote 'Yes', AND more than half of the voters in at least four of the six states must vote 'Yes'. In this scenario, while the national majority was achieved (), only three states (NSW, VIC, QLD) voted 'Yes'. Since four states were required, the referendum failed.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
The double majority requirement for constitutional change.
Hints
1
Remember that the 'double majority' rule has two separate gates that both must be passed.
2
Count how many states actually voted 'Yes' and compare that to the total number of states in Australia ().
3
A majority of is . Does this scenario meet that requirement?
Practice More
Review how the votes of citizens in the ACT and Northern Territory are treated differently from those in the six states during a referendum.
Estimated Time:2m 0s