The 1981 New South Wales referendum was held on 19 September 1981, the same day as the
state election. The referendum contained two questions:
# Do you approve a Bill for an Act to extend the maximum period between general elections for the Legislative Assembly from 3 years to 4 years?
# Do you approve a Bill for an Act to require Members of Parliament to disclose certain pecuniary interests and other matters?
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Amendments to the constitution
The primary change by the proposal to extend the maximum term was to alter section 7B of the
Constitution Act 1902
The Constitution Act 1902 is the founding document of the State of New South Wales, and sets out many of the basic principles of the Government of New South Wales. This act created the foundation of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial bran ...
to provide for a maximum term of 4 years rather than 3.
The proposal to require Members of Parliament to disclose pecuniary interests was to add section 14A to the
Constitution Act 1902
The Constitution Act 1902 is the founding document of the State of New South Wales, and sets out many of the basic principles of the Government of New South Wales. This act created the foundation of the Executive, Legislative and Judicial bran ...
which provided that
* the Governor could make regulations requiring members of parliament to disclose their pecuniary interests;
* the relevant house of parliament could declare a seat vacant if the member wilfully contravened any regulation; and
* the regulations could only be disallowed by both houses of parliament.
Results
Both questions were approved with large majorities.
See also
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Referendums in New South Wales
There have been 18 referendums in New South Wales, 8 of which concerned proposals to amend the New South Wales Constitution, half of which concerned the Legislative Council. While the Constitution of Australia was adopted after the 1898 and 18 ...
*
Referendums in Australia
Referendums have been held in Australia to approve parliament-proposed changes to the Constitution of Australia or to the constitutions of states and territories.
Polls conducted on non-constitutional issues are sometimes but not always referre ...
*
2016 Queensland term length referendum
The Queensland fixed four-year terms referendum was a one-question referendum held in the Australian state of Queensland on 19 March 2016, in conjunction with the state's local government elections. Electors were asked if they approved of a bill ...
*
1991 Queensland four year terms referendum
The Queensland parliamentary term extension referendum was a one-question referendum held in the Australian state of Queensland on 23 March 1992. Electors were asked if they approved of extending the maximum term of the Parliament of Queensland ...
References
{{New South Wales elections
Referendums in New South Wales
New South Wales law
1980s in New South Wales
September 1981 events in Australia