The ''Constitution Alteration (Nationalization of Monopolies) Bill'' 1912, was an unsuccessful
referendum held in 1913 that sought to alter the
Australian Constitution
The Constitution of Australia (or Australian Constitution) is a constitutional document that is supreme law in Australia. It establishes Australia as a federation under a constitutional monarchy and outlines the structure and powers of the ...
to give the Commonwealth legislative power in respect to
monopolies
A monopoly (from Greek el, μόνος, mónos, single, alone, label=none and el, πωλεῖν, pōleîn, to sell, label=none), as described by Irving Fisher, is a market with the "absence of competition", creating a situation where a speci ...
.
Issues
Question
''Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled 'Constitution Alteration (Nationalization of Monopolies) 1912'?''
The proposal was to alter the text of section 51 of the Constitution to read as follows:
[.]
51a. (1) When each House of the Parliament, in the same session, has by resolution, passed by an absolute majority of its members, declared that the industry or business of producing, manufacturing, or supplying any specified services, is the subject of a monopoly, the Parliament shall have power to make laws for carrying on the industry or business by or under the control of the Commonwealth, and acquiring for that purpose on just terms any property used in connexion with the industry or business.
:(2) This section shall not apply to any industry or business conducted or carried on by the Government of a State or any public authority constituted under a State.
Results
The referendum was not approved by a majority of voters, and a majority of the voters was achieved in only three states.
Discussion
The
1911 referendum asked a single question that dealt with the acquisition of monopolies. This resolution separated
laws in relation to monopolies and the acquisition of monopolies into different questions. Like its forebear, neither resolution was carried. On each of the many occasions a similar question was asked at a referendum the public decided not to vest power in the Commonwealth over these matters.
*
1911 referendum on monopolies
See also
*
Politics of Australia
The politics of Australia take place within the framework of a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Australia has maintained a stable liberal democratic political system under its Constitution, one of the world's oldest, since Fe ...
*
History of Australia
The history of Australia is the story of the land and peoples of the continent of Australia.
People first arrived on the Australian mainland by sea from Maritime Southeast Asia between 50,000 and 65,000 years ago, and penetrated to all parts ...
References
Further reading
* Standing Committee on Legislative and Constitutional Affairs (1997)
Constitutional Change: Select sources on Constitutional change in Australia 1901–1997'. Australian Government Printing Service, Canberra.
* Bennett, Scott (2003).
' Australian Department of the Parliamentary Library, Canberra.
* Australian Electoral Commission (2007)
' AEC, Canberra.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Australian Referendum, 1913 (Monopolies)
Referendum (Monopolies)
Referendum (Monopolies)
1913 referendums
1913 (Monopolies)