The ''Constitution Alteration (Local Government) Bill'' 1988,
was an unsuccessful proposal to alter the
Australian Constitution to recognise
local government
Local government is a generic term for the lowest tiers of public administration within a particular sovereign state. This particular usage of the word government refers specifically to a level of administration that is both geographically-l ...
. It was put to voters for approval in a
referendum held on 3 September 1988. The structure of the Constitution recognises government at federal and state levels, but makes no mention of local government.
The "no" campaign in 1988 argued that this change would undermine states' rights, i.e. that it would move – or make it possible to move – some power from state governments to local governments.
Question
''A Proposed Law: To alter the Constitution to recognise local government.''
''Do you approve this proposed alteration?''
The proposal was to add a new provision to the Constitution as follows :
:
Results
Discussion
This was the second unsuccessful referendum on the subject of Local Government. The
1974 referendum on Local Government Bodies sought to allow the Commonwealth to grant financial assistance to local government bodies, and to borrow money on their behalf.
See also
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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 ...
*
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 part ...
References
Further reading
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* Australian Electoral Commission (2007)
Referendum Dates and Results 1906 – Present' AEC, Canberra.
{{Australian Referendums, year=1988
1988 referendums
Referendum Local Governments
1988 Local Government
Proposed laws of Australia