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An Act to enable the Commonwealth and the states voluntarily to refer powers to each other. Do you approve of this proposed alteration? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Outcome | Not carried, A majority "no" vote nationally and in all six states. | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Results | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() Results by federal electoral division | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: Saturation of colour denotes strength of vote |
The Constitution Alteration (Interchange of Powers) Bill 1984, [1] was an unsuccessful proposal to alter the Australian Constitution so that the states and the federal government could freely interchange powers at will. It was put to voters for approval in a referendum held on 1 December 1984.
An Act to enable the Commonwealth and the States voluntarily to refer powers to each other.
Do you approve this proposed alteration?
State | Electoral roll | Ballots issued | For | Against | Informal | |||
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Vote | % | Vote | % | |||||
New South Wales | 3,423,624 | 3,216,256 | 1,475,971 | 49.04 | 1,533,799 | 50.96 | 206,486 | |
Victoria | 2,617,291 | 2,475,891 | 1,139,565 | 49.86 | 1,146,136 | 50.14 | 190,190 | |
Queensland | 1,549,749 | 1,447,284 | 578,674 | 41.69 | 809,249 | 58.31 | 59,361 | |
South Australia | 908,424 | 856,226 | 355,588 | 45.94 | 418,433 | 54.06 | 82,205 | |
Western Australia | 858,763 | 806,637 | 336,184 | 44.28 | 423,022 | 55.72 | 47,431 | |
Tasmania | 289,142 | 277,100 | 87,933 | 34.65 | 165,878 | 65.35 | 23,289 | |
Australian Capital Territory | 150,416 | 140,982 | 74,741 | 56.10 | 58,487 | 43.90 | 7,754 | |
Northern Territory | 68,857 | 58,668 | 25,684 | 47.78 | 28,066 | 52.22 | 4,918 | |
Total for Commonwealth | 9,866,266 | 9,279,044 | 4,074,340 | 47.06 | 4,583,070 | 52.94 | 621,634 | |
Results | Obtained a majority in no state and an overall minority of 508,730 votes.Not carried |
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