factors affecting the success of a referendum

• Bi Partisan Support 'No' Campaign

  • the 1951 referendum was about giving the Commonwealth the ability to ban communist political parties was unsuccessful due to Labours ‘no’ campaign. 
• Bipartisan Support 'Yes' Campaign

  • The 1967 referendum on recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as part of the population had bipartisan support.
• Whether voters are seeking change

  • The 1967 referendum was seen to be a people’s movement, an advocacy for First Nations people speaking out against unfair treatment.
  • This referendum passed in all 6 states, with over 90% approval for the whole country. 
• The Nature of the Proposal 


  1988 REFERENDUM

  • It contained four different questions, three of which related to changing Australia’s political structure.
  • None of the questions passed. 
  • Furthermore, no states supported any of the proposals overall.

  The 1988 referendum was complex because:

  • Several referendum questions related to the mechanics of voting and elections in Australia. Voters who did not understand these issues may have voted no out of caution.
  • Asking four questions at the one time may have added to the confusion.