discussion points

• • Double Majority Provision may be undemocratic, as not satisfying certain requirements of the provision, it will not be successful. This also means that it is difficult to achieve. 
  • 1977 referendum on simultaneous elections got support from 62.2% of national vote but failed as only got majority in 3/6 states
• • Smaller states can be given a disproportionate amount of power. 
  • NSW 8.1 million, compared to Tasmania’s 540,000
• • The votes of the territories only count to the national majority. This is problematic where this can compromise of a large voter base of which the amendment impacts. 
  • Polling catchments where Indigenous Australians form more than 50% of the population voted on average 63% in favour of the voice
• • Australian people are able to drive constitutional change if the people support the proposal
  • The 1967 referendum shows that people-driven change arguably may have a greater chance of receiving bipartisan support and a ‘yes’ vote.
• • While people have the final say on the change, this can only occur if the government is interested and initiates and passes the bill. 
  • Without the Constitution Alteration (Aboriginal) Bill 1967, the referendum would not have occurred. 
• • If national support for change is lacking then the proposed change is likely to fail. 
  • ‘Killing off the Voice is a way of killing off the republic’ (Anne Twomey), indicating that the 2023 referendum has negative implications for a future republic referendum. 
• • Australians generally lack understanding of the Constitution. 

  The message ‘if you don’t know, vote no’ potentially diluted informed debate.
• • All 8 successful referendums have had bipartisan support. 
  • In the 1967 referendum, there was no presented ‘no’ campaign. This simplifier the message being presented. 
• • No referendums have been successful that did not have bipartisan support. 
  • Whilst the 2023 referendum had support from the ALP and the Greens, it lacked support from the Liberal and National Party.
• • Costs of hosting a referendum. 
  • estimated the 2023 referendum cost $450 million