Australia. Referendum, 1928
17 November 1928
(16) State Debts
Question
Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled ‘Constitution Alteration (State Debts) 1928’?
Constitution Alteration (State Debts) 1928 sought to insert section 105A which would in effect ratify the Financial Agreement which had already been accepted by all the Australian Governments. This terminated the system of per capita payments which had been in operation since 1910, and restricted the right of each State to borrow for its own development by subjecting that borrowing to control by a Loan Council.
Australia. Referendum, 1928.
| State | Number on rolls | Ballot papers issued | For (v) | For (%) | Against (v) | Against (%) | Informal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 1 335 660 | 1 244 918 | 754 446 | 64.47 | 415 846 | 35.53 | 74 626 |
| Victoria | 1 006 463 | 953 477 | 791 425 | 87.78 | 110 143 | 12.22 | 51 909 |
| Queensland | 465 423 | 435 298 | 367 257 | 88.60 | 47 250 | 11.40 | 20 791 |
| South Australia | 319 584 | 301 179 | 164 628 | 62.68 | 98 017 | 37.32 | 38 534 |
| Western Australia | 203 146 | 183 475 | 96 913 | 57.53 | 71 552 | 42.47 | 15 010 |
| Tasmania | 114 490 | 106 153 | 62 722 | 66.89 | 31 044 | 33.11 | 12 387 |
| Total for Commonwealth | 3 444 766 | 3 224 500 | 2 237 391 | 74.30 | 773 852 | 25.70 | 213 257 |
Obtained majority in all six States and an overall majority of 1 463 539 votes.
Carried