Question 1

A Proposed Law: To alter the Constitution to provide for 4 year maximum terms for members of both Houses of the Commonwealth Parliament.

Do you approve this proposed alteration?

Constitution Alteration (Parliamentary Terms) 1988 sought to increase House of Representatives terms from a maximum of three years to a maximum of four years, and to reduce Senate terms from a six-year fixed term to a four-year fixed term. It also sought to introduce simultaneous elections for the Houses.

Australia. Referendum, 1988. Question 1

State	Number on rolls	Ballot papers issued	For (v)	For (%)	Against (v)	Against (%)	Informal
New South Wales	3 564 856	3 297 246	1 032 621	31.66	2 228 503	68.34	36 122
Victoria	2 697 096	2 491 183	886 128	36.20	1 561 759	63.80	43 296
Queensland	1 693 247	1 542 293	538 779	35.15	993 822	64.85	9 692
South Australia	937 974	873 511	229 938	26.76	629 454	73.24	14 119
Western Australia	926 636	845 209	255 556	30.67	577 555	69.33	12 098
Tasmania	302 324	282 785	70 698	25.34	208 297	74.66	3 790
Australian Capital Territory	166 131	149 128	64 458	43.62	83 328	56.38	1 342
Northern Territory	74 695	56 370	21 092	38.13	34 222	61.87	1 056
Total for Commonwealth	10 362 959	9 537 725	3 099 270	32.91	6 316 940	67.09	121 515

Obtained majority in no State and an overall minority of 3 217 670 votes.
Not carried

Question 2

A Proposed Law: To alter the Constitution to provide for fair and democratic parliamentary elections throughout Australia.

Do you approve this proposed alteration?

Constitution Alteration (Fair Elections) 1988 sought to ensure that democratic electoral arrangements would be guaranteed for Commonwealth, State and Territory elections.

Australia. Referendum, 1988. Question 2

State	Number on rolls	Ballot papers issued	For (v)	For (%)	Against (v)	Against (%)	Informal
New South Wales	3 564 856	3 297 246	1 159 713	35.57	2 100 604	64.43	36 929
Victoria	2 697 096	2 491 183	981 508	40.12	1 465 119	59.88	44 556
Queensland	1 693 247	1 542 293	686 765	44.81	845 767	55.19	9 761
South Australia	937 974	873 511	263 006	30.61	596 102	69.39	14 403
Western Australia	926 636	845 209	266 639	32.02	566 145	67.98	12 425
Tasmania	302 324	282 785	80 608	28.89	198 372	71.11	3 805
Australian Capital Territory	166 131	149 128	76 815	51.99	70 937	48.01	1 376
Northern Territory	74 695	56 370	23 763	42.99	31 512	57.01	1 095
Total for Commonwealth	10 362 959	9 537 725	3 538 817	37.59	5 874 558	62.41	124 350

Obtained majority in no State and an overall minority of 2 335 741 votes.
Not carried

Question 3

A Proposed Law: To alter the Constitution to recognise local government.

Do you approve this proposed alteration?

The Constitution recognises government at the Commonwealth and State levels but makes no mention of local government. Constitution Alteration (Local Government) 1988 sought to give such constitutional recognition to local government.

Australia. Referendum, 1988. Question 3

State	Number on rolls	Ballot papers issued	For (v)	For (%)	Against (v)	Against (%)	Informal
New South Wales	3 564 856	3 297 246	1 033 364	31.70	2 226 529	68.30	37 353
Victoria	2 697 096	2 491 183	882 020	36.06	1 563 957	63.94	45 206
Queensland	1 693 247	1 542 293	586 942	38.31	945 333	61.69	10 018
South Australia	937 974	873 511	256 421	29.85	602 499	70.15	14 591
Western Australia	926 636	845 209	247 830	29.76	584 863	70.24	12 516
Tasmania	302 324	282 785	76 707	27.50	202 214	72.50	3 864
Australian Capital Territory	166 131	149 128	58 755	39.78	88 945	60.22	1 428
Northern Territory	74 695	56 370	21 449	38.80	33 826	61.20	1 095
Total for Commonwealth	10 362 959	9 537 725	3 163 488	33.61	6 248 166	66.39	126 071

Obtained majority in no State and an overall minority of 3 084 678 votes.
Not carried

Question 4

A Proposed Law: To alter the Constitution to extend the right to trial by jury, to extend freedom of religion, and to ensure fair terms for persons whose property is acquired by any government.

Do you approve this proposed alteration?

Constitution Alteration (Rights and Freedoms) 1988 sought to guarantee various civil rights in relation to trials, freedom of religion and compulsory acquisition of property.

Australia. Referendum, 1988. Question 4

State	Number on rolls	Ballot papers issued	For (v)	For (%)	Against (v)	Against (%)	Informal
New South Wales	3 564 856	3 297 246	965 045	29.65	2 289 645	70.35	42 556
Victoria	2 697 096	2 491 183	816 057	33.42	1 625 484	66.58	49 642
Queensland	1 693 247	1 542 293	503 217	32.88	1 027 218	67.12	11 858
South Australia	937 974	873 511	223 038	26.01	634 438	73.99	16 035
Western Australia	926 636	845 209	233 917	28.14	597 322	71.86	13 970
Tasmania	302 324	282 785	70 987	25.49	207 486	74.51	4 312
Australian Capital Territory	166 131	149 128	60 064	40.71	87 460	59.29	1 604
Northern Territory	74 695	56 370	20 503	37.14	34 699	62.86	1 168
Total for Commonwealth	10 362 959	9 537 725	2 892 828	30.79	6 503 752	69.21	141 145

Obtained majority in no State and an overall minority of 3 610 924 votes.
Not carried