Voters reject changes to Aust. Constitution

Press, 5 September 1988, Page 8

Voters reject changes to Aust. Constitution

NZPA Sydney The Australian Government’s proposals to introduce a four-year Parliamentary term and make other constitutional changes were soundly defeated in a referendum on Saturday. A Government proposal to give both of the Federal houses of Parliament four-year terms had received only 33 per cent support nationally when 76 per cent of the referendum votes had been ’ counted. This means the House of Representatives’ ’ term remains three years and Senators will continue to serve for six years. The proposal to alter ; the Constitution so elec- ; tors’ votes have the same ; value throughout the • country — thus eliminat-

ing the gerrymander that has kept the National Party in power in Queensland for 30 years — received 37 per cent approval. That was the most support the Government received for any of its proposals. It received 33 per cent support for altering the constitution to officially recognise local government. Only 30 per cent backed the Government’s proposal to extend to the states certain constitutional rights, such as freedom of religion, that already apply federally. The leader of the Opposition, Mr John Howard, said the voters’ response to all four questions represented a defeat for the Australian Labor Party. “It is a victory for the

Australian people,” he said. “It is a victory for the Constitution and the Prime Minister’s attempts to tamper with the Constitution have suffered possibly the worst defeat in history.” Out of 38 attempts to change the Constitution since it came into effect in 1901, only eight have succeeded. The Prime Minister, Bob. Hawke, said the vote was not a rebuff to the Government and he was not bitter about the result. “We are still well ahead in the polls and we will continue to provide good government,” he said. Mr Hawke said there could be no talk of constitutional change unless there was bipartisan support.