1981 New South Wales referendum explained
|
| 1981 New South Wales referendum |
| 4 year terms | Pecuniary interests |
|---|
| Yes | 69% | 86% |
| No | 31% | 14% | |
The 1981 New South Wales referendum was held on 19 September 1981, the same day as the state election. The referendum contained two questions:
- Do you approve a Bill for an Act to extend the maximum period between general elections for the Legislative Assembly from 3 years to 4 years?[1]
- Do you approve a Bill for an Act to require Members of Parliament to disclose certain pecuniary interests and other matters?[2]
Amendments to the constitution
The primary change by the proposal to extend the maximum term was to alter section 7B of the Constitution Act 1902 to provide for a maximum term of 4 years rather than 3.[3]
The proposal to require Members of Parliament to disclose pecuniary interests was to add section 14A to the Constitution Act 1902 which provided that
- the Governor could make regulations requiring members of parliament to disclose their pecuniary interests;
- the relevant house of parliament could declare a seat vacant if the member wilfully contravened any regulation; and
- the regulations could only be disallowed by both houses of parliament.[4]
Results
Both questions were approved with large majorities.
Result[5] | Question | Votes | % |
|---|
| 4 year terms | Yes | 1,951,455 | |
|---|
| No | 874,944 | 30.96 |
|---|
| Total Formal | 2,826,399 | 96.53 |
|---|
| Informal | 101,528 | 3.47 |
|---|
| Pecuniary interests | No | 388,791 | 13.99 |
|---|
| Yes | 2,391,036 | |
|---|
| Total Formal | 2,779,827 | 94.94 |
|---|
| Informal | 148,100 | 5.06 |
|---|
| Turnout[6] | 2,927,927 | 91.16 | |
|---|
See also
Notes and References
- News: Writ for a referendum: extend the maximum period between elections . . 126 . 28 August 1981 . 16 October 2019 . 4567 . Trove.
- News: Writ for a referendum: disclosure of pecuniary interests . . 127 . 28 August 1981 . 16 October 2019 . 4569 . Trove.
- News: Constitution (Legislative Assembly) Amendment Act 1981 No 102 . Legislation.nsw.gov.au . 16 October 2019.
- News: Constitution (disclosure by members) Amendment Act 1981 No 103 . Legislation.nsw.gov.au . 16 October 2019.
- Web site: NSW Referendum - 19 September 1981 . New South Wales Electoral Commission . https://web.archive.org/web/20110311224938/http://www.elections.nsw.gov.au/results/referendums_and_polls/state/19_september_1981 . 11 March 2011 . dead.
- Based on a roll of 3,212,017: 1981 election totals . 1981 . Totals . 16 October 2019.
