Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House

Referendums A to Z

Referendums are an important part of Australia’s democracy. But they can be a lot. It’s OK to ask questions. What is a referendum? Why should you care? How do you have a conversation about this stuff? We’ve broken down everything you need to know, from A to Z.

Referendums: What are they and why they matter

Referendums: What are they and why they matter

An illustrated graphic of the letter R made up of a collage of photos go people voting.

The Australian Constitution: What it is and how it affects you

The Australian Constitution: What it is and how it affects you

An illustration of the letter C made up of a collage of images of people voting.

The A to Z of Australian referendums

The A to Z of Australian referendums

An illustrated graphic reads Discover the A to Z of Australian referendums. The A and Z have a collage of images of people voting.

Referendum recap

Australia has held 44 federal referendums since Federation (plus a few bonus ones), all of which were important in their own way. Some you may have heard of, others may be a total mystery. In this section, we take a look at some past referendums, what they were about, and why they mattered.

1916: Conscription

1916: Conscription

A yellowed leaflet with black script writing and an image of a mother and a child. The corner of the leaflet is torn off removing some of the text. The text reads Australian Labor Party Anti-Conscription Campaign. Vote no mum, they'll take dad next. Vote no.

1928: State debts

1928: State debts

A newspaper cartoon in black and white of a group of men sitting around a table with the words Loan Council written on it and a Monopoly man character in the middle.

1937: Aviation

1937: Aviation

Aviator Charles Ulm and Prime Minister Joe Lyons stand with another man in front of an airplane. It's a black and white photo.

1946: Social Services referendum

1946: Social Services referendum

‘Chifley spells security’ badge. Chifley’s down-to-earth appeal helped him successfully pass the social security referendum and the Labor party re-elected in 1946.

1951: Communists and communism referendum

1951: Communists and communism referendum

‘Yes’ campaign’s handbill, 1951. Campaigners leaned heavily on fears of Communism, especially in the wake of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949.

1967: Indigenous affairs

1967: Indigenous affairs

A black and white photo of a car and a float with a group of people standing in front of a sign that reads full citz rights for Aboriginals.

1977: National song poll

1977: National song poll

A yellowed cover of sheet music to Advance Australia Fair written in detailed cursive script.

1988: Rights and freedoms

1988: Rights and freedoms

Cover of a faded black pamphlet with large white text reading 'VOTE Yes!'. Below, smaller white reads 'Yes for fewer elections, Yes for fair elections, Yes to recognise local government, Yes to guarantee people's rights. Constitutional update Saturday 3 September 1986'

1999: Republic referendum

1999: Republic referendum

A voter walks past political banners on his way to the polling booth at Melbourne Town Hall during the republic referendum, 6 November 1999.