Research Note 23 1997-98

Constitutional Convention Election 1997

Gerard Newman
Statistics Group
23 January 1998

Introduction

In November and December 1997, Australian electors participated in a unique election to elect delegates to the 1998 Constitutional Convention. The method of election, voluntary postal ballot, aroused considerable controversy, as it was seen by some to be the first step in a possible move away from compulsory voting.

In total 609 candidates stood for election to one of the 76 elected delegate places. A further 76 delegates appointed by the Government and representing federal, State and Territory Parliaments, youth and the general public will also attend the Convention.

Results

The election represented a considerable victory for the republican cause with declared republicans winning 46 seats, compared to the 27 seats won by declared monarchists. Three winning candidates were uncommitted to either cause (see Table 1 for details).

The Australian Republican Movement (ARM) won the largest number of seats, 27, followed by their main rival the Australians for Constitutional Monarchy (ACM) with 19 seats. Other groups winning seats include the Ted Mack group (2 seats), Australian Monarchist League (3), Safeguard the People (2), Real Republic (2), Clem Jones Queensland Constitutional Republic Team (3) and Constitutional Monarchists (2).

In terms of votes received the two Australia- wide groups, the ARM and the ACM, were dominant. The ARM was also the most successful group with 30.4% of the Australia wide vote while the ACM received 22.5% (see Table 2 for details).

Groups who polled well on a state basis were the Ted Mack group in New South Wales (12.8% of the state vote), the Real Republic group in Victoria (11.0%), the Clem Jones Queensland Constitutional Republic Team (19.3%), and the Constitutional Monarchists also in Queensland (10.4%).

One of the main features of the election was the success of former politicians, among whom, on the republican side, were Neville Wran and Karin Sowada (both NSW), Phil Cleary (Vic), Clem Jones, Michael Lavarch and Sallyanne Atkinson (all Qld), and Baden Teague (SA). Former politicians were equally common on the monarchist side with Doug Sutherland and Alasdair Webster (both NSW), Don Chipp (Vic), Sir James Killen, Glen Sheil, and Lady Flo Bjelke-Petersen (all Qld), and Reg Withers (WA) being elected.

Turnout

One of the main criticisms of the voluntary postal ballot method used for this election was the likelihood that a low voter turnout would jeopardise the legitimacy of the result. Concern was expressed both about the level of voter turnout as a whole and the level of turnout among particular groups in the community ie. young people, transient population groups and non-English speakers etc.

These fears were partly realised with an Australia- wide voter turnout figure of only 45.3%. Turnout rates varied among the states and territories from a high of 51.0% in the ACT to a low of 38.4% in the NT.

A slightly more generous definition of voter turnout, based on the number of envelopes returned rather than the number of votes admitted to the count, gives a turnout rate of 46.6%. A significant number of envelopes were returned without the voter declaration being signed while others contained two or more ballot papers. In both cases the ballot papers could not be admitted to the count because of voter validation requirements.

1. The Convention election legislation (Constitutional Convention (Election) Act 1997) was initially opposed by all non-government Senators and was only passed after a clause (section 12) was inserted stating that the method of voting used for this election was not to be a precedent for any future Commonwealth election or referendum.

Table 1 Constitutional Convention Delegates Elected

Source: Canberra Times, 23 December 1997

Table 2 Constitutional Convention Election, First Preference Votes

Per cent

Source: Australian Electoral Commission

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