Bills Digest no. 81 1977
Constitution Alteration (Referendums) 1977
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This Digest was prepared for debate. It reflects the legislation as
introduced and does not canvass subsequent amendments. This Digest
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CONTENTS
Passage History
Purpose
Summary
Contact Officer & Copyright Details
Passage History
Constitution Alteration
(Referendums) 1977
Date introduced: 16 February
1977
House: House of Representatives
Purpose
The purpose of the proposed law is to
alter section 128 of the Constitution so that the electors in
Territories may vote at referendums to alter the Constitution.
Summary
The first and second paragraphs of
section 128 of the Constitution provide that proposed laws to alter
the Constitution shall, after the Parliamentary processes described
in those paragraphs have been completed, be submitted to the
electors in each State . The proposed law alters these paragraphs
by inserting after the words in each State the words and Territory
.
The Territories concerned are those
that at any stage are represented in the House of Representatives
and a new paragraph is inserted to that effect. If, under section
122 of the Constitution a law was made providing for the
representation of a Territory other than by direct vote of the
people, the people of that Territory would not be entitled to vote
at referendums under section 128 because both the first and second
paragraphs will now refer to the submission of the proposed law to
the electors in each State and Territory who are qualified to vote
for the election of the House of Representatives .
Law and Government Group
17 February 1977
Bills Digest Service
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ISSN 1328-8091
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