People Power: How Australian referendums are lost and won

Publisher’s description:
Why has success been so rare in Australian referendums?

From the failed attempt to ban communism in 1951 to the unsuccessful 'Voice' referendum in 2023, Australians have been cautious about constitutional change, voting ‘Yes’ to only eight out of 45 referendum proposals.

In People Power, the only full history of constitutional change in Australia, constitutional experts George Williams and David Hume closely examine our referendum record and explain why success is difficult to achieve. They interview leading proponents for constitutional change and analyse each referendum campaign, the public response and the forces that shaped the outcome.

This comprehensively updated edition of People Power includes analysis on the 2023 Voice referendum along with discussion of the rise of interest in state and territory referendums, and the 2017 national plebiscite on same-sex marriage.

Authors: David Hume and George Williams

Publisher: UNSW Press

Format: Paperback

Pages: 368

Published: September 2024

ISBN: 9781742237985