Australian referendum, 1928

The referendum of 17 November 1928 approved an amendment to the Australian constitution concerning financial relations between the Commonwealth of Australia and its states. Technically it was a vote on the Constitution Alteration (State Debts) Act 1928, which, after being approved in the referendum, became law on 13 February 1929.

The purpose of the amendment was to ensure the constitutionality of the Financial Agreement that had been reached by the federal and all state governments in 1927. This agreement discontinued the per-capita payments system that had previously existed since 1910, and restricted the borrowing rights of the states by subjecting such borrowing to control by a Loan Council.

The referendum was held in conjunction with the 1928 federal election.

The financial relations between the Commonwealth of Australia and the states worsened during the 1920s. A financial settlement between the governments in 1910 had introduced "per capita grants", whereby each state received annual grants from the commonwealth of 25 shillings ($2.50) per head of its population. By the mid-1920s, inflation had made serious inroads into this sum but no new formula had been found.

The 1927 Financial Agreement, apart from establishing a new grants regime, provided for commonwealth assistance in state debt reduction and, most importantly, established the Loan Council. Henceforth all governmental borrowing, except for purposes of defence, was to be under Loan Council control. Due to doubts concerning the constitutionality of this new body, it was agreed that its legality would be put beyond doubt by the insertion of a new provision, Section 105A, into the Finance and Trade Chapter of the Constitution. The amendment was carried by a large majority of voters, and in all six states.

The Loan Council, described as "a unique institution among federations", attracted overseas attention from the moment of its birth:

The Loan Council has had a dramatic impact on Commonwealth-State financial relations, particularly in helping the Commonwealth government oversee the national economy.

Insertion of new 105A:

Question: Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled 'Constitution Alteration (State Debts) 1928?

Obtained majority in all States and an overall majority of 1,463,539 votes. Carried.

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