Perhaps the widest-ranging referendum was put to Australians in 1944.
While just one proposal, the post-war reconstruction proposal would have given the government extended powers over 14 different areas – leading to its moniker of the “14 powers” or “14 points referendum” – for five years.
Those areas ranged from rehabilitating former soldiers to foreign investment, monopolies and trusts (sound familiar?), and Indigenous Australians.
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Prime Minister John Curtin argued the powers were required, as keeping wartime provision would be essential in transitioning Australia to peacetime.
His citizens weren’t quite so convinced. While SA and WA voted in favour, the other states didn’t, and the Yes vote could only reach 45.99 per cent.
