Australian referendum, 1946 (Marketing)

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Section 42 of the Australian Constitution limited the government's power to make laws with respect to the organised marketing of primary products. Constitution Alteration (Organised Marketing of Primary Products) 1946 sought to remove these restrictions. The question was put to a referendum in the Australian referendum, 1946.

[edit] Results

Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled "Constitution Alteration (Organised Marketing of Primary Products) 1946"?

Result
State	On rolls	Ballots issued	For		Against		Informal
State	On rolls	Ballots issued		%		%	Informal
New South Wales	1,858,749	1,757,150	855,233	%51.83	794,852	%48.17	107,065
Victoria	1,345,537	1,261,374	624,343	%52.37	567,860	%47.63	69,171
Queensland	660,316	612,170	251,672	%43.74	323,678	%56.26	36,820
South Australia	420,361	399,301	183,674	%48.74	193,201	%51.26	22,426
Western Australia	300,337	279,066	145,781	%56.21	113,562	%43.79	19,723
Tasmania	154,553	144,880	55,561	%42.55	75,018	%57.45	14,301
Armed Forces*		37,021	19,924	%53.81	15,997	%43.21	986
Total for Commonwealth	4,739,853	4,453,941	2,116,264	%50.57	2,068,171	%49.43	269,506
Obtained majority in three States and an overall majority of 48,093 votes.
Not carried

* Armed forces totals are also included in their respective states.

[edit] Discussion

This was one of the few occasions when an overall national majority was evident, albeit by a small margin, but no state majority was reached resulting in the referendum being not carried.