People Power: The history and future of the referendum in Australia

(Paperback, new edition)

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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, approving 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 has been so rare. They interview leading proponents for constitutional change and analyse each referendum campaign, the public response and the forces that shaped the outcome. This updated edition includes analysis on the Voice referendum along with discussion about the rise of interest in state and territory referendums, and the national plebiscite on same-sex marriage in 2017. The answer to Australia's successful referendums Truly engaging the people in the political process.

Author Bio

George Williams is the Vice-Chancellor and President of Western Sydney University. He previously served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Dean of Law and Anthony Mason Professor at UNSW. He is a leading constitutional lawyer whose books include Australian Constitutional Law and Theory, The Oxford Companion to the High Court of Australia and How to Rule Your Own Country: The Weird and Wonderful World of Micronations. He has appeared as a barrister in the High Court and lead major public inquiries.

David Hume is a Barrister at the New South Wales Bar and a Fellow of the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law. David has appeared in more than 30 cases in the High Court of Australia, including many constitutional cases. He has previously worked for the Constitutional Litigation Unit at the Australian Government Solicitor, as a Solicitor at Freehills and as the Associate to Chief Justice Murray Gleeson. He has a Masters of Laws from Harvard Law School, which he attended as a General Sir John Monash Scholar and Frank Knox Memorial Fellow. He has university medals in Law and Philosophy from the University of New South Wales.