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Direct Democracy

Australia Australia

DD002

Direct Democracy Provisions (National Level)
Question:Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy Procedures at the national level?
Answer: a. Yes
Comments: All proposed constitutional amendments must be submitted to a binding referendum. Australia requires a referendum for amendments to the constitution, and instruments of direct democracy are also used in several of the Australian states
Source: "Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook" (2008), p190 (https://www.idea.int/sites/default/files/publications/direct-democracy-the-international-idea-handbook_0.pdf) Constitution: https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/~/media/AC79BBA0B87A4906A6D71ACCEEF10535.ashx Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (amended in 2019): https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00103/f85985f8-e256-4e11-ad31-884ed7f92224 Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00100/f03f448e-da13-4d34-928b-688bc43735e4
Verified: 2024/09/09
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
DD003

Mandatory referendums (national level)
Question:Are there any Legal Provisions for Mandatory Referendums at the national level?
Answer: a. Yes
Comments: All proposed constitutional amendments must be submitted to a binding referendum.
Source: "Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook" (2008), (https://www.idea.int/sites/default/files/publications/direct-democracy-the-international-idea-handbook_0.pdf) Constitution: https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Senate/Powers_practice_n_procedures/~/media/AC79BBA0B87A4906A6D71ACCEEF10535.ashx Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (amended in 2019): https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00103/f85985f8-e256-4e11-ad31-884ed7f92224 Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00100/f03f448e-da13-4d34-928b-688bc43735e4
Verified: 2024/09/09
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
DD004

Optional referendums (national level)
Question:Are there any Legal Provisions for Optional Referendums at the national level?
Answer: a. Yes
Comments:
Source: "Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook" (2008), (https://www.idea.int/sites/default/files/publications/direct-democracy-the-international-idea-handbook_0.pdf) Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (amended in 2019): https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00103/f85985f8-e256-4e11-ad31-884ed7f92224 Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00100/f03f448e-da13-4d34-928b-688bc43735e4
Verified: 2024/09/09
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
DD005

Citizens' Initiatives (national level)
Question:Are there any Legal Provisions for Citizen’s Initiatives at national level?
Answer: b. No
Comments:
Source: "Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook" (2008), (https://www.idea.int/sites/default/files/publications/direct-democracy-the-international-idea-handbook_0.pdf) Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00100/f03f448e-da13-4d34-928b-688bc43735e4
Verified: 2024/09/09
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
DD006

Agenda Initiatives (national level)
Question:Are there any Legal Provisions for Agenda Initiatives at national level?
Answer: b. No
Comments:
Source: "Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook" (2008), (https://www.idea.int/sites/default/files/publications/direct-democracy-the-international-idea-handbook_0.pdf) Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00100/f03f448e-da13-4d34-928b-688bc43735e4
Verified: 2024/09/09
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
DD007


Question:Are there any Legal Provisions for Recalls at national level?
Answer: b. No
Comments:
Source: "Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook" (2008), (https://www.idea.int/sites/default/files/publications/direct-democracy-the-international-idea-handbook_0.pdf) Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00100/f03f448e-da13-4d34-928b-688bc43735e4
Verified: 2024/09/09
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
DD129


Question:Are the results of referenda always binding, never binding or sometimes binding?
Answer: b. Sometimes binding
Comments: Referendums on the basis of Constitutional Amendments are always binding.
Source: "Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook" (2008), (https://www.idea.int/sites/default/files/publications/direct-democracy-the-international-idea-handbook_0.pdf) Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00100/f03f448e-da13-4d34-928b-688bc43735e4
Verified: 2024/09/09
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
DD130


Question:Are the types of issues to vote upon in a referendum constitutional changes only, other issues only or both constitutional and other issues?
Answer: c. Both constitutional and other issues
Comments:
Source: "Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook" (2008), (https://www.idea.int/sites/default/files/publications/direct-democracy-the-international-idea-handbook_0.pdf) Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00100/f03f448e-da13-4d34-928b-688bc43735e4
Verified: 2024/09/09
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
DD131


Question:Are there any Legal Provisions for Direct Democracy at sub-national levels (regional or local)?
Answer: a. Yes
Comments: Australia requires a referendum for amendments to the constitution, and instruments of direct democracy are also used in several of the Australian states
Source: "Direct Democracy: The International IDEA Handbook" (2008), (https://www.idea.int/sites/default/files/publications/direct-democracy-the-international-idea-handbook_0.pdf) Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Act 1984: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00100/f03f448e-da13-4d34-928b-688bc43735e4
Verified: 2024/09/09
(Found a mistake? Please let us know.)
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