Australian plebiscite, 1916 - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The 1916 Australian plebiscite was held on 28 October 1916. It was the first non-binding Australian plebiscite

Referendums in Australia

In Australia, referendums are binding polls usually used to alter the Constitution of the Commonwealth or a state or territory. Non-binding polls are usually referred to as plebiscites.-Federal referendums:...

, and contained one question concerning Military Service.

This plebiscite was held due to the Government's desire to increase the available forces for overseas service during the ongoing World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

. It was conducted under the Military Service Referendum Act 1916.

Results

Are you in favour of the Government having, in this grave emergency, the same compulsory powers over citizens in regard to requiring their military service, for the term of this war, outside the Commonwealth, as it now has in regard to military service within the Commonwealth?

Result
State	On rolls	Ballots issued	For		Against		Informal
State	On rolls	Ballots issued		%		%	Informal
New South Wales New South Wales New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...	1,055,986	858,399	356,805	%42.92	474,544	%57.08	27,050
Victoria Victoria (Australia) Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....	824,972	696,684	353,930	%51.88	328,216	%48.12	14,538
Queensland Queensland Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...	366,042	309,921	144,200	%47.71	158,051	%52.29	7,670
South Australia South Australia South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...	262,781	211,252	87,924	%42.44	119,236	%57.56	4,092
Western Australia Western Australia Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...	167,602	140,648	94,069	%69.71	40,884	%30.29	5,695
Tasmania Tasmania Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...	107,875	88,231	48,493	%56.17	37,833	%43.83	1,905
Federal Territories	4,572	3,468	2,136	%62.73	1,269	%37.27	63
Total for Commonwealth	2,789,830	2,308,603*	1,087,557	%48.39	1,160,033	%51.61	61,013
Obtained majority in three States and an overall minority of 72 476 votes.
Not carried

*Including 133,813 votes by members of the Australian
Imperial Force, of which 72,399 were for, 58,894 against, and 2,520
informal.

Results

See also