1944 Australian Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights referendum

1944 Australian Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights referendum

19 August 1944 (1944-08-19)
Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled — "Constitution Alteration (Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights) 1944" ?
Results
Choice Votes % Yes 1,963,400 45.99% No 2,305,418 54.01% Valid votes 4,268,818 98.69% Invalid or blank votes 56,633 1.31% Total votes 4,325,451 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 4,483,949 96.47%

The Constitution Alteration (Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights) Bill 1944^[1] was an unsuccessful proposal to alter the Australian Constitution to give the Commonwealth an additional 14 powers for a period of five years, with Prime Minister John Curtin saying that maintaining wartime controls was necessary for Australia to re-adjust to peacetime conditions. It was put to voters for approval in an Australian referendum held on 19 August 1944.