Commonwealth Numbered Acts

REFERENDUM (MACHINERY PROVISIONS) ACT 1984 No. 44, 1984 - SECT 11

11. (1) Where-

   (a)  a proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution, being a
        proposed law passed by an absolute majority of both Houses of the
        Parliament, is to be submitted to the electors; and

   (b)  within 4 weeks after the passage of that proposed law through both
        Houses of the Parliament, there is forwarded to the
        Electoral Commissioner-

        (i)    an argument in favour of the proposed law, consisting of not
               more than 2,000 words, authorized by a majority of those
               members of the Parliament who voted for the proposed law and
               desire to forward such an argument; or

        (ii)   an argument against the proposed law, consisting of not more
               than 2,000 words, authorized by a majority of those members of
               the Parliament who voted against the proposed law and desire to
               forward such an argument, the Electoral Commissioner shall,
               unless the Minister informs the Electoral Commissioner that the
               referendum is not to be held, not later than 14 days before the
               voting day for the referendum, cause to be printed and to be
               posted to each elector, as nearly as practicable, a pamphlet
               containing the arguments together with a statement showing the
               textual alterations and additions proposed to be made to the
               Constitution.

(2) Where-

   (a)  a proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution, being a
        proposed law passed by an absolute majority of one House of the
        Parliament only, is to be submitted to the electors; and

   (b)  within 4 weeks after the second passage of that proposed law through
        that House of the Parliament, there is forwarded to the Electoral
        Commissioner-

        (i)    an argument in favour of the proposed law, consisting of not
               more than 2,000 words, authorized by a majority of those
               members of the Parliament who voted for the proposed law and
               desire to forward such an argument; or

        (ii)   an argument against the proposed law, consisting of not more
               than 2,000 words, authorized by a majority of those members of
               the Parliament who voted against the proposed law and desire to
               forward such an argument, the Electoral Commissioner shall,
               unless the Minister informs the Electoral Commissioner that the
               referendum is not to be held, not later than 14 days before the
               voting day for the referendum, cause to be printed and to be
               posted to each elector, as nearly as practicable, a pamphlet
               containing the arguments together with a statement showing the
               textual alterations and additions proposed to be made to the
               Constitution.

(3) When there are to be referendums upon more than one proposed law on the
same day-

   (a)  the arguments in relation to all the proposed laws shall be printed in
        one pamphlet;

   (b)  the argument in favour of any proposed law may exceed 2,000 words if
        the arguments in favour of all the proposed laws do not average more
        than 2,000 words each and the argument against any proposed law may
        exceed 2,000 words if the arguments against all the proposed laws do
        not average more than 2,000 words each; and

   (c)  there may be one statement setting out all the alterations and
        additions proposed to be made to the Constitution by all the proposed
        laws, with marginal notes identifying the proposed law by which each
        alteration or addition is proposed to be made.

(4) The Commonwealth shall not expend money in respect of the presentation of
the argument in favour of, or the argument against, a proposed law except in
relation to-

   (a)  the preparation, printing and distribution of the pamphlets referred
        to in this section, or the preparation and distribution of
        translations into other languages of material contained in those
        pamphlets;

   (b)  the provision by the Electoral Commission of other information
        relating to, or relating to the effect of, the proposed law; or

   (c)  the salaries and allowances of members of the Parliament, of members
        of the staff of members of the Parliament or of persons who are
        officers or employees within the meaning of the Public Service Act
        1922.