What role do voters play in changing the Constitution?

Voters play a key role in changing the Australian Constitution. The Constitution can only be changed in a process called a referendum. Voters influence the referendum process in 2 ways. They: 

• elect members of Parliament, who then decide if a referendum will be held and what the referendum will be about
• have their say in referendums to approve or reject the proposed change to the Constitution.

Before a referendum can take place, the Australian Parliament must first pass a bill – a proposed law – to change the Australian Constitution. Voters influence this process by electing members of Parliament. Sometimes, a person or political party may campaign for election with a promise to hold a referendum on a particular issue.

In a referendum, voters write ‘yes’ on their ballot paper if they approve the proposed change, or ‘no’ if they don’t. A referendum will only be successful if more than half of all voters across Australia vote ‘yes,’ and more than half of voters in a majority of states also vote ‘yes’ (at least 4 out of 6 states).

There have been 45 proposed changes to the Constitution put to voters in referendums since 1901. Only 8 of these changes have been agreed to by the Australian people. While Parliament starts the referendum process, it is the voters who have the final say on changing the Constitution.