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Categories: 1916 | Australian referendums

Australian plebiscite, 1916

The 1916 Australian plebiscite was held on 28 October 1916. It was the first Australian plebiscite, and contained one question.

(1) Military Service

The Plebiscite

This plebiscite was held due to the Government's desire to increase the available forces for overseas service during the ongoing World War I. 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	1,055,986	858,399	356,805	%42.92	474,544	%57.08	27,050
Victoria	824,972	696,684	353,930	%51.88	328,216	%48.12	14,538
Queensland	366,042	309,921	144,200	%47.71	158,051	%52.29	7,670
South Australia	262,781	211,252	87,924	%42.44	119,236	%57.56	4,092
Western Australia	167,602	140,648	94,069	%69.71	40,884	%30.29	5,695
Tasmania	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.

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