1992 Australian Capital Territory electoral system referendum explained

The 1992 Australian Capital Territory electoral system referendum was a referendum held on 15 February 1992, asking voters in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) to choose their electoral system. The referendum took place alongside the 1992 ACT election.

Voters were asked to choose between the proportional Hare–Clark system or single-member electorates (using preferential voting). The winning option would replace the modified d'Hondt system (which was introduced at the 1989 election).

By a comfortable margin, voters chose Hare–Clark, which came into effect at the 1995 ACT election. A second referendum, also held in 1995, saw voters support entrenching the principles of Hare–Clark.^{[2] [3]}

Background

Under Hare–Clark, the ACT would be divided into two five-member electorates and one seven-member electorate (these became Brindabella, Ginninderra and Molonglo respectively). The only other Australian jurisdiction using Hare–Clark was Tasmania, which used the system for its lower house.

Under single-member electorates, 17 different seats would be created, each electing one MLA. This was the system used in the lower houses of all Australian states (excluding Tasmania, which used it for its upper house) and the federal House of Representatives.^[4]

Campaign

Beginning in 1990, ongoing debate took place about the ACT's electoral system.^[5] Opinion polling in 1990 and 1991 showed single-member seats with a significant lead, including as high as 53% compared to 27% for Hare–Clark.^[6] However, this began to change as the referendum date approached. A January 1992 poll showed single-member seats with only a one-point lead, and in the final Canberra Times/Datacol poll conducted just days before the vote, Hare–Clark had taken the lead with 51% compared to 29% for single-member seats.

Result

Hare–Clark was comfortably chosen as the preferred system, with 65.3% of voters supporting it, while 34.7% voted in favour of single-member electorates.^[7] The result was projected on the night of the referendum, with Hare–Clark supporters declaring it as a victory for "people power".^[8]

The referendum, like the election, was conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).^[1]

Endorsements

Hare–Clark

Political parties

• ACT Liberal Party^[6]
• Australian Democrats^[9]
• Better Management Team^[10]
• Fair Elections Coalition^{[11] [12] [13]}
• Michael Moore Independent Group^[14]
• New Conservative Group^[10]
• New Left Party^[10]
• Residents Rally^[15]

Organisations

• Australian Conservation Foundation^[10]
• Proportional Representation Society of Australia
• The Wilderness Society^[10]

Individuals

• Ted Mack (federal independent MP)^[16]
• Malcolm Mackerras (political analyst and psephologist)^[17]

Newspapaers

• The Canberra Times^[18]

Single-member

Political parties

• ACT Labor Party^{[19] [20]}

Opinion polling

Voting intention

Date	Firm	Interview mode	Sample size	Voting intention
		class=unsortable style=background:#5F8FA8		class=unsortable style=background:#7FA894		class=unsortable style=background:darkgrey	Undecided
style=text-align:left	15 February 1992	style=text-align:left	1992 referendum	—	165,304	63.3%	34.7%	—
style=text-align:left	14 February 1992	style=text-align:left	Michael Moore Independent Group[21]	Telephone	275	48%	29%	23%
style=text-align:left	6−11 February 1992	style=text-align:left	Canberra Times/Datacol[22] [23]	Telephone	1333	51%	29%	20%
style=text-align:left	26 January 1992	style=text-align:left	Canberra Times/Datacol[24] [25]	Telephone		38%	39%	23%
style=text-align:left	15−20 December 1991	style=text-align:left	Canberra Times/Datacol[26] [27]	Telephone	915	31%	41%	28%
style=text-align:left	30 April−16 May 1991	style=text-align:left	Canberra Times/Datacol[28] [29] [30] [31]	Telephone	808	27%	53%	20%
style=text-align:left	May 1991	style=text-align:left	ABC Television[32] [33]	Telephone (call-in)	600	67%	33%
style=text-align:left	18−24 August 1990	style=text-align:left	Canberra Times/Datacol[34] [35]	Telephone	601	20%	47%	33%

Results by party affiliation

Date	Firm	Interview mode	Sample size	Labor			Liberal			Others
		HC	SM	DK	HC	SM	DK	HC	SM	DK
style=text-align:left	6−11 February 1992	style=text-align:left	Canberra Times/Datacol	Telephone	1333	39%		44%	18%	61%	24%	15%	70%	19%	12%
style=text-align:left	26 January 1992	style=text-align:left	Canberra Times/Datacol	Telephone		32.6%		48.0%	19.0%	44.0%	37.0%	18.0%	46.4%	33.5%	20.0%
style=text-align:left	15−20 December 1991	style=text-align:left	Canberra Times/Datacol	Telephone	915	25%		53%	22%	37%	style=background:#bbeafa	43%	20%	42%	33%	25%
style=text-align:left	30 April−16 May 1991	style=text-align:left	Canberra Times/Datacol	Telephone	808	28%		59%	14%	28%	style=background:#bbeafa	51%	21%	39%%		46%	14%

External links

• Official referendum booklet (archived on 4 October 2024)

Notes and References

1. Web site: A Referendum for a new electoral system for the ACT Legislative Assembly . Australian Electoral Commission . 24 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241004001622/https://www.elections.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/2471057/1992-referendum-for-and-against-case-booklet.pdf . 4 October 2024.
2. Web site: Voting referendum . The Canberra Times . 27 October 2024 . 22 . 18 February 1995.
3. Web site: 1995 Referendum . 9 July 2024 . Elections ACT . 27 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20241007133010/https://www.elections.act.gov.au/elections/referendums/1995-referendum . 7 October 2024.
4. Web site: Electoral systems of Australia's parliaments and local government . Electoral Council of Australia and New Zealand . 14 September 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240627122450/https://www.ecanz.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-10/1-electoral-systems.pdf . 27 June 2024 . October 2021.
5. Web site: Mason . Leanne . Alliance still credible next vote: Kaine . The Canberra Times . 23 October 2024 . 3 . 29 August 1990.
6. Web site: Mason . Leanne . Canberra voters prefer single-member electorates . The Canberra Times . 24 October 2024 . 1 . 21 May 1991.
7. Web site: 1992 Referendum . Elections ACT . 24 October 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240711100032/https://www.elections.act.gov.au/elections/referendums/1992-referendum . 11 July 2024.
8. Web site: Lamberton . Hugh . Resounding 'yes' for Hare-Clark . The Canberra Times . 24 October 2024 . 1 . 16 February 1992.
9. Web site: Lamberton . Hugh . Democrats call for early referendum on ACT poll . The Canberra Times . 24 October 2024 . 1 . 1 April 1991.
10. Web site: Lamberton . Hugh . Five more groups join Hare-Clark fight . The Canberra Times . 24 October 2024 . 3 . 22 January 1992.
11. Web site: Warden . Ian . Single-member polls 'unfair' . The Canberra Times . 17 November 2024 . 3 . 17 April 1989.
12. Web site: Cumming . Fia . Time taken to obtain poll result ludicrous . The Canberra Times . 17 November 2024 . 9 . 3 May 1989.
13. Web site: Bird . Megan . D'Hondt unfair: election official . The Canberra Times . 17 November 2024 . 1 . 5 September 1989.
14. Web site: Lamberton . Hugh . Hare-Clark favoured by Moore, Humphries . The Canberra Times . 24 October 2024 . 4 . 9 January 1990.
15. Web site: Mason . Leanne . Almost tripartite unity on Hare-Clark . The Canberra Times . 24 October 2024 . 3 . 12 April 1991.
16. Web site: Hare-Clark the only 'fair vote' . The Canberra Times . 24 October 2024 . 4 . 12 February 1992.
17. Web site: Coelli . Andree . Vote on voting system backed . The Canberra Times . 17 November 2024 . 4 February 1990.
18. Web site: Hare-Clark is better system . The Canberra Times . 27 October 2024 . 8 . 27 January 1992.
19. Web site: Kaine endorses Hare-Clark pact . The Canberra Times . 24 October 2024 . 4 . 13 April 1991.
20. Web site: Lamberton . Hugh . Bipartisan blessing for Hare-Clark . The Canberra Times . 24 October 2024 . 5 . 18 February 1992.
21. Web site: Lamberton . Hugh . Independents do their own polling . The Canberra Times . 24 October 2024 . 4 . 14 February 1992.
22. Web site: Lamberton . Hugh . Turnaround: Hare-Clark set to triumph . The Canberra Times . 24 October 2024 . 1 . 14 February 1992.
23. Web site: About the poll . The Canberra Times . 24 October 2024 . 1 . 13 February 1992.
24. Web site: Lamberton . Hugh . Voting gap closing . The Canberra Times . 24 October 2024 . 2 . 26 January 1992.
25. Web site: Vindication' for Hare-Clark . The Canberra Times . 24 October 2024 . 2 . 27 January 1992.
26. Web site: Support for Hare-Clark increasing . The Canberra Times . 24 October 2024 . 2 . 22 December 1991.
27. Web site: ABOUT THE POLL . The Canberra Times . 24 October 2024 . 2 . 22 December 1991.
28. Web site: Mason . Leanne . Canberra voters prefer single-member electorates . The Canberra Times . 24 October 2024 . 1 . 21 May 1991.
29. Web site: Mason . Leanne . What ACT voters prefer . The Canberra Times . 24 October 2024 . 2 . 21 May 1991.
30. Web site: ABOUT THE POLL . The Canberra Times . 24 October 2024 . 2 . 21 May 1991.
31. Web site: System will influence results . The Canberra Times . 24 October 2024 . 2 . 19 May 1991.
32. Web site: Poll supports Tas-type vote . The Canberra Times . 24 October 2024 . 4 . 7 May 1991.
33. Web site: Thompson . Nigel . Phone-in polls are phoney . The Canberra Times . 24 October 2024 . 8 . 11 May 1991.
34. Web site: Alliance still credible next vote: Kaine . The Canberra Times . 23 October 2024 . 3 . 29 August 1990.
35. Web site: Canberrans rate Assembly a poor performer on all fronts . The Canberra Times . 23 October 2024 . 3 . 29 August 1990.