1933 Western Australian secession referendum

referendum on secession of Western Australia from Commonwealth of Australia

A secession referendum was held on 8 April 1933 in the Australian state of Western Australia. It said that the state withdraw from the Australian Federation.[1] The proposal won a majority of the votes. However, the British Parliament did not allow it..


Are you in favour of the State of Western Australia withdrawing from the Federal Commonwealth established under the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act (Imperial)?
OutcomeQuestion 1 wins and Question 2 is rejected. Referendum ruled invalid by a joint select committee of the British Parliament.
Results
Results
Votes %
Yes 138,653 66.23%
No 70,706 33.77%
Valid votes 209,359 96.33%
Invalid or blank votes 7,967 3.67%
Total votes 217,326 100.00%
Registered voters/turnout 237,198 91.62%
Are you in favour of a Convention of Representatives of equal number from each of the Australian states being summoned for the purpose of proposing such alterations in the Constitution of the Commonwealth as may appear to such Convention to be necessary?
Yes
40.64%
No
54.80%
Invalid ballots
4.57%


References change

  1. "1933—Secession Referendum". Western Australian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015.