A time for change: yes/no?

• House Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs

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05 January 2010Sweeping changes need to be made to the process of informing Australians before a referendum, according to this report. The Committee found the written material provided to all electors before a referendum is insufficient, and that a greater range of communication is needed to properly inform the public.
 
The Committee has made 17 recommendations in this report, with the key recommendation being to establish a Referendum Panel prior to each referendum. The Referendum Panel would be independent of government and would be responsible for developing an overarching communications strategy for the referendum. The Panel would identify what material should be provided so that electors can make an informed vote.

The Committee also recommended that:
 
• The Yes/No Pamphlets be retained but should be sent to every household rather than every elector;
• Parliamentarians continue to authorise the Yes and No arguments;
• A national civics education program be developed to improve knowledge of the Constitution.
• The Machinery of Referendums Act provisions be consolidated and harmonised with the Commonwealth Electoral Act.