The 1944 Australian Referendum was held on 19 August 1944. It contained one referendum question.

• (16) Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights (not carried)

Proposed Amendment

Constitution Alteration (Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights) 1944 was known as the 14 powers, or 14 points referendum. It sought to give the government power over a period of five years, to legislate on a wide variety of matters.

The 14 Powers

The powers the government sought to gain included:

• Ex-servicemen rehabilitation
• National health
• Family allowances
• the ability to legislate for Indigenous Australians
  Indigenous Australians
  Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
  
  
• Corporation
  Corporation
  A corporation is created under the laws of a state as a separate legal entity that has privileges and liabilities that are distinct from those of its members. There are many different forms of corporations, most of which are used to conduct business. Early corporations were established by charter...
  
  s, or Combines
• Trust
  Trust law
  In common law legal systems, a trust is a relationship whereby property is held by one party for the benefit of another...
  
  s
• Monopolies
• Freedom of Speech
  Freedom of speech
  Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
  
  
• Freedom of Religion
  Religion
  Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
  
  
• Safeguards against the abuse of legislative power

All of these points were put to referendum in the form of a single question. It is notable that the points referring to corporations, trusts, combines and monopolies had been previously put to referendum, and had not been carried.

The 14 proposals covered the participation of the federal government in post war reconstruction, including control over employment, profiteering and prices and related subjects.

For and Against

The proposal was put forward and supported by the Labor

Australian Labor Party

The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...

 government.
It was opposed by federal opposition (United Australia Party

United Australia Party

The United Australia Party was an Australian political party that was founded in 1931 and dissolved in 1945. It was the political successor to the Nationalist Party of Australia and predecessor to the Liberal Party of Australia...

 and the Country Party

Country Party

Country Party may refer to* Country Party of Australia, now called "National Party of Australia"* In Great Britain:** Country Party , opponents of the Court Party and the government, late 17th early 18th century** Ultra-Tories, active 1829–32...

.
The Prime Minister John Curtin

John Curtin

John Joseph Curtin , Australian politician, served as the 14th Prime Minister of Australia. Labor under Curtin formed a minority government in 1941 after the crossbench consisting of two independent MPs crossed the floor in the House of Representatives, bringing down the Coalition minority...

 gave this broadcast to the nation on 25 July 1944.
The Prime Minister said to abandon war-time controls on the declaration of peace would cause disorganization to the social system and destroy the capacity of the system to meet the need of the first few disturbed years after the war.
Country Party leader Arthur Fadden

Arthur Fadden

Sir Arthur William Fadden, GCMG was an Australian politician and, briefly, the 13th Prime Minister of Australia.-Introduction:...

gave this broadcast against the motion.

Results

Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled 'Constitution Alteration (Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights) 1944'?

Result

State	On rolls	Ballots issued	For		Against		Informal
				%		%
New South Wales	1,758,166	1,694,119	759,211	%45.44	911,680	%54.56	23,228
Victoria	1,266,662	1,227,571	597,848	%49.31	614,487	%50.69	15,236
Queensland	633,907	599,568	216,262	%36.52	375,862	%63.48	7,444
South Australia	403,133	392,443	196,294	%50.64	191,317	%49.36	4,832
Western Australia	278,722	272,339	140,399	%52.25	128,303	%47.75	3,637
Tasmania	143,359	139,411	53,386	%38.92	83,769	%61.08	2,256
Armed Forces*		417,082	218,452		195,148		3,482
Total for Commonwealth	4,483,949	4,325,451	1,963,400	%45.99	2,305,418	%54.01	56,633
Obtained majority in two States and an overall minority of 342,018 votes.
Not carried

* Armed forces totals are also included in their respective states.