Constitution Alteration (Monopolies) 1910 was an Australian referendum held in the 1911 referendums which sought to alter the Australian Constitution to give the Commonwealth power to nationalise any corporation deemed by both houses of parliament to be a monopoly.
Contents
Question
Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled 'Constitution Alteration (Monopolies) 1910'?
The proposal was to add section 51a to the Constitution to read as follows:
51a. When each House of the Parliament, in the same session, has by Resolution declared that the industry or business of producing manufacturing or supplying any specified goods, or of supplying any specified services, is the subject of a monopoly, the Parliament shall have power to make laws for carrying on the industry or business by or under the control of the Commonwealth, and acquiring for that purpose on just terms any property used in connexion with the industry or business.
Results
The referendum was not approved by a majority of voters, and a majority of the voters was achieved in only one state, Western Australia.
Discussion
This was the first of many times that similar questions were asked at a referendum. On every occasion the public decided not to vest power in the government over monopolies.