1988 Australian referendum (Local Government)

{{Short description|Unsuccessful constitutional proposal}}

{{Use Australian English|date=October 2021}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}

{{infobox referendum

| name = 1988 Australian Local Government referendum

| title = A Proposed Law: To alter the Constitution to recognise local government.

Do you approve of this proposed alteration?

| country = Australia

| date = {{start date|1988|09|03|df=y}}

| yes = 3,163,488

| no = 6,248,166

| invalid = 126,071

| electorate = 10,362,959

| outcome = Not carried, A majority "no" vote nationally and in all six states.

| map = 250px

| mapdivision = federal electoral division

| notes = Note: Saturation of colour denotes strength of vote

}}

The Constitution Alteration (Local Government) Bill 1988,{{cite Legislation AU|Cth|bill|cagb1988464|Constitution Alteration (Local Government) Bill 1988}} was an unsuccessful proposal to alter the Australian Constitution to require that the states maintain a system of democratically elected local government. The amendment would have prevented states from abolishing their local governments or removing elections for them entirely if they so chose to do.{{cite Hansard |jurisdiction= Commonwealth of Australia|title= CONSTITUTION ALTERATION (LOCAL GOVERNMENT) 1988: Second Reading |url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/chamber/hansardr/1988-05-10/toc_pdf/H%201988-05-10.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf#search=%22chamber/hansardr/1988-05-10/0031%22 |house= House of Representatives |date=10 May 1988 |column_start=2389 |column_end=2390 |speaker=Lionel Bowen |position=Attorney-General}} It was put to voters for approval in a referendum held on 3 September 1988.

The structure of the Constitution primarily deals with the federal level and its relationship with the states, and therefore leaves the issue of local government to the states. The failure of this did not make local government unconstitutional, state parliaments are still free to establish systems of local governments through legislation under section 107 of the Federal Constitution. Each state has provided for constitutional recognition in its respective state constitution.{{cite web |last1=AAP FactCheck |title=Third-tier government claim is first rate nonsense |url=https://www.aap.com.au/factcheck/third-tier-government-claim-is-first-rate-nonsense/ |website=aap |publisher=Australian Associated Press |access-date=30 January 2025}}

The "no" campaign in 1988 argued that this change would undermine states' rights, i.e. that it would move – or make it possible to move – some power from state governments to local governments.