The Constitution Alteration (Nationalization of Monopolies) Bill 1912,[1] was an unsuccessful referendum held in 1913 that sought to alter the Australian Constitution to give the Commonwealth legislative power in respect to monopolies.
The proposal was to alter the text of section 51 of the Constitution to read as follows:[2] 51a.
(1) When each House of the Parliament, in the same session, has by resolution, passed by an absolute majority of its members, declared that the industry or business of producing, manufacturing, or 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.
[3][4] The 1911 referendum asked a single question that dealt with the acquisition of monopolies.
On each of the many occasions a similar question was asked at a referendum the public decided not to vest power in the Commonwealth over these matters.