The political fallout was swift and, by November 1916, had led to the collapse of the First Hughes Ministry.

[7] The plebiscite was held due to the Australian Government's desire to increase the recruitment of forces for overseas service to a total of 7,000 men per month.

All of the historical documentation refers to the ballot as a referendum,[8][9] even though it did not involve a proposal to amend the Australian Constitution.

Because it was not an amendment to the constitution, (1) it had no legal force, (2) it did not require approval in a majority of states and (3) residents of federal territories were able to vote.

[12] Despite the fact that the 1917 plebiscite was less far-reaching than the 1916 one, the anti-conscription vote won by a larger margin than it had in 1916.