Mr. Menzies' Referendum
The result of the Australian referendum on an amendment to the Constitution which would make the enforced dissolution of the Communist Party possible leaves the Communists secure for some time to come, for it is hard to see what further steps the Government can take now. To succeed, the Government needed a majority of individual voters and the support of four out of the six States involved. It has secured neither, so its proposal lapses. On the relation between the dissolution of a political party and the freedom of the subject there is room for two opinions. It does not necessarily follow that because Communists have full freedom to speak, write, vote and sit in Parliament in Great Britain the same latitude should be permitted them in Australia, where Communism is a more serious menace. But the Austra- lian Government aimed at something more than the dissolution of a party, and it seems clear that many convinced anti- Communists thought Mr. Menzies was going too far. In addi- tion, various motives unconnected with Communism inspired many voters to cast their ballots against the Government. The result of it all is that the prestige of the Government is heavily damaged, and doubts as to the value of a referendum is a constitutional instrument are reinforced.
Previous page
