South Australia's first referendum in 1896 affirms free secular public education; No to religious instruction
South Australia's first referendum was over religious instruction in state schools such as East Adelaide (Flinders Street) Model School. The South Australian public voted to continue free, secular, state education. They rejected scriptural instruction in state schools and also a capitation grant for religious schools.
South Australia voted in 1896 to continue having free, secular, state education – and opposed religious instruction in schools – in what was Australia’s first referendum, leading to referenda being adopted across Australia.
The first 1896 South Australia referendum followed the the province's Free Education Act 1891 that provided free secular education to children in state schools. This prompted church groups to campaign for scriptural instruction in state schools. The National Scriptural Education League, led by the Wesleyan pastor Joseph Nicholson, unsuccessfully tried to make “scriptural education without dogma” a referendum the 1893 election.
In 1895 Robert Caldwell, an Anglican member of the South Australian House of Assembly, called for a poll of parents of state schoolchildren on the matter. This was extended to a referendum for all voters put as three separate and wider questions. The South Australian public voted to continue free, secular, state education. They rejected scriptural instruction in state schools and also a capitation grant for religious schools.
Other South Australian referenda in the 1890s included the two related to Australian federation with a strong yes vote. A yes vote in 1899 to extend voting for the Legislative Council to all households wasn’t acted upon.
Referendum votes significantly changed the South Australian lifestyle. Especially so in 1914, with 6pm closing of hotel bars introduced. But the vote in 1965 approving state lotteries signalled a change in attitudes that would end 6pm closing. In 1970, the vote went against opening shops in the metropolitan area until 9pm on Fridays. But in 1982, a yes vote brought in daylight saving.
A referendum in 1991 had an impact on the democratic system. The proposal put to voters required the South Australian Electoral Districts Boundaries Commission to redraw the electoral boundaries after every election, and to consider a broader criteria when reviewing boundaries, specifically, "to draw the boundaries in such a way that the party with the majority of (the two-party) vote would also win the majority of seats and so be able to form government". The proposals were accepted by a wide margin.
