A referendum was held on 25 November 1978, asking voters in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) whether the territory should be granted self-governance.

Three options were presented − Proposal A ("self-government"), Proposal B ("local government") and Proposal C ("present arrangements").

Campaign According to future MLA Wayne Berry, many residents saw the establishment of self-government as a cost-cutting exercise.

Result The election was conducted using preferential voting, with voters numbering all options in the order of their preferred governance model. Voting was compulsory. The proposal required 50% (plus 1) of the vote to pass.

63.8% of ACT voters chose to support the present arrangements, compared to 30.5% for self-government and 5.7% for local government. As a result, no change was made to the governing structure. The ACT was later granted self-governance in 1989.

Result by federal electorate Residents of the Jervis Bay Territory, which was part of the federal electorate of Fraser at the time, were not eligible to vote in the referendum.

Electorate Enrolledvoters A (SG) B (LG) C (PA) Informal Turnout Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Total % Canberra 64,538 15,721 28.92 3,227 5.93 35,394 65.13 888 1.60 55,230 85.57 Fraser 65,984 17,759 32.11 3,041 5.49 34,499 62.38 1,000 1.77 56,299 85.32 Total 130,522 33,480 30.54 6,268 5.72 69,893 63.75 1,888 1.69 111,529 85.44

Endorsements Proposal A (self-government) Political parties ACT Labor Party ACT Liberal Party Australian Democrats

Organisations Council of Social Services of the ACT

Individuals All 18 members of the ACT Legislative Assembly Sir Billy Snedden (Federal Liberal MP and Speaker of the House of Representatives)

Proposal B (local government) Individuals John Haslem (Federal Liberal MP for Canberra) John Knight (Liberal senator for the ACT)

Proposal C (present arrangements) Organisations No Change for Canberra Committee

Individuals Adrian Howie (ACT Liberal Party financial director) Tony Rothewell (ACT Liberal Party campaign director)

No support for any proposal Organisations ACT Sports Council

Opinion polling Voting intention DateFirmInterviewmode SamplesizeVoting intention C (PA) 25 November 1978 1978 referendum — 130,522 30.54% 5.49% 63.75% — September—October 1978 ANU Survey Research Centre 491 24.0% 24.5% 44% 7.5%

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