{"id":"referendums-regulations-1984","name":"Referendums Regulations 1984","slug":"referendums-regulations-1984","collection":"regulation","jurisdiction":"wa","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":181822,"registerId":"wa-referendums-regulations-1984-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-05","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Referendums Regulations 1984","content":"![Crest]()Western Australia\n\nReferendums Act 1983\n\nReferendums Regulations 1984\n\n- **Reprinted under the *Reprints Act 1984* as**\n- **at 20 November 2009**\n\n\nWestern Australia\n\nReferendums Regulations 1984\n\nContents\n\n1. Citation 1\n\n3. Argument under s. 9, length of 1\n\n4. Writ for referendum, form of 1\n\nSchedule 1 — Forms\n\nNotes\n\nCompilation table 4\n\n  \n\n- Crest **Reprinted under the *Reprints Act 1984* as**\n- **at 20 November 2009**\n\n\nWestern Australia\n\nReferendums Act 1983\n\nReferendums Regulations 1984\n\n##### 1. Citation\n\nThese regulations may be cited as the *Referendums Regulations 1984* 1.\n\n[**2.** Deleted: Gazette 24 Dec 2004 p. 6249.]\n\n##### 3. Argument under s. 9, length of\n\nAn argument forwarded to the Electoral Commissioner under section 9(1) or (3) of the *Referendums Act 1983* shall consist of not more than 2 000 words.\n\n[Regulation 3 amended: Gazette 24 Dec 2004 p. 6249.]\n\n##### 4. Writ for referendum, form of\n\nThe writ for a referendum shall be in the form of Form 1 in Schedule 1.\n\n[Regulation 4 amended: Gazette 24 Dec 2004 p. 6249.]\n\n[**5.** Omitted under the Reprints Act 1984 s. 7(4)(e).]\n\nSchedule 1 — Forms\n\n[r. 4 and 5]\n\n[Heading inserted: Gazette 24 Dec 2004 p. 6250.]\n\n**Form 1**\n\nWestern Australia\n\n*Referendums Act 1983* (s. 5(1))\n\n**WRIT**\n\n**Writ for a referendum**\n\n**To the Electoral Commissioner:**\n\nUnder the *Referendums Act 1983* and (1)................, I direct you to proceed with a referendum as to (2) ...............................................................................................\n\n **Polling day:**\n\nI fix Saturday, ........................................................... 20.......... as the day for the taking of the votes of the electors.(3)\n\n **Day for the return of the writ:**\n\nI fix ............... day, .................................................... 20.......... as the day for the return of the writ.\n\n**Dated** ..................................... 20..... .............................................................\n\n\t**Governor**\n\nNotes:\n\n(1) Insert here —\n\n(a) in the case of a referendum as to a Bill, a reference to the Order in Council made under the *Constitution Act 1889* fixing the day for taking of the votes of the electors for the purposes of a referendum as to the Bill; or\n\n(b) in the case of a referendum other than a referendum as to a Bill, the title of the Act by which the referendum is authorised or required.\n\n(2) Insert here —\n\n(a) in the case of a referendum as to a Bill, the title of the Bill and add “the text of which is attached” or “a statement of which is attached” as the case requires; or\n\n(b) in the case of a referendum other than a referendum as to a Bill, a statement as to the question to be submitted to the electors.\n\n(3) If the *Referendums Act 1983* section 5(3) applies, delete this and insert —\n\n(a) in the case of a referendum as to a Bill:\n\n“Under ........... *[refer to the Order in Council made under the Constitution Act 1889 fixing the day for taking of the votes of the electors for the purposes of a referendum as to the Bill] .......* the day fixed for the taking of the votes of the electors is Saturday, .................................... 20............”; or\n\n(b) in the case of a referendum other than a referendum as to a Bill:\n\n“Under ........... *[refer to the title of the Act by which the referendum is authorised or required] .......* the day fixed for the taking of the votes of the electors is Saturday, ............................................................. 20............”.\n\n(Reverse)\n\n**Indorsement**\n\nMy statement required by the *Referendums Act 1983* section 30(1) in relation to the referendum held under this writ is as follows:\n\n*[Insert, for each district, the information required.]*\n\n**Dated** ................................... 20 .......... ..............................................\n\n\t           **Electoral Commissioner**\n\n[Form 1 inserted: Gazette 24 Dec 2004 p. 6250‑1.]\n\n[Form 2 omitted under the Reprints Act 1984 s. 7(4)(e).]\n\n![A:\\dline.gif]()\n\nNotes\n\n1 This reprint is a compilation as at 20 November 2009 of the *Referendums Regulations 1984* and includes the amendments made by the other written laws referred to in the following table. The table also contains information about any reprint.\n\nCompilation table\n\n| **Citation** | **Gazettal** | **Commencement** |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| *Referendums Regulations 1984* | 3 Feb 1984 p. 301‑2 | 3 Feb 1984 |\n| *Referendums Amendment Regulations 1992* | 28 Feb 1992 p. 1071‑3 | 28 Feb 1992 |\n| **Reprint 1: The *Referendums Regulations 1984* as at 16 Apr 2004** (includes amendments listed above) | | |\n| *Referendums Amendment Regulations 2004* | 24 Dec 2004 p. 6249‑52 | 24 Dec 2004 |\n| *Referendums Amendment Regulations 2008* | 21 Nov 2008 p. 4924‑5 | r. 1 and 2: 21 Nov 2008 (see r. 2(a));   Regulations other than r. 1 and 2: 22 Nov 2008 (see r. 2(b)) |\n| **Reprint 2: The *Referendums Regulations 1984* as at 20 Nov 2009** (includes amendments listed above) | | |\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The instrument's core procedural scope remains the same, but specific obligations have been altered by amendment: Regulation 3 now caps arguments at 2,000 words (Reg 3 amended: Gazette 24 Dec 2004), Regulation 4 fixes the writ to Form 1 in Schedule 1 (Reg 4 amended: Gazette 24 Dec 2004), while Regulation 2 was deleted and Regulation 5 omitted. These changes narrow or update document and submission requirements without expanding substantive referendum powers."},"complexity_factors":["Short, narrowly prescriptive text (few regulations and one schedule): low content volume","Direct cross-references to primary legislation (Referendums Act 1983) and, for some writs, the Constitution Act 1889","Amendments, deletions and omissions (Regulation 2 deleted; Regulation 5 omitted; Form 2 omitted) require checking legislative history","Procedural requirements (Form 1 in Schedule 1) create formal compliance obligations rather than substantive rules","Operational discretion concentrated in two offices: the Governor (dates in writ) and the Electoral Commissioner (administration and indorsement)"],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations set simple, procedural rules for running state referendums in Western Australia. They prescribe the form of the writ the Governor issues, limit the length of written arguments sent to the Electoral Commissioner to 2,000 words, and require a prescribed endorsement from the Electoral Commissioner.\n\nMechanically, the instrument standardises paperwork and fixes a document-length constraint. It affects referendum organisers, people lodging arguments, the Electoral Commissioner (administration), and the Governor (issue of the writ), shifting compliance costs onto those preparing submissions."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The regulations remain tightly focused on their original purpose: providing procedural mechanics (word limits and forms) for the conduct of referendums under the parent Act. Despite amendments in 1992, 2004, and 2008, the scope has not expanded beyond administrative housekeeping."},"complexity_factors":["Extremely short: only 4 substantive regulations (with 2 deleted/omitted)","Minimal defined terms: no interpretation section, relies on parent Act definitions","Simple structure: linear numbering with no cross-referencing between provisions","Single conditional element: Form 1 contains alternative wording based on whether the referendum is about a Bill or another matter","No nested exceptions or complex logical operators"],"plain_english_summary":"These are Western Australian regulations that set out the practical rules for running referendums (state-wide votes where the public decides on a specific question, usually about changing laws or the constitution).\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Limits the length of campaign arguments**: Anyone submitting a written argument for or against a referendum question to the Electoral Commissioner (the official who runs elections) must keep it under 2,000 words.\n- **Provides the official form for referendum writs**: A \"writ\" is the formal legal document that officially triggers a referendum and sets the polling date. The regulations include the exact template that must be used, with fill-in-the-blank sections for the referendum question, polling day, and return date.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- The Electoral Commissioner and their staff (who must use these forms and enforce the word limits)\n- Political parties, lobby groups, or individuals who want to submit arguments for the official referendum pamphlet\n- The Governor of Western Australia (who issues the writ)\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThese rules ensure referendums are run consistently and fairly. The word limit prevents any side from dominating the official information provided to voters with excessively long arguments. The standardised writ form ensures legal certainty about when and how the vote will happen."},"summary":{"complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"Scope assessment is impossible given that no legislative content was retrievable. The page returned only a system error notice indicating the URL is no longer active on the Western Australian legislation website."},"complexity_factors":["Legislative text is entirely unavailable — no content could be retrieved for analysis","Cannot assess definitional complexity, cross-references, or operative provisions","Impossible to determine number of regulations, schedules, or exceptions","Unknown whether the instrument remains in force or has been repealed"],"plain_english_summary":"The Referendums Regulations 1984 set out how state referendums in Western Australia are to be conducted, affecting electoral officials, political parties, and voters by prescribing procedural rules for running and counting referendums. The instrument dates from 1984 and may have since been repealed or consolidated; consult the Parliamentary Counsel for the current, authoritative text."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/referendums-regulations-1984","history":"/api/acts/referendums-regulations-1984/history","analysis":"/api/acts/referendums-regulations-1984/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/referendums-regulations-1984/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/referendums-regulations-1984/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/referendums-regulations-1984/documents"}}