Explain one factor that could affect the success of a referendum. - VCE - SSCE Legal Studies - Question 6 - 2015 - Paper 1

One significant factor that can impact the success of a referendum is the double majority requirement, as outlined in Section 128 of the Constitution. This requirement states that for a referendum to pass, it must achieve a majority of votes not only nationally but also in a majority of states. This dual criterion is challenging because if even one state does not achieve a 'yes' vote, the entire referendum fails. Consequently, this often leads to a situation where voters may respond negatively due to a lack of understanding of the proposed changes, or potentially due to conservative attitudes towards change. Therefore, achieving the 'double majority' becomes a significant hurdle for any referendum, often leading to its overall failure.