Since federation, there have been 42 referendums on the Constitution and only eight changes have been approved by the electorate. Generally, people have only agreed to an amendment if it has been endorsed by all major political parties. The Act says that members of parliament who voted on the proposal can prepare a short argument for and against which is then distributed by the Australian Electoral Commission to voters. This is the only official information which voters receive. Voting is compulsory, as it is for other elections.
Referendums usually occur at different times to elections.
These Bills were available for public comment until late April. Approximately 100 public submissions were received in relation to the Bills to establish a republic and approximately 400 in response to the Bill to rewrite the preamble. All three Bills will be introduced into Commonwealth Parliament for debate and possible further amendment in early June. Once the two Bills to alter the Constitution are agreed to by Federal Parliament, they will be put to referendum, probably on 6 November 1999. There will be two separate questions in the referendum, one relating to the establishment of the republic and one relating to the preamble.