What is required for a referendum to be passed in Australia?

In Australia, for a referendum to be successfully passed, it must receive a majority of votes from the electorate nationwide, as well as a majority of votes in a majority of states. This requirement ensures that any proposed change to the Constitution has broad support both at the national level and among the individual states, reflecting the federation structure of Australia.

The dual requirement helps to balance the interests of both smaller and larger states, preventing any single region with a significant population from overriding the voices of the less populous areas. This process promotes fairness and represents the diverse views of the Australian population across various states.

In contrast, focusing solely on a majority of voters across the nation or just a majority of voters in a majority of states would not adequately safeguard the perspectives of all states. Additionally, the decisions of political leaders alone do not reflect the democratic will of the people, which is fundamental to the referendum process. Thus, achieving a consensus through both criteria is crucial for constitutional changes in Australia.