Local contact for this state:Ronald Evans

The Premier, Mr Mike Rann, has proposed that a referendum be held to abolish the Legislative Council at the next state election (which is due in March 2010). Under 10A of the South Australia Constitution Act 1934 it is necessary that a referendum be held before either house of parliament is abolished. Full the full text of the South Australian Constitution please see

This proposal is of course entirely a matter for the electors of South Australia and CIR Australia has no position on the matter. However, we do feel entitled to say that if the Legislative Council is abolished the need for CIR in this state would be all the greater. Abolition of one house of parliament must, necessarily, result in the concentration of even more political power in even fewer hands.

We believe that CIR would provide one more of those checks and balances which are so much a part of our constitutional history and tradition; even more so in a unicameral parliament.

The last CIR legislation introduced into the South Australian Parliament was the Direct Democracy (Citizen-Initiated Referendums) Bill 2004. The Bill, which lapsed, was introduced by Mr Kris Hanna. For the full text of this Bill please see: