Voice Referendum

Analysis of public spending related to the 2023 Voice to Parliament Referendum.

What it shows

  • Total public expenditure on referendum administration, advertising, and information campaigns.
  • Breakdown by agency (AEC, departments, state governments).
  • Contractor list for referendum-related work.

How to read it

This is a single-event case study showing how a national plebiscite becomes a line item in public accounts. The page is fact-focused; it takes no position on the referendum itself.

Data sources

  • AEC post-referendum reporting.
  • Department annual reports.
  • Tendered contracts (AusTender).

Caveats

  • Not all costs are attributable to a single line item; some are estimated.
  • State-level costs are not fully disclosed in every jurisdiction.

Last reviewed: 11 Apr 2026