FAQs

Some people chose ‘no’ in the referendum because they thought it was wrong or unfair to force men to risk their life through war. Others feared it would affect people’s rights, divide families, or that too many was already being sacrificed.

Whilst the question remained very similar, due to the failure of the first referendum, and with that, the second one came with more protests, arguments etc. This was also more aggressive and now Prime Minister Billy Hughes had formed a new party.

The conscription referendum shaped our national identity by people showing that democracy matters more, even during wartime battles. By rejecting the referendum twice, the nation defined itself as a country where personal freedom, public debate, helps us shape the spirit of modern Australia.

The conscription referendum is still important to us because it symbolises and values our democracy, freedom and rights, and to have a choice to even survive. It allows us to think about government power, public ownership, and the true cost of war.

I chose the Conscription Referendum because it was a major turning point that divided Australia and sparked intense national debate during World War I. It shows how war can challenge democratic values and how intensely effects our society.

The Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge represent modern Australia, but the Conscription Referendum shaped the nation’s identity long before these landmarks existed. By looking back from this very moment, we understand helped the struggles that define the democracies of Australia.