Nov 6 – 8.15pm
It is now clear that both referendum proposals have been defeated.
The Republic has about 47% of the vote, whilst the Preamble has 41%. Victoria is the only State where the YES vote stands a chance of reaching 50% – currently the figure is 49.71%.
8.00pm – With 45% of the vote counted, but still no results from Western Australia, where voting continues, the YES vote on the republic is 47%, NO 53%.
The Preamble is sitting on NO 58.9%, YES 41.1%.
7.23pm – The YES vote nationally now stands at 45.2% compared with 54.8% for NO with 14.1% counted. The NO vote is 79% in Queensland. Tasmania is also voting solidly NO, around the mid-30s.
7.15pm – The YES vote has risen to 44% nationally.
Early figures indicate that a 54% of voters in John Howard’s seat of Bennelong favour a republic.
7.05pm – The YES vote nationally has risen to 42% and there is media speculation that the republic may garner a majority overall, but fail to win in 4 states as required by the Constitution.
Tasmania is voting solidly NO. The YES vote in Tasmania remains in the mid-30s.
The Preamble is falling about 5% behind the republic vote.
Republic Heading For Defeat As Referendum Counting Gets Underway
Nov 6 – 6.50pm: Early figures from counting in the referendum puts the NO vote at around 60-61% in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.
To succeed a referendum requires a majority of votes in the nation overall and a majority of votes in a majority of States, that is, a majority in 4 States.
The ABC says the YES vote is 40.2% with 1.6% counted.
The Australian Capital Territory is heading for a YES vote, whilst NSW and Victoria are edging up from the 40% mark.
Overall, there appears little chance of either referendum succeeding.
