Referendums, Bill of Rights and S128 Explained | Let's Talk Legal (Aussie Law x In The Classroom)

Section 128, referendums and plebiscites explained for Legal Studies teachers and students, with Dr Renato Costa and Catriona Vo. 📄 Free classroom worksheet + answer key: http://tiny.cc/itcmailingsubscription In this episode, Dr Renato Costa explains how the Australian Constitution is changed and why so few proposals succeed. He argues the low success rate has more to do with culture and how proposals are put forward than with the section 128 process itself. Students often learn the double majority as a rule to memorise. This episode explains the reasons behind it, including the federal principle that gives every state a say. It also covers why the framers chose not to include a Bill of Rights. In this episode, we discuss: • Why the Australian Constitution is “rigid”, and how changing it differs from changing an ordinary law • The section 128 process: initiation in Parliament, absolute majorities and why bipartisan support matters • The double majority, and how it reflects federalism by giving smaller states like Tasmania an equal say • Australia vs Switzerland: same double majority model, very different culture of constitutional change • Australia’s record: 45 referendums and only 8 successes, an 18% success rate • Why the framers rejected a Bill of Rights and trusted responsible government and Parliament to protect rights • Justice Keane’s “small brown bird” vs the “American eagle” and the risk of politicised courts • Referendum vs plebiscite: P for preliminary, R for ratification • State referendums and manner and form provisions, including Queensland’s upper house, abolished in 1922 For further explanation, check out Aussie Law’s videos (Dr Costa’s channel): • Constitutional Amendment I: How to change the Australian Constitution:    • CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT I: How to change ...   • Constitutional Amendment II: Referendum and Plebiscite in Australia:    • CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT II: Referendum an...   • Changing the Constitution: Australia, the United States, and Switzerland:    • Changing the Constitution: Australia vs th...   • Bill of Rights in Australia:    • Human Rights in Australia? The Debate over...   • Express and Implied Rights in the Australian Constitution:    • Express and Implied Rights in Australia Ex...   About Let’s Talk Legal Let’s Talk Legal is an In the Classroom series breaking down Legal Studies concepts with legal experts for teachers and students. Subscribe for the full Governance in Australia series, covering separation of powers, division of powers, referendums and more. Subscribe for more episodes: YouTube:    / @intheclassroomwithcatrionavo   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/3gXivWW... Follow us! TikTok:   / intheclassroomwithcat   Instagram:   / intheclassroom.au   Facebook:   / 61563582592279   LinkedIn:   / in-the-classroom   Website: intheclassroom.com.au #Referendum #Section128 #AustralianConstitution #BillOfRights #LegalStudies #Governance #InTheClassroom #LetsTalkLegal