The Constitution Alteration (Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights) Bill 1944 was an unsuccessful proposal to alter the Australian Constitution to give the Commonwealth an additional 14 powers for a period of five years, with Prime Minister John Curtin saying that maintaining wartime controls was necessary for Australia to re-adjust to peacetime conditions. It was put to voters for approval in an Australian referendum held on 19 August 1944. Question Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled 'Constitution Alteration (Post-War Reconstruction and Democratic Rights) 1944'? Proposed amendment The referendum was known as the "14 powers", or the "14 points referendum". It sought to give the federal government power, over a period of five years, to legislate on a wide variety of matters. The 14 powers The powers the government sought to gain included: The rehabilitation of former servicemen National health Family allowances Employment and unemployment The ability to legislate for Indigenous Australians Corporations, or combines Foreign investment Trust laws Monopolies Air transport, Uniformity of railway gauges Marketing of commodities Manufacturing (production) and sales of goods National infrastructure (subject to state approval) Many of these powers also included limitations as safeguards against the abuse of legislative power. Restrictions on government power Freedom of speech Freedom of speech and freedom of expression were restrictions on state and government power that the commonwealth sought to legislate on. Freedom of religion The government also sought to apply the right to freedom of religion to state governments. Referendum All of these points (the proposed heads of power and restrictions on power) were put to referendum in the form of a single question. It is notable that the points referring to aviation, employment, marketing, trusts, corporations, combines and monopolies had previously been the subject of referendums advanced by both Labor and conservative parties that had not been carried. The 14 proposals covered the participation of the federal government in postwar reconstruction, including control over employment, profiteering and prices, and related subjects. For and against The proposal was put forward and supported by the Australian Labor Party government. It was opposed by the federal opposition (United Australia Party and the Country Party). For Prime Minister John Curtin gave his broadcast to the nation on 25 July 1944. The Prime Minister said to abandon wartime controls on the declaration of peace would cause disorganization to the social system and destroy the capacity