Australian federal election, 1931
Encyclopedia
Federal elections were held in Australia
on 19 December 1931. All 75 seats in the House of Representatives
, and 18 of the 36 seats in the Senate
were up for election. The incumbent Australian Labor Party
led by Prime Minister of Australia
James Scullin
was defeated by the newly formed opposition United Australia Party
(descended from the Nationalist Party of Australia
) led by ex-Labor Joseph Lyons
with coalition
partner the Country Party led by Earle Page
.
Independent: Littleton Groom
(Darling Downs
, Qld)
, which was at its height. As the Labor Government had come to office two days before the Wall Street Crash of 1929
, it was seen as being responsible for many of the economic and social problems Australia faced. Lang Labor
also split from the Labor Party, the result was Labor's primary vote dropping to its lowest level since 1901.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
on 19 December 1931. All 75 seats in the House of Representatives
Australian House of Representatives
The House of Representatives is one of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia; it is the lower house; the upper house is the Senate. Members of Parliament serve for terms of approximately three years....
, and 18 of the 36 seats in the Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
were up for election. The incumbent Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
led by Prime Minister of Australia
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
James Scullin
James Scullin
James Henry Scullin , Australian Labor politician and the ninth Prime Minister of Australia. Two days after he was sworn in as Prime Minister, the Wall Street Crash of 1929 occurred, marking the beginning of the Great Depression and subsequent Great Depression in Australia.-Early life:Scullin was...
was defeated by the newly formed opposition United Australia Party
United Australia Party
The United Australia Party was an Australian political party that was founded in 1931 and dissolved in 1945. It was the political successor to the Nationalist Party of Australia and predecessor to the Liberal Party of Australia...
(descended from the Nationalist Party of Australia
Nationalist Party of Australia
The Nationalist Party of Australia was an Australian political party. It was formed on 17 February 1917 from a merger between the conservative Commonwealth Liberal Party and the National Labor Party, the name given to the pro-conscription defectors from the Australian Labor Party led by Prime...
) led by ex-Labor Joseph Lyons
Joseph Lyons
Joseph Aloysius Lyons, CH was an Australian politician. He was Labor Premier of Tasmania from 1923 to 1928 and a Minister in the James Scullin government from 1929 until his resignation from the Labor Party in March 1931...
with coalition
Coalition (Australia)
The Coalition in Australian politics refers to a group of centre-right parties that has existed in the form of a coalition agreement since 1922...
partner the Country Party led by Earle Page
Earle Page
Sir Earle Christmas Grafton Page, GCMG, CH was the 11th Prime Minister of Australia, and is to date the second-longest serving federal parliamentarian in Australian history, with 41 years, 361 days in Parliament.-Early life:...
.
Results
Party | Votes | % | Swing | Seats | Change | ||
United Australia Party United Australia Party The United Australia Party was an Australian political party that was founded in 1931 and dissolved in 1945. It was the political successor to the Nationalist Party of Australia and predecessor to the Liberal Party of Australia... |
1,145,083 | 36.10 | +2.20 | 34 | +20 | (1 elected unopposed) |
|
Australian Labor Party Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia... |
859,513 | 27.10 | −21.74 | 14 | −32 | ||
Country Party | 388,544 | 12.25 | +1.98 | 16 | +6 | (3 elected unopposed) |
|
Australian Labor Party (NSW) Australian Labor Party (NSW) The Australian Labor Party , commonly known as Lang Labor, was the name given to a major breakaway of the Australian Labor Party in New South Wales that operated from 1931 to 1936.... |
335,309 | 10.57 | * | 4 | +4 | ||
Emergency Committee (SA) Emergency Committee (SA) The Emergency Committee of South Australia was a political party who ran at the 1931 federal election, and opposed what they saw as the "financial extremists" in James Scullin's Federal Labor government after the effects of the Great Depression in Australia.... |
174,288 | 5.49 | * | 6 | +6 | ||
Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... s |
260,786 | 8.22 | +6.09 | 1 | −3 | ||
Other | 8,511 | 0.27 | 0 | −1 | |||
Total | 3,172,034 | 75 | |||||
UAP/Country coalition Coalition (Australia) The Coalition in Australian politics refers to a group of centre-right parties that has existed in the form of a coalition agreement since 1922... |
WIN | 50 | +26 | ||||
Australian Labor Party Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia... |
14 | −32 |
Independent: Littleton Groom
Littleton Groom
Sir Littleton Ernest Groom, KCMG was an Australian Commonwealth Minister, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Australia's 17th longest serving federal Parliamentarian . He was a member of every non-Australian Labor Party ministry from 1905 to 1926...
(Darling Downs
Division of Darling Downs
The Division of Darling Downs was an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland. The division was created at Federation in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It was abolished in 1984 when it was replaced by the Division of Groom...
, Qld)
Party | Votes | % | Swing | Seats Won | Seats Held | |
UAP/Country (Joint Ticket) | 945,741 | 30.16 | * | 6 | ||
Australian Labor Party Australian Labor Party The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia... |
917,218 | 29.25 | −19.70 | 3 | 10 | |
United Australia Party United Australia Party The United Australia Party was an Australian political party that was founded in 1931 and dissolved in 1945. It was the political successor to the Nationalist Party of Australia and predecessor to the Liberal Party of Australia... |
791,870 | 25.26 | −14.02 | 9 | 21 | |
Australian Labor Party (NSW) Australian Labor Party (NSW) The Australian Labor Party , commonly known as Lang Labor, was the name given to a major breakaway of the Australian Labor Party in New South Wales that operated from 1931 to 1936.... |
379,870 | 12.12 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Communist Party of Australia Communist Party of Australia The Communist Party of Australia was founded in 1920 and dissolved in 1991; it was succeeded by the Socialist Party of Australia, which then renamed itself, becoming the current Communist Party of Australia. The CPA achieved its greatest political strength in the 1940s and faced an attempted... |
29,443 | 0.94 | * | 0 | 0 | |
Country Party | * | * | −11.18 | 0 | 5 | |
Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... s |
71,181 | 2.27 | +1.68 | 0 | 0 | |
Total | 3,135,323 | 18 | 36 |
Seats changing hands
Seat | Pre-1931 | Swing | Post-1931 | ||||||
Party | Member | Margin | Margin | Member | Party | ||||
Adelaide, SA Division of Adelaide The Division of Adelaide is an Australian Electoral Division in South Australia. The division was created in 1903 and is named for the city of Adelaide, South Australia's capital. The seat has always been based in the inner suburbs of Adelaide... |
Labor | Edwin Yates Edwin Yates George Edwin Yates was an Australian Labor Party representative for the South Australian Division of Adelaide in the Australian House of Representatives. He was first elected at the 1914 Adelaide by-election, and was defeated at the 1919 election. He regained office at the 1922 election until he... |
11.4 | 21.0 | 9.6 | Fred Stacey Fred Stacey Fred Hurtle Stacey was a member of the Australian House of Representatives.Born in Carey Gully, South Australia, the fourth son of Henry and Anne Stacey. Stacey was educated at Uraidla... |
Emergency Committee | ||
Angas, SA Division of Angas (1903-34) The Division of Angas was an Australian Electoral Division in South Australia. The division was created in 1903 and abolished in 1934. It was named for George Fife Angas, a South Australian pioneer, and was based in rural areas including Angaston, Eudunda, Gawler and Kapunda... |
Labor | Moses Gabb Moses Gabb Joel Moses Gabb was an Australian politician. Born in Adelaide, South Australia, he was educated there at Prince Alfred College before becoming a church worker and greengrocer. In 1919, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Labor member for Angas, defeating long-serving... |
4.7 | 31.5 | 26.8 | Moses Gabb Moses Gabb Joel Moses Gabb was an Australian politician. Born in Adelaide, South Australia, he was educated there at Prince Alfred College before becoming a church worker and greengrocer. In 1919, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Labor member for Angas, defeating long-serving... |
Emergency Committee | ||
Ballaarat, Vic Division of Ballarat The Division of Ballarat is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It is named for the provincial city of Ballarat.... |
Labor | Charles McGrath Charles McGrath David Charles McGrath was an Australian politician. Originally a member of the Australian Labor Party, he joined Joseph Lyons in the split that led to the formation of the United Australia Party.-Early life:... |
7.4 | 20.7 | 13.3 | Charles McGrath Charles McGrath David Charles McGrath was an Australian politician. Originally a member of the Australian Labor Party, he joined Joseph Lyons in the split that led to the formation of the United Australia Party.-Early life:... |
United Australia | ||
Barton, NSW Division of Barton The Division of Barton is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1922 and is named for Sir Edmund Barton, the first Prime Minister of Australia... |
Labor | James Tully James Tully (Australian politician) James Thomas Tully was an Australian politician. Born in Grafton, New South Wales, he was educated at state schools before becoming a farmer and teacher in Tullamore. In 1919, he unsuccessfully contested the federal seat of New England for the Australian Labor Party. He moved to Sydney in 1922,... |
17.6 | 20.8 | 3.2 | Albert Lane Albert Lane (Australian politician) Albert Lane was an Australian politician. He was born in Windsor, New South Wales, and studied at public schools. He became an accountant and business manager. In 1917 he contested the federal election as the unsuccessful Nationalist candidate for the safe Labor seat of Dalley... |
United Australia | ||
Bass, Tas Division of Bass The Division of Bass is an Australian Electoral Division in Tasmania. The division was created in 1903 and is named for the explorer George Bass. It has always been based on the city of Launceston and surrounding rural areas, and its boundaries have changed very little in the century since its... |
Labor | Allan Guy Allan Guy James Allan Guy, CBE was an Australian politician who represented the Australian Labor Party in both the Tasmanian House of Assembly and the Federal House of Representatives, before leaving to represent the United Australia Party and then the Liberal Party of Australia in both the House of... |
10.4 | 24.9 | 14.5 | Allan Guy Allan Guy James Allan Guy, CBE was an Australian politician who represented the Australian Labor Party in both the Tasmanian House of Assembly and the Federal House of Representatives, before leaving to represent the United Australia Party and then the Liberal Party of Australia in both the House of... |
United Australia | ||
Batman, Vic Division of Batman The Division of Batman is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was created in 1906 , and is named after John Batman, one of the founders of the city of Melbourne. When it was created it covered the inner suburbs of Carlton and Fitzroy, but successive boundary changes have... |
Labor | Frank Brennan Frank Brennan (Australian politician) Francis Brennan was an Australian lawyer and Australian Labor Party politician.Brennan was born at Upper Emu Creek near Bendigo, Victoria and was a younger brother of Tom Brennan, later an assistant minister in the conservative Lyons government. He studied law at the University of Melbourne and... |
25.8 | 26.6 | 0.8 | Samuel Dennis Samuel Dennis Samuel Dennis was an Australian politician. Born in Melbourne, he was educated at state schools before becoming a contractor and company director. He served on Northcote Council for 36 years before his election to the Australian House of Representatives in 1931 as the United Australia Party member... |
United Australia | ||
Bendigo, Vic Division of Bendigo The Division of Bendigo is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was created in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It is named for the city of Bendigo... |
Labor | Richard Keane Richard Keane Richard Valentine Keane was an Australian politician.Keane was born in Beechworth, Victoria and, after his police constable father was transferred to Melbourne, was educated at Christian Brothers College, St Kilda. When he was 16 he took a position as a clerk in the Victorian Railways... |
5.1 | 14.6 | 9.5 | Eric Harrison Eric Harrison (Australian soldier) Eric Fairweather Harrison was an Australian soldier and politician.Harrison was born in the Sydney suburb of Stanmore, New South Wales and educated at Sydney Church of England Grammar School and Bedford Grammar School in England. He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge with a B.A. in 1901... |
United Australia | ||
Boothby, SA Division of Boothby The Division of Boothby is an Australian Electoral Division in South Australia. The division was created in 1903 and is named after William Boothby , the Returning Officer for the first election of Members of the House of Representatives in 1901.... |
Labor | John Price John Price (South Australian politician) John Lloyd Price was an Australian politician. Born in Liverpool, South Australia, the son of future South Australian Premier Thomas Price, he was educated at public schools before entering the state public service in the railways. He was President of the South Australian Trades and Labour Council... |
5.6 | 29.6 | 24.0 | John Price John Price (South Australian politician) John Lloyd Price was an Australian politician. Born in Liverpool, South Australia, the son of future South Australian Premier Thomas Price, he was educated at public schools before entering the state public service in the railways. He was President of the South Australian Trades and Labour Council... |
Emergency Committee | ||
Brisbane, Qld Division of Brisbane The Division of Brisbane is an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland. The division was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election... |
United Australia | Donald Charles Cameron | 2.4 | 3.1 | 0.7 | George Lawson George Lawson (Australian politician) George Lawson was an Australian trade union official and politician.Lawson was born in South Pine River, near Caboolture, Queensland and educated at Warner State School. He fought in the Boer War South Africa with the 5th Contingent in 1901-02 and was mentioned in dispatches... |
Labor | ||
Calare, NSW Division of Calare The Division of Calare is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was first contested at the 1906 election and is named for the local Aboriginal name for the Lachlan River, which runs through the western part of the division... |
Labor | George Gibbons George Gibbons George Albert Gibbons was an Australian politician. Born in Tichborne, New South Wales, he received a primary education before becoming a farm labourer and then a farmer. He was secretary of the Rural Workers Union, and later an organiser of the Australian Workers' Union... |
1.6 | 11.7 | 10.1 | Harold Thorby Harold Thorby Harold Victor Campbell Thorby was an Australian politician and government minister.-Early life:Thorby was born in the Sydney suburb of Annandale and was educated at Geurie Public School and Sydney Grammar School and worked on his grandparents' farm at Geurie. He studied woolclassing, veterinary... |
Country | ||
Corangamite, Vic Division of Corangamite The Division of Corangamite is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election... |
Labor | Richard Crouch Richard Crouch Richard Armstrong Crouch was an Australian politician.Crouch was born on at Ballarat East, Victoria, son of George Crouch, miner, storekeeper and later a wealthy boot-retailer from Tottenham, London, and his wife Selina Durham, née Marks, from Aberdeen, Scotland.Crouch was elected to Federal... |
2.1 | 15.0 | 12.9 | William Gibson | Country | ||
Corio, Vic Division of Corio The Division of Corio is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It is named for Corio Bay. It has always been based on the city of Geelong, although in the past it has also included parts of the western... |
Labor | Arthur Lewis Arthur Lewis (Australian politician) Arthur Lewis was an Australian politician. Born in Melbourne, he received no formal education and was raised in an orphanage. He became a farm labourer and was a member of the Secretary Carters and Drivers Union. In 1929, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Labor... |
6.0 | 16.6 | 10.6 | Richard Casey Richard Casey, Baron Casey Richard Gardiner Casey, Baron Casey KG GCMG CH DSO MC KStJ PC was an Australian politician, diplomat and the 16th Governor-General of Australia.-Early life:... |
United Australia | ||
Dalley, NSW Division of Dalley The Division of Dalley was an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It was abolished in 1969. It was named for the colonial politician William Dalley. It was located in the... |
Labor | Ted Theodore Ted Theodore Edward Granville Theodore was an Australian politician. He was Premier of Queensland 1919–25, a federal politician representing a New South Wales seat 1927–31, and Federal Treasurer 1929–30.-Early life:... |
N/A | 8.9 | 14.0 | Sol Rosevear | Labor (NSW) | ||
Darling Downs, Qld Division of Darling Downs The Division of Darling Downs was an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland. The division was created at Federation in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It was abolished in 1984 when it was replaced by the Division of Groom... |
United Australia | Arthur Morgan Arthur Morgan (Australian politician) Arthur Clinton Morgan was an Australian politician.He was the son of Queensland Premier Sir Arthur Morgan. Born in Warwick, Queensland, he was educated at state schools before becoming a journalist. He served in the military 1914-1917, and returned to become an associate editor in Brisbane. He... |
N/A | 17.7 | 9.8 | Littleton Groom Littleton Groom Sir Littleton Ernest Groom, KCMG was an Australian Commonwealth Minister, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Australia's 17th longest serving federal Parliamentarian . He was a member of every non-Australian Labor Party ministry from 1905 to 1926... |
Independent | ||
Denison, Tas Division of Denison The Division of Denison is anAustralian Electoral Division in Tasmania.The division was created in 1903 and is named for Sir William Denison, who was Lt-Governor of Van Diemens Land 1847-55... |
Labor | Charles Culley Charles Culley Charles Ernest Culley CMG was an Australian politician who was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly and the Australian House of Representatives.... |
9.2 | 14.2 | 5.0 | Arthur Hutchin Arthur Hutchin Arthur William Hutchin was an Australian politician. Born in Bathurst, New South Wales, he was educated in that state before serving in the military 1910-1920. He returned to become a company manager... |
United Australia | ||
East Sydney, NSW Division of East Sydney The Division of East Sydney was anAustralian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It was abolished in 1969. It was named for the suburb of East Sydney. It was located in the inner... |
Labor (NSW) | Eddie Ward Eddie Ward Edward John "Eddie" Ward , Australian politician, was an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives for 32 years from 1931 until his death.... |
5.7 | 11.7 | 1.7 | John Clasby John Clasby John Joseph Clasby was an Australian politician. Born in Warragul, Victoria, he was educated in Victoria before serving in World War I from 1914-17. He became a commercial travellor and lecturer on his return... |
United Australia | ||
Eden-Monaro, NSW Division of Eden-Monaro The Division of Eden-Monaro is anAustralian Electoral Division in New South Wales.The division was created in 1900, and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It is named for the town of Eden and the Monaro district of southern New South Wales... |
Labor | John Cusack John Cusack (Australian politician) John Joseph Cusack was an Australian politician, coachbuilder and garage proprietor.-Early life:Cusack was born at Bellevale near Yass, New South Wales and had some schooling in Yass. He was apprenticed at 15 to a blacksmith at Berrima... |
0.1 | 13.7 | 13.6 | John Perkins John Perkins (Australian politician) John Arthur Perkins was an Australian politician and journalist.Perkins was born at Gocup near Tumut, New South Wales and educated at public schools in Tumut and Cooma. He was a member of the Cooma Municipal Council from 1902 to 1909 and mayor in 1904 and 1908... |
United Australia | ||
Fawkner, Vic Division of Fawkner The Division of Fawkner was an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was created in 1906 , and was abolished itself in 1969. It was named for John Pascoe Fawkner, one of the founders of Melbourne. It was located in the inner southern suburbs of Melbourne, including at various... |
Independent Nationalist | George Maxwell George Maxwell (Australian politician) George Arnot Maxwell was a barrister and Australian politician.Maxwell was born in Montrose, Forfarshire, Scotland and educated in Fife. He migrated to Australia with his family in 1875. He worked briefly as a jackeroo and then completed his matriculation in Melbourne... |
N/A | 21.7 | 20.3 | George Maxwell George Maxwell (Australian politician) George Arnot Maxwell was a barrister and Australian politician.Maxwell was born in Montrose, Forfarshire, Scotland and educated in Fife. He migrated to Australia with his family in 1875. He worked briefly as a jackeroo and then completed his matriculation in Melbourne... |
United Australia | ||
Flinders, Vic Division of Flinders The Division of Flinders is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election... |
Labor | Jack Holloway | 0.2 | 18.5 | 18.3 | Stanley Bruce Stanley Bruce Stanley Melbourne Bruce, 1st Viscount Bruce of Melbourne, CH, MC, FRS, PC , was an Australian politician and diplomat, and the eighth Prime Minister of Australia. He was the second Australian granted an hereditary peerage of the United Kingdom, but the first whose peerage was formally created... |
United Australia | ||
Franklin, Tas Division of Franklin The Division of Franklin is an Australian Electoral Division in Tasmania. The division was created in 1903 and is named for Sir John Franklin, the polar explorer who was Lt Governor of Van Diemen's Land 1843-46. It is located in southern Tasmania, including the Hobart suburbs of Bridgewater,... |
Labor | Charles Frost Charles Frost Charles William Frost was an Australian politician.Frost was born in Hobart, Tasmania and educated at Koonya and Margate state schools, but left school at 13. He later worked at the Iron Blow mine near Queenstown... |
1.9 | 13.0 | 17.9 | Archibald Blacklow Archibald Blacklow Archibald Clifford Blacklow OBE was an Australian politician. Born in Bagdad, Tasmania, he was educated in Hobart at Hutchins School and then at the University of Sydney. He became a pharmacist in Sydney before serving in the military 1916-1919. Returning to Tasmania in 1925, he became a dairy... |
United Australia | ||
Fremantle, WA Division of Fremantle The Division of Fremantle is an Australian Electoral Division in Western Australia.The division was created at Federation in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election... |
Labor | John Curtin John Curtin John Joseph Curtin , Australian politician, served as the 14th Prime Minister of Australia. Labor under Curtin formed a minority government in 1941 after the crossbench consisting of two independent MPs crossed the floor in the House of Representatives, bringing down the Coalition minority... |
7.0 | 13.5 | 5.5 | William Watson William Watson (Australian politician) William Watson was an Australian politician. Born in Campbells Creek, Victoria, he was educated at public schools before becoming a miner, bricklayer and farmer. In 1893, he left Victoria for Western Australia, where he became a bacon manufacturer in Fremantle, and became known as a local benefactor... |
United Australia | ||
Grey, SA Division of Grey The Division of Grey is an Australian Electoral Division in South Australia.The division was created in 1903 and is named for Sir George Grey, who was Governor of South Australia 1841-45 .... |
Labor | Andrew Lacey Andrew Lacey Andrew William Lacey was both a member of the Australian House of Representatives and Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of South Australia.... |
9.6 | 17.1 | 7.5 | Philip McBride Philip McBride Sir Philip Albert Martin McBride KCMG was an Australian politician.McBride was born into a well-known pastoral family and educated at Burra Public School and Prince Alfred College in Adelaide. In 1931, he was elected as the member for Grey in the Australian House of Representatives, representing... |
Emergency Committee | ||
Gwydir, NSW Division of Gwydir The Division of Gwydir was an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election... |
Labor | Lou Cunningham Lou Cunningham Lucien Lawrence "Lou" Cunningham was an Australian farmer and politician. He was born at Inverell, New South Wales, to a farmer, Eugene Cunningham, and his wife Mary, née Edgeworth, both born in Ireland... |
3.7 | 13.5 | 9.8 | Aubrey Abbott Aubrey Abbott Charles Lydiard Aubrey Abbott was an Australian politician and administrator of the Northern Territory. He was born at St Leonards, Sydney, to Thomas Kingsmill Abbott, a magistrate, and Marion, née Lydiard... |
Country | ||
Hume, NSW Division of Hume The Division of Hume is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. The Division is located in the central part of the state, just north of the Australian Capital Territory. The Division covers a predominantly rural area, with agriculture and coal mining the main industries... |
Labor | Parker Moloney Parker Moloney Parker John Moloney was an Australian politician, teacher and public servant. He was born at Port Fairy, Victoria to Maurice Moloney and Mary, née Bowe. He became a teacher at John O'Hara's South Melbourne College in 1902 and then at University High School... |
6.6 | 14.1 | 7.5 | Thomas Collins Thomas Collins (Australian politician) Thomas Joseph "Tom" Collins was an Australian politician and stock and station agent, born at Yass, New South Wales to storekeeper John Collins and Mary, née Hartigan. In 1902, having attended the local Catholic school, he enlisted in the 5th Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Horse, to fight in... |
Country | ||
Hunter, NSW Division of Hunter The Division of Hunter is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It is located in northern rural New South Wales, and encompasses much of the Hunter Valley region, including the towns of Singleton, Maitland, Muswellbrook, Cessnock and Denman... |
Labor | Rowley James | 100.0 | 57.2 | 7.2 | Rowley James | Labor (NSW) | ||
Indi, Vic Division of Indi The Division of Indi is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. It is located in north-eastern Victoria. Its northern border is formed by the Murray River... |
Labor | Paul Jones Paul Jones (Australian politician) Paul Jones was an Australian politician. Born in Gaffneys Creek, Victoria, he was educated at South Melbourne College before becoming a goldminer and teacher. He also studied at the University of Melbourne for an MA. In 1928, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives in bizarre... |
1.4 | 14.4 | 13.0 | William Hutchinson William Hutchinson (Australian politician) William Joseph Hutchinson was an Australian politician. Born in Maindample, Victoria, he was educated at Scotch College in Melbourne before becoming a grazier at Bonnie Doon... |
United Australia | ||
Lang, NSW Division of Lang The Division of Lang was an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It was located in the southern suburbs of Sydney, and was named after Rev. John Dunmore Lang, a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and advocate of Australian independence... |
Labor | William Long William Long (Australian politician) William John Long was an Australian politician. Born in Newcastle, New South Wales, he received a primary education before becoming a boilermaker with New South Wales Railways. In 1928, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Labor member for Lang, defeating long-serving... |
16.2 | 20.4 | 4.2 | Adam Dein Adam Dein Adam Kemball Dein was an Australian politician. Born in Orange, New South Wales, he was educated at public schools before becoming a goldminer and a farmer. Moving to Sydney he became a teacher. In 1931 he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the member for Lang, representing... |
United Australia | ||
Macquarie, NSW Division of Macquarie The Division of Macquarie is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It is named for Lachlan Macquarie, who was Governor of New South Wales between 1810 and 1821... |
Labor | Ben Chifley Ben Chifley Joseph Benedict Chifley , Australian politician, was the 16th Prime Minister of Australia. He took over the Australian Labor Party leadership and Prime Ministership after the death of John Curtin in 1945, and went on to retain government at the 1946 election, before being defeated at the 1949... |
15.6 | 16.2 | 0.6 | John Lawson John Lawson (Australian politician) John Norman Lawson was an Australian politician. Born in Sydney to James Lawson and Eleanor, née Day, he was educated at Sydney Boys' High School and the University of Sydney. He worked as a veterinarian in New Zealand from 1920 until 1926, when he bought Kidgery, a sheep station near Nyngan, New... |
United Australia | ||
Maribyrnong, Vic Division of Maribyrnong The Division of Maribyrnong is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria. It is located in the north-western suburbs of Melbourne. It covers the suburbs of Moonee Ponds, Essendon, Niddrie, Keilor East, Avondale Heights, Tullamarine, Airport West, Sunshine and Brooklyn. Due to... |
Labor | James Fenton James Fenton (Australian politician) James Edward Fenton CMG was an Australian politician. He is notable for having been appointed a cabinet minister by two governments of different political complexions, but resigning from both governments on matters of principle.Born at Nette Yallock, near Avoca, Victoria, Fenton was educated at a... |
23.2 | 23.6 | 0.4 | James Fenton James Fenton (Australian politician) James Edward Fenton CMG was an Australian politician. He is notable for having been appointed a cabinet minister by two governments of different political complexions, but resigning from both governments on matters of principle.Born at Nette Yallock, near Avoca, Victoria, Fenton was educated at a... |
United Australia | ||
Martin, NSW Division of Martin The Division of Martin was an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It was located in the inner western suburbs of Sydney, and initially included the suburbs of Concord and Mortlake, although by the time it was abolished in 1955, it had moved to cover Abbotsford, Balmain... |
Labor | John Eldridge John Eldridge John Eldridge , Australian politician, was the Member for the Division of Martin in the Australian House of Representatives from 12 October 1929 to 19 December 1931.... |
6.4 | 22.7 | 16.3 | William Holman William Holman William Arthur Holman was an Australian Labor Party Premier of New South Wales, Australia, who split with the party on the conscription issue in 1916 during World War I, and immediately became Premier of a conservative Nationalist Party Government.-Early life:Holman was born in St Pancras, London,... |
United Australia | ||
North Sydney, NSW Division of North Sydney The Division of North Sydney is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division is named after the North Sydney area where it is located. It was proclaimed in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election... |
Independent Nationalist | Billy Hughes Billy Hughes William Morris "Billy" Hughes, CH, KC, MHR , Australian politician, was the seventh Prime Minister of Australia from 1915 to 1923.... |
16.1 | 23.6 | 7.5 | Billy Hughes Billy Hughes William Morris "Billy" Hughes, CH, KC, MHR , Australian politician, was the seventh Prime Minister of Australia from 1915 to 1923.... |
United Australia | ||
Oxley, Qld Division of Oxley (1901-34) The Division of Oxley was an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Queensland. It was located in the inner southern suburbs of Brisbane, and originally included the suburbs of South Brisbane, Woolloongabba and Coorparoo... |
United Australia | James Bayley James Bayley (Australian politician) James Garfield Bayley was an Australian politician. Born in Franklin, Tasmania, he moved to Queensland as a child. He was educated at Brisbane Grammar School and at Stanford University in the United States. He returned to Australia as a teacher and eventually a school principal... |
0.1 | 5.9 | 5.8 | Francis Baker Francis Matthew John Baker Francis Matthew John Baker was an Australian politician and Vice-President of the State Service Union.Baker was born in Bundaberg, Queensland... |
Labor | ||
Parramatta, NSW Division of Parramatta The Division of Parramatta is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It is named for the locality of Parramatta. The name Parramatta has been sourced to an Aboriginal... |
Labor | Albert Rowe Albert Rowe Albert Edward Rowe was an Australian politician. He won the seat of Parramatta for the Australian Labor Party in 1929, but was defeated by Frederick Stewart in 1931.-References:... |
3.3 | 19.5 | 16.2 | Frederick Stewart Frederick Stewart (Australian politician) Sir Frederick Harold Stewart was an Australian businessman, politician and government minister. His continuing political commitment was to the establishment of a national insurance scheme and the shortening of working hours to improve social conditions during the Great Depression, despite the... |
United Australia | ||
Reid, NSW Division of Reid The Division of Reid is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It is located in the western suburbs of Sydney, and includes the suburbs of Abbotsford, Auburn , Berala , Breakfast Point, Burwood , Cabarita, Canada Bay, Chiswick, Concord, Concord West, Croydon , Drummoyne,... |
Labor | Percy Coleman Percy Coleman Percy Edmund Creed Coleman was an Australian union organiser and politician. Born at Surry Hills in Sydney to Thomas Coleman and Ellen, née Creed, Coleman was orphaned when still a young child and, after a New Zealand education, went to sea at the age of 13... |
N/A | 55.3 | 5.3 | Joseph Gander Joseph Gander Joseph Herbert Gander was an Australian politician. Born in Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia, he received a primary education before becoming a billiardmaker and public servant. He was involved in local politics in Sydney, being elected to Newtown Council... |
Labor (NSW) | ||
South Sydney, NSW Division of South Sydney The Division of South Sydney was an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It was located in the south of the city of Sydney.... |
Labor | Edward Riley Edward Riley (Australian politician) Edward Riley was an Australian politician. Born in Glasgow in Scotland, he received a primary education and migrated to Australia in 1883. He became a plasterer and an official in the Plasterers Union, and eventually rose to become President of the Trades and Labour Council. In 1891, he was a... |
16.3 | 21.4 | 5.1 | John Jennings John Jennings (Australian politician) John Thomas Jennings was an Australian politician. Born in Melbourne, he attended state schools before becoming a retailer of dental supplies. He underwent military service 1899-1901. In 1931, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the United Australia Party member for South... |
United Australia | ||
Wannon, Vic Division of Wannon The Division of Wannon is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria. It is located in the south-west of the state, and encompasses most of the Western Region of the state. It adjoins the South Australian border in the west, and the Bass Strait coast in the south. The Division... |
Labor | John McNeill | 2.0 | 14.3 | 12.3 | Thomas Scholfield Thomas Scholfield Thomas Hallett Scholfield, MC was an Australian politician. Born in Talangatuk East, Victoria, he attended state schools before becoming a farmer. He served in the military 1915-19. In 1931, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the United Australia Party member for Wannon.... |
United Australia | ||
Wentworth, NSW Division of Wentworth The Division of Wentworth is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It was proclaimed in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. The Division is named after William Charles Wentworth , a noted Australian explorer and statesman... |
Independent Nationalist | Walter Marks Walter Marks Walter Moffitt Marks was an Australian lawyer, yachtsman and politician.Marks was born in Culwulla House, Jamberoo, New South Wales and educated at Sydney Grammar School. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1902. In September 1901 he married Florence Sandford... |
8.3 | 58.3 | 15.8 | Eric Harrison Eric Harrison Sir Eric John Harrison KCMG KCVO was an Australian politician who became the first Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia.... |
United Australia | ||
Werriwa, NSW Division of Werriwa The Division of Werriwa is a Federal Electoral Division for the Australian House of Representatives.The name Werriwa derives from a local Aboriginal name for Lake George, which was located in the division when it was established in 1900. The division was one of the original 75 divisions first... |
Labor | Hubert Lazzarini Hubert Lazzarini Hubert Peter Lazzarini was an Australian politician, holding the division of Werriwa as the Australian Labor Party member for most years from 1919 until his death.... |
15.4 | 17.1 | 1.7 | Walter McNicoll Walter McNicoll Brigadier General Sir Walter Ramsay McNicoll KBE, CB, CMG, DSO was an Australian teacher, soldier, and colonial administrator.-Early life:... |
Country | ||
West Sydney, NSW Division of West Sydney The Division of West Sydney was an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It was located in the inner western suburbs of Sydney, and at various times included the suburbs of Pyrmont, Darling Harbour, Surry Hills, Balmain and Glebe.... |
Labor | Jack Beasley Jack Beasley John Albert "Jack" Beasley was an Australian politician.-Early life:Beasley was born in Werribee, Victoria, but moved to Sydney with his family as a child. He had a primary education in Catholic schools then became an apprentice electrician... |
36.5 | 11.4 | 15.1 | Jack Beasley Jack Beasley John Albert "Jack" Beasley was an Australian politician.-Early life:Beasley was born in Werribee, Victoria, but moved to Sydney with his family as a child. He had a primary education in Catholic schools then became an apprentice electrician... |
Labor (NSW) | ||
Wimmera, Vic Division of Wimmera The Division of Wimmera was an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria. It was named after the Wimmera region in which it was located. It originally encompassed the towns of Mildura, Swan Hill and Warracknabeal, but by the time it was abolished in 1977, it had drifted south and grown... |
Country Progressive | Percy Stewart | N/A | 21.8 | 11.8 | Hugh McClelland Hugh McClelland -Biography:Born in Smeaton, Victoria, he was educated at state schools before becoming a farmer at Berriwillock. He was also a Wycheproof Shire Councillor. In 1931, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Country Party member for Wimmera. He held the seat until 1937, when... |
Country | ||
Wilmot, Tas Division of Wilmot The Division of Wilmot was an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Tasmania. It was located in central Tasmania, and was named after Sir John Eardley-Wilmot, the sixth Lieutenant-Governor of Tasmania... |
Labor | Joseph Lyons Joseph Lyons Joseph Aloysius Lyons, CH was an Australian politician. He was Labor Premier of Tasmania from 1923 to 1928 and a Minister in the James Scullin government from 1929 until his resignation from the Labor Party in March 1931... |
2.9 | 25.0 | 22.1 | Joseph Lyons Joseph Lyons Joseph Aloysius Lyons, CH was an Australian politician. He was Labor Premier of Tasmania from 1923 to 1928 and a Minister in the James Scullin government from 1929 until his resignation from the Labor Party in March 1931... |
United Australia | ||
- Members in italics did not contest their seat at this election.
Issues
The election was dominated by the Great Depression in AustraliaGreat Depression in Australia
Australia suffered badly during the period of the Great Depression of the 1930s. The Depression began with the Wall Street Crash of October, 1929 and rapidly spread worldwide. As in other nations, Australia suffered years of high unemployment, poverty, low profits, deflation, plunging incomes, and...
, which was at its height. As the Labor Government had come to office two days before the Wall Street Crash of 1929
Wall Street Crash of 1929
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 , also known as the Great Crash, and the Stock Market Crash of 1929, was the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States, taking into consideration the full extent and duration of its fallout...
, it was seen as being responsible for many of the economic and social problems Australia faced. Lang Labor
Lang Labor
Lang Labor was the name commonly used to describe three successive break-away sections of the Australian Labor Party, all led by the New South Wales Labor leader Jack Lang premier of NSW .-Initial opposition to Lang's leadership:...
also split from the Labor Party, the result was Labor's primary vote dropping to its lowest level since 1901.
See also
- Candidates of the Australian federal election, 1931Candidates of the Australian federal election, 1931This article provides information on candidates who stood for the 1931 Australian federal election. The election was held on 19 December 1931.In 1931, the Nationalist Party had become the United Australia Party, absorbing several Labor defectors. In New South Wales, the Labor Party split, with the...
- Members of the Australian House of Representatives, 1931–1934Members of the Australian House of Representatives, 1931–1934This is a list of the members of the Australian House of Representatives in the 13th Australian Parliament, which was elected at the 1931 election on 19 December 1931...
- Members of the Australian Senate, 1932–1935Members of the Australian Senate, 1932–1935This is a list of members of the Australian Senate from 1932 to 1935. Half of its members were elected at the 17 November 1928 election and had terms starting on 1 July 1929 and finishing on 30 June 1935; the other half were elected at the 19 December 1931 election and had terms starting on 1 July...