Australian federal election, 1983
Encyclopedia
Federal elections were held in Australia on 5 March 1983. All 125 seats in the House of Representatives
, and all 64 seats in the Senate
, were up for election, following a double dissolution
. The incumbent coalition
government in power since 1975, led by Malcolm Fraser
(Liberal Party of Australia
) and Doug Anthony
(National Party of Australia
), was defeated by the opposition Australian Labor Party
led by Bob Hawke
.
Independent: Brian Harradine
, who had resigned from the Cabinet citing Fraser's "manic determination to get his own way", a phrase Fraser had himself used when he resigned from the Gorton ministry in 1971. The Liberals unexpectedly won the December 1982 Flinders by-election
, after having lost the March 1982 Lowe by-election
with a large swing.
Bob Hawke had entered Parliament at the 1980 federal election
following a decade as leader of the Australian Council of Trade Unions
(ACTU). Labor factions began to push for the deposition of Bill Hayden
from the party leadership in favour of Hawke. On 3 February 1983 at a meeting in Brisbane, Hayden resigned on the advice of his closest supporters. Hawke was elected leader unopposed. Later that morning, unaware of the events in Brisbane, Fraser in Canberra sought and received a double dissolution
from the Governor-General
, Sir Ninian Stephen
, and called an election for 5 March. While an election wasn't due for several more months, Fraser had been emboldened by the unexpected retention of Flinders. He'd also hoped to catch Labor before it could replace Hayden, and was surprised to learn that Hayden had resigned literally hours before the writs were dropped. In response to his removal, Hayden claimed that a "drover's dog" could lead the ALP to victory.
Fraser's campaign used the slogan "We're Not Waiting For The World". Hawke's campaign theme was based around his favoured leadership philosophy of consensus, using the slogan "Bringing Australia Together". The Ash Wednesday bushfires
that devastated areas of Victoria and South Australia on 16 February disrupted the Prime Minister’s re-election campaign which was unofficially put on hold while he toured the affected areas. In response to an attack from Fraser on the security of the banking system to protect people's savings in which he asserted that ordinary people's money was safer under their beds than in a bank under Labor, Hawke laughed and said "you can't keep your money under the bed because that's where the Commies are!"
As counting progressed on election night, it was obvious early on that the ALP had won on a massive swing. Hawke with wife Hazel
claimed victory and a tearful Fraser conceded defeat. Ultimately, Labor won power on a 24-seat swing--the largest defeat of a sitting government since 1949, and the worst defeat a sitting non-Labor government has ever suffered. Fraser soon resigned from Parliament, leaving the Liberal leadership to one-time foe Andrew Peacock, who would later form a fierce leadership rivalry himself with future Prime Minister John Howard
.
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 all 64 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, following a double dissolution
Double dissolution
A double dissolution is a procedure permitted under the Australian Constitution to resolve deadlocks between the House of Representatives and the Senate....
. The incumbent 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...
government in power since 1975, led by Malcolm Fraser
Malcolm Fraser
John Malcolm Fraser AC, CH, GCL, PC is a former Australian Liberal Party politician who was the 22nd Prime Minister of Australia. He came to power in the 1975 election following the dismissal of the Whitlam Labor government, in which he played a key role...
(Liberal Party of Australia
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
) and Doug Anthony
Doug Anthony
John Douglas Anthony, AC, CH , is a former Australian politician. He was leader of the National Party from 1971 to 1984, and Deputy Prime Minister from 1971 to 1972 and again from 1975 to 1983.-Early life:...
(National Party of Australia
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
), was defeated by the opposition 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 Bob Hawke
Bob Hawke
Robert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
.
Results
| Party | Votes | % | Swing | Seats | Change | |
| 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... |
4,297,392 | 49.48 | +4.34 | 75 | +24 | |
| Liberal Party of Australia Liberal Party of Australia The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office... |
2,983,986 | 34.36 | −3.07 | 33 | −21 | |
| National Party of Australia National Party of Australia The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is... |
799,609 | 9.21 | +0.24 | 17 | −3 | |
| Australian Democrats Australian Democrats The Australian Democrats is an Australian political party espousing a socially liberal ideology. It was formed in 1977, by a merger of the Australia Party and the New LM, after principals of those minor parties secured the commitment of former Liberal minister Don Chipp, as a high profile leader... |
437,265 | 5.03 | −1.54 | 0 | 0 | |
| Other | 166,611 | 1.92 | +0.04 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 8,684,863 | 125 | ||||
| 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... |
WIN | 53.23 | +3.6 | 75 | +24 | |
| Liberal/National 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... |
46.77 | −3.6 | 50 | −24 |
| Party | Votes | % | Swing | Seats Won | Seats Held | |
| 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... |
3,637,316 | 45.49 | +3.24 | 30 | 30 | |
| Liberal/National (Joint Ticket) | 1,861,618 | 23.28 | −2.35 | 8 | ||
| Liberal Party of Australia Liberal Party of Australia The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office... |
923,571 | 11.55 | −1.59 | 16 | 23 | |
| Australian Democrats Australian Democrats The Australian Democrats is an Australian political party espousing a socially liberal ideology. It was formed in 1977, by a merger of the Australia Party and the New LM, after principals of those minor parties secured the commitment of former Liberal minister Don Chipp, as a high profile leader... |
764,911 | 9.57 | +0.31 | 5 | 5 | |
| National Party of Australia National Party of Australia The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is... |
388,802 | 4.86 | +0.41 | 3 | 4 | |
| Country Liberal Party Country Liberal Party The Northern Territory Country Liberal Party is a Northern Territory political party affiliated with both the National and Liberal parties... |
21,406 | 0.27 | +0.02 | 1 | 1 | |
| Independents 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... |
193,454 | 2.42 | +1.29 | 1 | 1 | |
| Other | 203,967 | 2.55 | −1.34 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 7,995,045 | 64 | 64 |
Independent: Brian Harradine
Brian Harradine
Richard William Brian Harradine , Australian politician, was an independent member of the Australian Senate from 1975 to 2005, representing the state of Tasmania. He was the longest-serving independent federal politician in Australian history, and a Father of the Senate.He was born in Quorn, South...
Seats changing hands
| Seat | Pre-1983 | Swing | Post-1983 | ||||||
| Party | Member | Margin | Margin | Member | Party | ||||
| 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... |
Liberal | James Bradfield James Bradfield James Mark Bradfield was an Australian politician. Born in Sydney, he was a company manager and underwent military service in 1951. In 1975, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Liberal member for Barton, and held the seat throughout the length of the Fraser government... |
0.4 | 4.4 | 4.0 | Gary Punch Gary Punch Gary Francis Punch is a former Australian politician and government minister.Punch was born in Arncliffe, New South Wales and educated at Hurstville Boys High School and subsequently obtained a commerce degree. He was an industrial relations and personnel manager before entering parliament... |
Labor | ||
| 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... |
Liberal | John Bourchier John Bourchier (Australian politician) John William Bourchier, CBE was an Australian politician. Born in Ballarat, Victoria, he was a company manager before entering politics. In 1972, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Liberal member for Bendigo. He held the seat until his defeat by future Victorian... |
1.3 | 4.1 | 2.8 | John Brumby John Brumby John Mansfield Brumby , is an Australian Labor Party politician who was Premier of Victoria from 2007 to 2010. He became Premier after the resignation of Steve Bracks. He also served as the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. He contested his first election... |
Labor | ||
| Bowman, Qld Division of Bowman The Division of Bowman is an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland. The division was created in 1949 and is named for David Bowman, an early leader of the Australian Labor Party, in Queensland... |
Liberal | David Jull David Jull David Francis Jull was an Australian politician. He was a long-serving Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Division of Bowman, Queensland, from 1975–83 and Fadden, Queensland, from 1984–2007.Jull was born in Kingaroy, Queensland, and was educated at the... |
1.2 | 3.4 | 2.2 | Leonard Keogh Leonard Keogh Leonard Joseph Keogh was a Labor representative for the Queensland Division of Bowman from 1969 to 1975 and 1983 to 1987 in the Australian House of Representatives. In 1987 he was defeated for pre-selection by Con Sciacca.... |
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... |
National | Sandy Mackenzie Sandy Mackenzie Alexander John "Sandy" Mackenzie is an Australian politician. He was born in Melbourne and educated at the University of New England. He became an agricultural scientist, and then principal of the Orange Agricultural College. In 1975, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as... |
1.5 | 4.4 | 2.9 | David Simmons David Simmons (Australian politician) David William Simmons, OAM , a former Australian politician, was a member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1983 to 1996, representing the seat of Calare for the Australian Labor Party... |
Labor | ||
| Canning, WA Division of Canning The Division of Canning is an Australian Electoral Division in Western Australia. The division was created in 1949 and is named for Alfred Canning, the Western Australian government surveyor who surveyed the Canning Stock Route... |
Liberal | Mel Bungey Mel Bungey Melville Harold "Mel" Bungey is a retired Australian politician. Born in Gnowangerup, Western Australia, he was educated at Wesley College, Perth and the University of Western Australia before becoming a farmer. Later, he was Vice-President of the Wool Section in the Farmers' Union of Western... |
1.8 | 9.2 | 7.4 | Wendy Fatin Wendy Fatin Wendy Frances Fatin , Australian politician, was a member of the Australian House of Representatives from Western Australia representing the Australian Labor Party in the Divisions of Canning and Brand... |
Labor | ||
| Casey, Vic Division of Casey The Division of Casey is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was created in 1969 and is named for Richard Casey, who was Governor-General of Australia 1965-69. It is located in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne and includes the suburbs of Croydon, Montrose and Olinda... |
Liberal | Peter Falconer Peter Falconer Peter David Falconer was an Australian politician. Born in Melbourne, he attended Monash University before becoming a management consultant. He served as Press Secretary to Senator Ivor Greenwood and as Secretary to federal Opposition Leader Billy Snedden before his own election to the Australian... |
1.9 | 2.6 | 0.7 | Peter Steedman Peter Steedman Alan Peter Steedman was an Australian politician. At Melbourne University he edited Farrago, the Melbourne University Student Union paper. He also edited Lot's Wife at Monash University.... |
Labor | ||
| Chisholm, Vic Division of Chisholm The Division of Chisholm is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was created in 1949 and is named for Caroline Chisholm, a social worker and promoter of women's immigration. It is located in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne... |
Liberal | Graham Harris Graham Harris -Early life:Born in Melbourne, he attended the University of Melbourne before becoming a barrister and company director.-Political career:In 1980, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Liberal member for Chisholm. He held the seat until his defeat in 1983 by Labor's Helen... |
2.2 | 4.4 | 2.2 | Helen Mayer Helen Mayer Helen Mayer was an Australian politician. Born in Kaniva, Victoria, she was educated at Swinburne Institute of Technology in Melbourne and then Toorak Teachers' College, after which she became a teacher. In 1983, she was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Labor member for... |
Labor | ||
| Deakin, Vic Division of Deakin The Division of Deakin is anAustralian Electoral Division in Victoria. It is named for Alfred Deakin, three times Prime Minister of Australia. The division was created in 1937, initially as a rural seat, but since 1949 it has been located in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, today taking in... |
Liberal | Alan Jarman Alan Jarman Alan William Jarman was an Australian politician. Born in Melbourne, he attended Wesley College and then the University of Melbourne before becoming an accountant. He served in the military 1942-46. In 1966, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Liberal member for Deakin... |
2.3 | 4.4 | 2.1 | John Saunderson John Saunderson John Saunderson was an Australian politician. Born in Berkshire, England, he migrated to Australia where he became a senior technical officer for Telecom. He was State President of the Australian Telecommunications Employees' Association... |
Labor | ||
| Diamond Valley, Vic Division of Diamond Valley The Division of Diamond Valley was anAustralian Electoral Division in Victoria.The division was created in 1969 and abolished in 1984. It was named for the Diamond Creek area. It was located in the north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, including Doncaster, Watsonia, Eltham and Templestowe... |
Liberal | Neil Brown Neil Brown (Australian politician) Neil Anthony Brown, QC is an Australian lawyer, arbitrator, mediator and former Member of the Federal Parliament of Australia and Minister in the Federal Government.... |
3.7 | 4.1 | 0.4 | Peter Staples Peter Staples Peter Staples is an Australian politician. He was first elected to Parliament in 1983 as the Member for Diamond Valley, then represented Jagajaga after Diamond Valley was abolished in 1984... |
Labor | ||
| 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... |
Liberal | Murray Sainsbury Murray Sainsbury Murray Evan Sainsbury was an Australian politician. He was the Liberal Party of Australia member for the House of Representatives seat of Eden-Monaro from 1975 until his defeat by Jim Snow in the 1983 election.-Notes:... |
2.8 | 4.6 | 1.8 | Jim Snow Jim Snow James Henry "Jim" Snow was an Australian politician.Snow was born in the Melbourne suburb of Surrey Hills, Victoria and graduated in pharmacy from the Victorian College of Pharmacy. He worked as a goat farmer, pharmacist and community worker for Queanbeyan City Council... |
Labor | ||
| Fadden, Qld Division of Fadden The Division of Fadden is an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland.The division was created in 1977 and is named for Sir Arthur Fadden, Prime Minister of Australia in 1941. When it was created it included a large area south of Brisbane, but today it is located in the northern Gold Coast area,... |
Liberal | Donald Milner Cameron Donald Milner Cameron Donald Milner Cameron, AM , Australian politician, was born in Brisbane, and was educated at Church of England Grammar School and the University of Queensland.... |
1.5 | 3.1 | 1.7 | David Beddall David Beddall David Peter Beddall is a former Australian politician.Beddall was born in Manchester, England and was employed by the Commonwealth Bank and was a self-employed commercial finance consultant before he entered parliament. He was elected as Australian Labor Party member for the seat of Rankin in... |
Labor | ||
| 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... |
Liberal | Peter Reith Peter Reith Peter Keaston Reith, , former Australian politician, was a Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party and then a senior Cabinet minister in the first two terms of the Howard Government.-Early life:... |
2.3 | 5.6 | 1.0 | Bob Chynoweth | Labor | ||
| Herbert, Qld Division of Herbert The Division of Herbert is an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland. Eligible voters within the Division elect a single representative, known as the member for Herbert, to the Australian House of Representatives. The division was first contested at the 1901 election... |
Liberal | Arthur Dean Arthur Dean (Australian politician) Arthur Gordon Dean was an Australian politician. Born in Mackay, Queensland, he was a solicitor before entering politics. In 1977, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Liberal member for Herbert. He held the seat until his defeat by Labor's Ted Lindsay in... |
0.9 | 3.7 | 2.8 | Ted Lindsay Ted Lindsay (Australian politician) Eamon John "Ted" Lindsay was an Australian politician. Born in Tully, Queensland, he was a solicitor and a City of Townsville Councillor before entering federal politics. In 1983, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Labor member for Herbert, defeating the sitting... |
Labor | ||
| Kingston, SA Division of Kingston The Division of Kingston is an Australian Electoral Division in South Australia covering the far-south metropolitan area of Adelaide. The division was first proclaimed in 1949.... |
Liberal | Grant Chapman Grant Chapman Hedley Grant Pearson Chapman is an Australian politician.Born in Adelaide, South Australia, Chapman was educated at the University of Adelaide and worked as a marketing executive in the oil industry and a self-employed management consultant prior to gaining Liberal Party pre-selection for the... |
0.2 | 3.3 | 3.1 | Gordon Bilney Gordon Bilney Gordon Neil Bilney is an Australian politician. He was an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives for the seat of Kingston from 1983 to 1996.Bilney was born in Renmark, South Australia.... |
Labor | ||
| Leichhardt, Qld Division of Leichhardt The Division of Leichhardt is an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland. The division was first proclaimed in 1949. It is one of Australia's largest electorates, covering an area stretching from Cairns to Cape York and the Torres Strait, including the Torres Strait Islands.-About the... |
National | David Thomson David Thomson (Australian politician) David Scott Thomson is a former Australian politician. He was the National Country Party member for the House of Representatives seat of Leichhardt from the 1975 election until his defeat by John Gayler at the 1983 election... |
1.1 | 3.2 | 2.1 | John Gayler John Gayler John Gayler was an Australian politician. Born in Toowoomba, Queensland, he was a solicitor before entering politics. In 1983, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Labor member for Leichhardt. He held the seat until his retirement in 1993.-References:... |
Labor | ||
| Macarthur, NSW Division of Macarthur The Division of Macarthur is an Australia Federal electoral division covering outer south-west Sydney. Its present boundaries cover the southern suburbs of Campbelltown, all of the local government area of Camden and small parts of Wollondilly. It covers 537 km² and is named after John... |
Liberal | Michael Baume Michael Baume Michael Ehrenfried Baume AO was an Australian Liberal Party politician who represented the Division of Macarthur in the House of Representatives and the state of New South Wales in the Senate.Born in Sydney, Baume earned a B.A... |
3.2 | 5.3 | 2.1 | Colin Hollis Colin Hollis Colin Hollis was an Australian federal politician. He was an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1983 to 2001.... |
Labor | ||
| Moore, WA Division of Moore The Division of Moore is an Australian electoral division in the state of Western Australia. Eligible voters within the Division elect a single representative, known as the member for Moore, to the Australian House of Representatives... |
Liberal | John Hyde John Hyde (Australian federal politician) John Martin Hyde is a former Australian politician. He was elected as the member for the Division of Moore in Western Australia for the Liberal Party.... |
2.8 | 10.0 | 7.2 | Allen Blanchard Allen Blanchard Cecil Allen Blanchard is a former Australian federal politician. Born in London, England, he migrated to Australia where he was educated at the Western Australian Institute of Technology; he subsequently returned to England for tertiary education at the University of London and later became a... |
Labor | ||
| Northern Territory, NT Division of Northern Territory The Division of Northern Territory was an Australian Electoral Division in the Northern Territory. Throughout its existence, it was the only Division in the Territory.... |
Country Liberal | Grant Tambling Grant Tambling Grant Ernest John Tambling, AM is an Australian politician and former Administrator of Norfolk Island.Tambling was born and raised in Darwin in the Northern Territory, and studied both there and in Adelaide... |
1.2 | 3.1 | 1.9 | John Reeves | Labor | ||
| Perth, WA Division of Perth The Division of Perth is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Western Australia. It is named after Perth, the capital city of Western Australia, where the Division is located... |
Liberal | Ross McLean Ross McLean Ross Malcolm McLean, AM is a former Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1975 to 1983, representing the Division of Perth, Western Australia.... |
1.0 | 7.4 | 6.4 | Ric Charlesworth | Labor | ||
| Petrie, Qld Division of Petrie The Division of Petrie is an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland. The division was created in 1949 and named after Andrew Petrie , a noted civil engineer, pioneer and explorer, and the first free settler in Brisbane .... |
Liberal | John Hodges John Hodges (Australian politician) John Charles Hodges is a former Australian politician. He was born in Brisbane, Queensland and was a pharmacist before entering the Parliament of Australia... |
3.4 | 3.9 | 0.5 | Dean Wells | Labor | ||
| Phillip, NSW Division of Phillip The Division of Phillip was an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It was located in the Sydney's eastern suburbs, and was named after Captain Arthur Phillip, captain of the First Fleet and first Governor of New South Wales... |
Liberal | Jack Birney Jack Birney Reginald John "Jack" Birney was an Australian politician. Born in Sydney, he was a barrister before entering politics. In 1975, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Liberal member for Phillip. He held the seat until his defeat in 1983 by Jeannette McHugh. Birney died in... |
0.6 | 2.5 | 1.9 | Jeannette McHugh Jeannette McHugh Jeannette McHugh , Australian politician, is a former Australian Labor Party member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Divisions of Phillip and Grayndler in New South Wales.... |
Labor | ||
| Stirling, WA Division of Stirling The Division of Stirling is an Australian Electoral Division in the inner northern and beachside suburbs of Perth, Western Australia. It includes the suburbs of Balcatta, Balga, Carine, Innaloo, Nollamara, North Beach, Scarborough, Stirling, Trigg and Yokine.... |
Liberal | Ian Viner Ian Viner Robert Ian Viner AO is an Australian former politician. He was the Liberal Party of Australia member for the House of Representatives seat of Stirling from 1972 until his defeat by Ron Edwards in the 1983 election... |
2.0 | 9.0 | 7.0 | Ron Edwards Ron Edwards (Australian politician) Ronald Frederick "Ron" Edwards is a retired Australian politician. Born in Perth, Western Australia, he was educated at the University of Western Australia and the University of Sydney, after which he became a lecturer in economics and industrial relations... |
Labor | ||
| Tangney, WA Division of Tangney The Division of Tangney is an Australian electoral division in the state of Western Australia. Eligible voters within the Division elect a single representative, known as the member for Tangney, to the Australian House of Representatives... |
Liberal | Peter Shack Peter Shack Peter Donald Shack is a former Australian politician. Born in Perth, he was educated at Wesley College, Perth and the University of Western Australia before becoming a company director and political advisor. In 1977, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Liberal member... |
4.6 | 7.8 | 3.2 | George Gear George Gear George Gear is a former Australian politician and government minister.Gear was born in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia and received a Bachelor of Education at Mount Lawley College Advanced Education a Diploma of Electrical Engineering at Fremantle Technical College and a Diploma of Technical... |
Labor | ||
- Members in italics did not contest their seat at this election.
Background
At the time of the election, the economy suffered from high inflation and high unemployment, alongside increases in industrial disputation and drought across much of the rural areas. The coalition government was led by Malcolm Fraser, Prime Minister since 1975. Fraser had fought off a leadership challenge from Andrew PeacockAndrew Peacock
Andrew Sharp Peacock AC, GCL , is a former Australian Liberal politician. He was a minister in the Gorton, McMahon and Fraser governments, and was federal leader of the Liberal Party of Australia 1983–1985 and 1989–1990...
, who had resigned from the Cabinet citing Fraser's "manic determination to get his own way", a phrase Fraser had himself used when he resigned from the Gorton ministry in 1971. The Liberals unexpectedly won the December 1982 Flinders by-election
Flinders by-election, 1982
A by-election was held for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Flinders on 4 December 1982. This was triggered by the resignation of Liberal Party MP Phillip Lynch.The by-election was won by Liberal Party candidate Peter Reith...
, after having lost the March 1982 Lowe by-election
Lowe by-election, 1982
A by-election was held for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Lowe on 13 March 1982. This was triggered by the resignation of former Liberal Party Prime Minister and MP William McMahon....
with a large swing.
Bob Hawke had entered Parliament at the 1980 federal election
Australian federal election, 1980
Federal elections were held in Australia on 18 October 1980. All 125 seats in the House of Representatives, and 34 of the 64 seats in the Senate, were up for election. The incumbent Liberal Party of Australia led by Malcolm Fraser with coalition partner the National Country Party led by Doug...
following a decade as leader of the Australian Council of Trade Unions
Australian Council of Trade Unions
The Australian Council of Trade Unions is the largest peak body representing workers in Australia. It is a national trade union centre of 46 affiliated unions.-History:The ACTU was formed in 1927 as the "Australian Council of Trade Unions"...
(ACTU). Labor factions began to push for the deposition of Bill Hayden
Bill Hayden
William George "Bill" Hayden AC was the 21st Governor-General of Australia. Prior to this, he represented the Australian Labor Party in parliament; he was a minister in the government of Gough Whitlam, and later became Leader of the Opposition, narrowly losing the 1980 federal election to the...
from the party leadership in favour of Hawke. On 3 February 1983 at a meeting in Brisbane, Hayden resigned on the advice of his closest supporters. Hawke was elected leader unopposed. Later that morning, unaware of the events in Brisbane, Fraser in Canberra sought and received a double dissolution
Double dissolution
A double dissolution is a procedure permitted under the Australian Constitution to resolve deadlocks between the House of Representatives and the Senate....
from the Governor-General
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
, Sir Ninian Stephen
Ninian Stephen
Sir Ninian Martin Stephen, is a retired politician and judge, who served as the 20th Governor-General of Australia and as a Justice in the High Court of Australia.-Early life:...
, and called an election for 5 March. While an election wasn't due for several more months, Fraser had been emboldened by the unexpected retention of Flinders. He'd also hoped to catch Labor before it could replace Hayden, and was surprised to learn that Hayden had resigned literally hours before the writs were dropped. In response to his removal, Hayden claimed that a "drover's dog" could lead the ALP to victory.
Fraser's campaign used the slogan "We're Not Waiting For The World". Hawke's campaign theme was based around his favoured leadership philosophy of consensus, using the slogan "Bringing Australia Together". The Ash Wednesday bushfires
Ash Wednesday fires
The Ash Wednesday bushfires, known in South Australia as Ash Wednesday II, were a series of bushfires that occurred in south-eastern Australia on 16 February 1983. Within twelve hours, more than 180 fires fanned by winds of up to 110 km per hour caused widespread destruction across the states...
that devastated areas of Victoria and South Australia on 16 February disrupted the Prime Minister’s re-election campaign which was unofficially put on hold while he toured the affected areas. In response to an attack from Fraser on the security of the banking system to protect people's savings in which he asserted that ordinary people's money was safer under their beds than in a bank under Labor, Hawke laughed and said "you can't keep your money under the bed because that's where the Commies are!"
As counting progressed on election night, it was obvious early on that the ALP had won on a massive swing. Hawke with wife Hazel
Hazel Hawke
Hazel Hawke, AO is the former wife of Bob Hawke, Prime Minister of Australia 1983–91. They divorced after he left the prime ministership. She worked in social policy areas, and was an excellent amateur pianist and a patron of the arts...
claimed victory and a tearful Fraser conceded defeat. Ultimately, Labor won power on a 24-seat swing--the largest defeat of a sitting government since 1949, and the worst defeat a sitting non-Labor government has ever suffered. Fraser soon resigned from Parliament, leaving the Liberal leadership to one-time foe Andrew Peacock, who would later form a fierce leadership rivalry himself with future Prime Minister John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
.
See also
- Candidates of the Australian federal election, 1983Candidates of the Australian federal election, 1983This article provides information on candidates who stood for the 1983 Australian federal election. The election was held on 5 March 1983.-Labor:*John Armitage MP *Moss Cass MP *Ted Innes MP...
- Members of the Australian House of Representatives, 1983–1984
- Members of the Australian Senate, 1983–1985
External links
- University of WA election results in Australia since 1890
- AustralianPolitics.com election details
- AEC 2PP vote