Western Australian state election, 1974
Encyclopedia
Elections were held in the state
of Western Australia
on 30 March 1974 to elect all 51 members to the Legislative Assembly
and 15 members to the 30-seat Legislative Council
. The one-term Labor
government, led by Premier
John Tonkin
, was defeated by the Liberal
Party, led by Opposition Leader
Charles Court
.
and being outnumbered two-to-one in the Council
.
The 15-month-old Whitlam
Labor federal government had proven unpopular in Western Australia which saw it as taking a centralist view towards federal-state affairs
, and Whitlam himself was hit by a soft drink can and a tomato whilst addressing voters at Forrest Place
during the campaign. The Country Party had tentatively merged with the Democratic Labor Party
in the period preceding the election, going to the voters as the National Alliance
which put forward a centrist platform—however, they lost both votes and seats as compared to the 1971 election
in doing so. Arthur Bickerton, the member for Pilbara, became the first Minister to be defeated at an election since 1939
.
In order to form a parliamentary majority, the National Country Party under its new leader, Ray McPharlin
, agreed to form a coalition with the Liberals after the election, and negotiated three seats in the Ministry.
Notes:
604,222 electors were enrolled to vote at the election, but one seat, Central Province, held by the National Alliance and representing 22,438 electors, was uncontested.
States and territories of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a union of six states and various territories. The Australian mainland is made up of five states and three territories, with the sixth state of Tasmania being made up of islands. In addition there are six island territories, known as external territories, and a...
of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
on 30 March 1974 to elect all 51 members to the Legislative Assembly
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
and 15 members to the 30-seat Legislative Council
Western Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the Legislative Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state...
. The one-term Labor
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...
government, led by Premier
Premier of Western Australia
The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. The Premier has similar functions in Western Australia to those performed by the Prime Minister of Australia at the national level, subject to the different Constitutions...
John Tonkin
John Tonkin
John Trezise Tonkin AC , popularly known as "Honest John", was the 20th Premier of Western Australia , taking power after the almost 12 year term of Liberal Sir David Brand....
, was defeated by the Liberal
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...
Party, led by Opposition Leader
Leader of the Opposition (Western Australia)
The Leader of the Opposition in Western Australia is the leader of the largest minority political party or coalition of parties in the Legislative Assembly of the Parliament of Western Australia. By convention, he or she is generally a member of the Legislative Assembly...
Charles Court
Charles Court
Sir Charles Walter Michael Court, was a Western Australian politician, 21st Premier of Western Australia and member for the seat of Nedlands for the Liberal Party for nearly 30 years.-Early life:...
.
Overview
The Liberal Party won the election after a campaign focused mostly on inflation, industrial unrest, states' rights and education. The outgoing Tonkin government had had a turbulent ride in its three years of office, having only a one-seat majority in the AssemblyWestern Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
and being outnumbered two-to-one in the Council
Western Australian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. Its central purpose is to act as a house of review for legislation passed through the lower house, the Legislative Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state...
.
The 15-month-old Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
Labor federal government had proven unpopular in Western Australia which saw it as taking a centralist view towards federal-state affairs
Federalism in Australia
On 1 January 1901 the Australian nation emerged as a federation. The model of Australian federalism adheres closely to the original model of the United States of America.- Federal features in the Australian Constitution :...
, and Whitlam himself was hit by a soft drink can and a tomato whilst addressing voters at Forrest Place
Forrest Place
Forrest Place is a pedestrianised square located within the CBD of Perth, Western Australia. The street was created in 1923, and has a history of being a focal point for significant political meetings and demonstrations.-History:...
during the campaign. The Country Party had tentatively merged with the Democratic Labor Party
Democratic Labor Party (historical)
The Democratic Labor Party was an Australian political party that existed from 1955 until 1978.-History:The DLP was formed as a result of a split in the Australian Labor Party that began in 1954. The split was between the party's national leadership, under the then party leader Dr H.V...
in the period preceding the election, going to the voters as the National Alliance
National Alliance (Australia)
The National Alliance was an Australian political party of the early 1970s. The party was formed in Western Australia as a result of a merger between the WA Country Party and WA Democratic Labor Party . The National Alliance contested the WA state elections in March 1974, winning more than 8.5% of...
which put forward a centrist platform—however, they lost both votes and seats as compared to the 1971 election
Western Australian state election, 1971
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 20 February 1971 to elect all 51 members to the Legislative Assembly and 15 members to the 30-seat Legislative Council...
in doing so. Arthur Bickerton, the member for Pilbara, became the first Minister to be defeated at an election since 1939
Western Australian state election, 1939
Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 18 March 1939 to elect all 50 members to the Legislative Assembly. The Labor Party, led by Premier John Willcock, won a third term in office against the Country and Nationalist parties, led by Opposition Leader Charles Latham and Robert Ross...
.
In order to form a parliamentary majority, the National Country Party under its new leader, Ray McPharlin
Ray McPharlin
Walter Raymond "Ray" McPharlin was the Country Party member for Mount Marshall in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1967 to 1983....
, agreed to form a coalition with the Liberals after the election, and negotiated three seats in the Ministry.
Legislative Assembly
|}Notes:
- 604,222 electors were enrolled to vote at the election, but one seat, Mount MarshallElectoral district of Mount MarshallMount Marshall was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia from 1930 to 1989.-History:The seat was created under the Redistribution of Seats Act 1929 and was first contested in the 1930 state election...
, held by the National Alliance's Ray McPharlinRay McPharlinWalter Raymond "Ray" McPharlin was the Country Party member for Mount Marshall in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1967 to 1983....
and representing 6,887 electors, was uncontested. - The Western Australian Country Party agreed to a trial merger with the Democratic Labor PartyDemocratic Labor Party (historical)The Democratic Labor Party was an Australian political party that existed from 1955 until 1978.-History:The DLP was formed as a result of a split in the Australian Labor Party that began in 1954. The split was between the party's national leadership, under the then party leader Dr H.V...
prior to the election, known as the "National AllianceNational Alliance (Australia)The National Alliance was an Australian political party of the early 1970s. The party was formed in Western Australia as a result of a merger between the WA Country Party and WA Democratic Labor Party . The National Alliance contested the WA state elections in March 1974, winning more than 8.5% of...
". They contested 44 seats including many in the metropolitan area. The Alliance ceased to exist shortly after the 1974 election, and the National Country Party adopted a more traditional strategy for subsequent elections.
Legislative Council
|}604,222 electors were enrolled to vote at the election, but one seat, Central Province, held by the National Alliance and representing 22,438 electors, was uncontested.
See also
- Members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, 1971–1974
- Members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, 1974–1977Members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, 1974–1977This is a list of members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1974 to 1977. All members denoted "National Country" were elected under the National Alliance banner, but shortly thereafter adopted the name "National Country Party".-Notes:...