Australian Capital Territory general election, 2008
Encyclopedia
Elections to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly were held on Saturday, 18 October 2008. The incumbent Labor Party
, led by Jon Stanhope
, was challenged by the Liberal Party
, led by Zed Seselja
. Candidates were elected to fill three multi-member electorates using a single transferable vote
method, known as the Hare-Clark system. The result was another hung parliament
with Labor winning seven seats, the Liberals six seats and the Greens
finishing with four seats, giving the Greens the balance of power
in the 17-member unicameral Assembly
. On 31 October 2008, after almost two weeks of deliberations, the Greens chose to support a Labor minority government
. Consequently, Labor was re-elected to a third consecutive term of government in the ACT. Stanhope was elected Chief Minister
at the first sitting of the seventh Assembly on 5 November 2008.
Australian Labor Party
, led by Chief Minister Jon Stanhope
, attempted to win re-election for a third term after coming to power in 2001. They were challenged by the opposition centre-right
Liberal Party of Australia
, led by Zed Seselja
, who assumed the Liberal leadership in December 2007. A third party, the ACT Greens
, held one seat in the Assembly through retiring MLA Deb Foskey
.
The election saw all 17 members of the Assembly face re-election, with members being elected by the Hare-Clark system of proportional representation
. The Assembly is divided into three electorates: five-member Brindabella
(including Tuggeranong
and parts of the Woden Valley
) and Ginninderra
(including Belconnen
and suburbs) and seven-member Molonglo
(including North Canberra
, South Canberra
, Gungahlin
, Weston Creek
, and the remainder of the Woden Valley
). Election dates are set in statute to occur once every four years; the government has no ability to set the election date.
Following the 2004 election
outcome, Labor held 9 seats, becoming the first majority government
in the territory's history. The opposition Liberal Party held 7 seats, with the Greens holding a further one. The Liberal numbers in the Assembly dropped to six in December 2007 when former Shadow Treasurer Richard Mulcahy
was expelled from the party and began sitting as an independent. The opposition thus would have needed to win a further three seats, on top of regaining Mulcahy's seat, to hold government in its own right.
The Liberal campaign suffered early problems in February 2008 when a number of prominent Liberal Party and business figures, including popular former Chief Minister Kate Carnell
and high-profile businessman and former party finance director Jim Murphy, relaunched the 250 Club, previously a Liberal fundraising group, as the independent Canberra Business Club. The new organisation pledged to support minor party
and independent pro-business candidates in the election, citing their disillusion with both major parties and the need for a third political force in the Assembly. At the same time, their best prospect for winning Mulcahy's seat of Molonglo, the Liberal Candidate for Fraser in the previous Federal election, withdrew.
, polling released on 4 October suggested the Green vote had doubled to tripled since the last election, at the expense of Labor, with the Liberal vote relatively unchanged. Commentators predicted the Greens would hold the balance of power
and decide who forms government. The Greens stated they were willing to court both major parties.
Brindabella
Five seats were up for election. The Labor Party
was defending three seats. The Liberal Party
was defending two seats.
Ginninderra
Five seats were up for election. The Labor Party
was defending three seats. The Liberal Party
was defending two seats.
Molonglo
Seven seats were up for election. The Labor Party
was defending three seats. The Liberal Party
was defending three seats. The Australian Greens
were defending one seat.
, and negotiated with both major parties for the formation of a minority government
. After almost two weeks of deliberations, the Greens chose to form a minority government with Labor. The ACT Electoral Commission determined and announced the election's final results on 25 October 2008 after distribution of preferences.
In Brindabella
, Labor lost one of its three seats to Greens candidate Amanda Bresnan
. Government minister John Hargreaves
was re-elected, but Labor backbencher Mick Gentleman
was beaten by another Labor candidate, Joy Burch
. For the Liberal Party, former leader Brendan Smyth
was re-elected, but shadow minister Steve Pratt
lost his seat to Steve Doszpot
.
Labor also lost a seat in Ginninderra
, where Greens candidate Meredith Hunter
was elected. Chief Minister Jon Stanhope
and Labor MLA Mary Porter
were both re-elected, and on the Liberal ticket sitting MLA Vicki Dunne
was joined by Alistair Coe
.
In seven-member Molonglo
, the Liberals lost one seat to the Greens. Labor ministers Katy Gallagher
, Andrew Barr
and Simon Corbell
all won re-election, as did Liberal leader Zed Seselja
. Sitting MLA Jacqui Burke
lost to Jeremy Hanson
for the second Liberal seat. The Greens increased their representation in this seat to two, electing new MLAs Shane Rattenbury
and Caroline Le Couteur
, the latter at the expense of Liberal-turned-Independent MLA Richard Mulcahy
.
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 Jon Stanhope
Jon Stanhope
Jonathan Ronald Stanhope is a former Australian politician who was Labor Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory from 2001 to 2011. Stanhope represented the Ginninderra electorate in the ACT Legislative Assembly from 1998 until 2011. He resigned as Chief Minister on 12 May 2011 and as...
, was challenged by the Liberal Party
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...
, led by Zed Seselja
Zed Seselja
Zed Seselja is a Liberal Party Australian politician. He has been a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly since 2004. He has been the territory's 12th Opposition Leader since December 2007, when he was appointed to the position following the resignation of Bill Stefaniak...
. Candidates were elected to fill three multi-member electorates using a single transferable vote
Single transferable vote
The single transferable vote is a voting system designed to achieve proportional representation through preferential voting. Under STV, an elector's vote is initially allocated to his or her most preferred candidate, and then, after candidates have been either elected or eliminated, any surplus or...
method, known as the Hare-Clark system. The result was another hung parliament
Hung parliament
In a two-party parliamentary system of government, a hung parliament occurs when neither major political party has an absolute majority of seats in the parliament . It is also less commonly known as a balanced parliament or a legislature under no overall control...
with Labor winning seven seats, the Liberals six seats and the Greens
ACT Greens
The ACT Greens is a green political party located in the Australian Capital Territory, and a member of the federation of the Australian Greens....
finishing with four seats, giving the Greens the balance of power
Balance of power (parliament)
In parliamentary politics, the term balance of power sometimes describes the pragmatic mechanism exercised by a minor political party or other grouping whose guaranteed support may enable an otherwise minority government to obtain and hold office...
in the 17-member unicameral Assembly
Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly
The Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly is the unicameral legislature of the Australian Capital Territory...
. On 31 October 2008, after almost two weeks of deliberations, the Greens chose to support a Labor minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
. Consequently, Labor was re-elected to a third consecutive term of government in the ACT. Stanhope was elected Chief Minister
Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory
The Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory is the head of government of the Australian Capital Territory. The leader of party with the largest representation of seats in the unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly usually takes on the role...
at the first sitting of the seventh Assembly on 5 November 2008.
Key dates
- Last day to lodge applications for party register: 30 June 2008
- Party registration closed: 11 September 2008
- Pre-election period commenced and nominations opened: 12 September 2008
- Rolls closed: 19 September 2008
- Nominations closed: 24 September 2008
- Nominations declared and ballot paper order determined: 25 September 2008
- Pre-poll voting commenced: 29 September 2008
- Polling day: 18 October 2008
- Scrutiny completed: 25 October 2008
- Poll declared: 29 October 2008
- Legislative Assembly formed: 5 November 2008
Overview
The incumbent centre-leftCentre-left
Centre-left is a political term that describes individuals, political parties or organisations such as think tanks whose ideology lies between the centre and the left on the left-right spectrum...
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 Chief Minister Jon Stanhope
Jon Stanhope
Jonathan Ronald Stanhope is a former Australian politician who was Labor Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory from 2001 to 2011. Stanhope represented the Ginninderra electorate in the ACT Legislative Assembly from 1998 until 2011. He resigned as Chief Minister on 12 May 2011 and as...
, attempted to win re-election for a third term after coming to power in 2001. They were challenged by the opposition centre-right
Centre-right
The centre-right or center-right is a political term commonly used to describe or denote individuals, political parties, or organizations whose views stretch from the centre to the right on the left-right spectrum, excluding far right stances. Centre-right can also describe a coalition of centrist...
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...
, led by Zed Seselja
Zed Seselja
Zed Seselja is a Liberal Party Australian politician. He has been a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly since 2004. He has been the territory's 12th Opposition Leader since December 2007, when he was appointed to the position following the resignation of Bill Stefaniak...
, who assumed the Liberal leadership in December 2007. A third party, the ACT Greens
ACT Greens
The ACT Greens is a green political party located in the Australian Capital Territory, and a member of the federation of the Australian Greens....
, held one seat in the Assembly through retiring MLA Deb Foskey
Deb Foskey
Deb Foskey is a former Australian politician with the ACT Greens. She was elected to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly in the 2004 election for the electorate of Molonglo, in which she served until her retirement in 2008.-Early life:Foskey was born in rural East Gippsland,...
.
The election saw all 17 members of the Assembly face re-election, with members being elected by the Hare-Clark system of proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
. The Assembly is divided into three electorates: five-member Brindabella
Brindabella electorate
The Brindabella electorate is one of the three electorates for the unicameral 17-member Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. It has five seats, and is the largest of the electorates in geographic area.-History:...
(including Tuggeranong
Tuggeranong
Tuggeranong is the southernmost town centre of Canberra, the capital city of Australia. It comprises 19 suburbs with a total of 31,819 dwellings, housing 87,119 people of the 324,034 people in the Australian Capital Territory . The district occupies 117 square kilometres to the east of the...
and parts of the Woden Valley
Woden Valley
Woden Valley is a district of Canberra, the capital city of Australia. Its name is taken from the name of a nearby homestead owned by Dr James Murray who named the homestead after the Old English god Woden in October 1837. He named it this as he was to spend his life in the pursuit of wisdom and...
) and Ginninderra
Ginninderra electorate
The Ginninderra electorate is one of the three electorates for the unicameral 17-member Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. It has five seats, and is the smallest of the electorates in geographic area.-History:...
(including Belconnen
Belconnen
Belconnen is a district of Canberra, the capital city of Australia, comprising 25 suburbs with 29,900 dwellings housing 82,247 people of the 311,518 people in the Australian Capital Territory ....
and suburbs) and seven-member Molonglo
Molonglo electorate
The Molonglo electorate is one of the three electorates for the unicameral 17-member Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. It has seven seats, and is the largest of the electorates in terms of population.-History:...
(including North Canberra
North Canberra
North Canberra, also known as the Inner North, is a district of Canberra, the capital city of Australia, comprising 14 suburbs with 19,115 dwellings housing 42,113 people of the 324,034 people in the Australian Capital Territory...
, South Canberra
South Canberra
South Canberra or the Inner South is a central district of Canberra, the capital city of Australia.South Canberra is located to the south of Canberra's city centre, on the south bank of Lake Burley Griffin....
, Gungahlin
Gungahlin
Gungahlin is a name of a district and the northernmost town centre of Canberra, Australia. Gungahlin is situated 10 km north of Canberra's city centre and is one of five satellites of Canberra including Woden, Tuggeranong, Weston Creek and Belconnen. Currently Gungahlin comprises 11 suburbs,...
, Weston Creek
Weston Creek
Weston Creek is a residential district of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia, situated to the west of the Woden Valley district and approximately 13 km southwest of the Canberra city centre...
, and the remainder of the Woden Valley
Woden Valley
Woden Valley is a district of Canberra, the capital city of Australia. Its name is taken from the name of a nearby homestead owned by Dr James Murray who named the homestead after the Old English god Woden in October 1837. He named it this as he was to spend his life in the pursuit of wisdom and...
). Election dates are set in statute to occur once every four years; the government has no ability to set the election date.
Following the 2004 election
Australian Capital Territory general election, 2004
Elections to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly were held on Saturday, 16 October 2004. The incumbent Labor Party, led by Jon Stanhope, was challenged by the Liberal Party, led by Brendan Smyth. Candidates were elected to fill three multi-member electorates using a single...
outcome, Labor held 9 seats, becoming the first majority government
Majority government
A majority government is when the governing party has an absolute majority of seats in the legislature or parliament in a parliamentary system. This is as opposed to a minority government, where even the largest party wins only a plurality of seats and thus must constantly bargain for support from...
in the territory's history. The opposition Liberal Party held 7 seats, with the Greens holding a further one. The Liberal numbers in the Assembly dropped to six in December 2007 when former Shadow Treasurer Richard Mulcahy
Richard Mulcahy (Australian politician)
Richard John Mulcahy , a former Australian politician was a member of the unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly for one term, from 2004 to 2008, representing the Liberal Patry and later as an independent....
was expelled from the party and began sitting as an independent. The opposition thus would have needed to win a further three seats, on top of regaining Mulcahy's seat, to hold government in its own right.
The Liberal campaign suffered early problems in February 2008 when a number of prominent Liberal Party and business figures, including popular former Chief Minister Kate Carnell
Kate Carnell
Anne Katherine Carnell AO was the third Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory, serving from 1995 to 2000. She is currently Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Food and Grocery Council.-Pharmacy career:...
and high-profile businessman and former party finance director Jim Murphy, relaunched the 250 Club, previously a Liberal fundraising group, as the independent Canberra Business Club. The new organisation pledged to support minor party
Minor party
Minor party is a political party that play a smaller role than a major party in a country's politics and elections. The difference between minor and major parties can be so big that the membership total, donations, and the candidates that they are able to produce or attract are very distinct...
and independent pro-business candidates in the election, citing their disillusion with both major parties and the need for a third political force in the Assembly. At the same time, their best prospect for winning Mulcahy's seat of Molonglo, the Liberal Candidate for Fraser in the previous Federal election, withdrew.
Polling
Conducted by Patterson Market Research, and published in The Canberra TimesThe Canberra Times
The Canberra Times newspaper was founded in 1926 in Canberra, Australia by Arthur Shakespeare.It was the second paper to be printed in the city, the first being The Federal Capital Pioneer. The paper was sold to the Fairfax group in the 1960s by Arthur Shakespeare on the condition that it continue...
, polling released on 4 October suggested the Green vote had doubled to tripled since the last election, at the expense of Labor, with the Liberal vote relatively unchanged. Commentators predicted the Greens would hold the balance of power
Balance of power (parliament)
In parliamentary politics, the term balance of power sometimes describes the pragmatic mechanism exercised by a minor political party or other grouping whose guaranteed support may enable an otherwise minority government to obtain and hold office...
and decide who forms government. The Greens stated they were willing to court both major parties.
Scanning of ballot papers
In the 2001 and 2004 elections, after the first manual count of paper ballots the preferences were data entered for distribution. For the 2008 election, paper ballots were scanned and character recognition software used to identify preferences. Any preferences that could not be identified by the software were entered manually.Candidates
Sitting members at the time of the election are in bold. Tickets that elected at least one MLA are highlighted in the relevant colour. Successful candidates are indicated by an asterisk (*).Labor
- Wayne BerryWayne BerryWayne Bruce Berry , former Australian politician, was a member of the unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly from 1989 to 2008, representing the electorate of Ginninderra for the Australian Labor Party...
(GinninderraGinninderra electorateThe Ginninderra electorate is one of the three electorates for the unicameral 17-member Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. It has five seats, and is the smallest of the electorates in geographic area.-History:...
) - Karin MacDonaldKarin MacDonaldKarin MacDonald is an Australian politician and was a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Brindabella for the Australian Labor Party. MacDonald was elected at the 2001 ACT general election and retired at the 2008 ACT general...
(BrindabellaBrindabella electorateThe Brindabella electorate is one of the three electorates for the unicameral 17-member Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. It has five seats, and is the largest of the electorates in geographic area.-History:...
)
BrindabellaBrindabella electorateThe Brindabella electorate is one of the three electorates for the unicameral 17-member Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. It has five seats, and is the largest of the electorates in geographic area.-History:...
Five seats were up for election. The Labor PartyAustralian 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...
was defending three seats. The Liberal Party
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...
was defending two seats.
| 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... Candidates |
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... Candidates |
Greens Australian Greens The Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, is an Australian green political party.The party was formed in 1992; however, its origins can be traced to the early environmental movement in Australia and the formation of the United Tasmania Group , the first Green party in the world, which... Candidates |
Motorist Australian Motorist Party The Australian Motorist Party is an Australian political party dedicated to representing motorist and road users, as well pedestrians, throughout Australia. It was founded by groups of concerned motorists... Candidates |
CAP Candidates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Joy Burch Joy Burch Joy Burch is an Australian politician with the Australian Labor Party, elected to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly in the Brindabella electorate at the 2008 election.... * Mick Gentleman Mick Gentleman Mick Gentleman is an Australian politician and was a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Brindabella for the Australian Labor Party from 2004 to 2008... John Hargreaves John Hargreaves (politician) John Leo Hargreaves is an Australian politician. He has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly since 1998... * Tracey Macket Wayne Sievers Wayne Sievers Wayne Thomas Padraig Sievers is a former Australian police officer, trade union official, a social justice campaigner and has stood in numerous elections... |
Steve Doszpot Steve Doszpot Steve Doszpot is an Australian politician with the Liberal Party of Australia, elected to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly in the Brindabella electorate at the 2008 election.... * David Morgan Steve Pratt Steve Pratt Stephen George "Steve" Pratt is a former Australian military officer, aid worker and Liberal politician in the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly for the electorate of Brindabella.- Early career :... Audrey Ray Brendan Smyth Brendan Smyth (politician) Brendan Michael Smyth is a Liberal Party of Australia politician. From 2002 to 2006 he was the Leader of the Opposition in the Australian Capital Territory. He retains his shadow previous portfolios of Health, Ageing, Business and Tourism at present. He represents the electorate of... * |
Amanda Bresnan Amanda Bresnan Amanda Bresnan is an Australian politician and a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. Bresnan was elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Brindabella for the ACT Greens at the 2008 election-Early life and education:Amanda Bresnan was... * Sue Ellerman |
Ben Doble Burl Doble Brian McLachlan Geoff Rake Bruce Ritchie |
Val Jeffrey James Sizer |
GinninderraGinninderra electorateThe Ginninderra electorate is one of the three electorates for the unicameral 17-member Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. It has five seats, and is the smallest of the electorates in geographic area.-History:...
Five seats were up for election. The Labor PartyAustralian 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...
was defending three seats. The Liberal Party
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...
was defending two seats.
| 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... Candidates |
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... Candidates |
Greens Australian Greens The Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, is an Australian green political party.The party was formed in 1992; however, its origins can be traced to the early environmental movement in Australia and the formation of the United Tasmania Group , the first Green party in the world, which... Candidates |
Motorist Australian Motorist Party The Australian Motorist Party is an Australian political party dedicated to representing motorist and road users, as well pedestrians, throughout Australia. It was founded by groups of concerned motorists... Candidates |
CAP Candidates | Ungrouped Candidates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chris Bourke Chris Bourke Chris Bourke is an Australian politician, currently a Labor member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Ginninderra. He is the first Indigenous Australian elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly. He filled the casual vacancy created by the... Adina Cirson Mary Porter Mary Porter (politician) Mary Edith Porter AM is a Labor member of the ACT Assembly. She was first elected to the Assembly in October 2004. Prior to that, she was CEO of the Volunteering Association from 1993 until October 2004... * Dave Peebles Jon Stanhope Jon Stanhope Jonathan Ronald Stanhope is a former Australian politician who was Labor Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory from 2001 to 2011. Stanhope represented the Ginninderra electorate in the ACT Legislative Assembly from 1998 until 2011. He resigned as Chief Minister on 12 May 2011 and as... * |
Alistair Coe Alistair Coe Alistair Bruce Coe is an Australian politician with the Liberal Party of Australia, elected to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly in the Ginninderra electorate at the 2008 election.His portfolio responsibilities are:... * Vicki Dunne Vicki Dunne Vicki Ann Dunne , an Australian politician, is a member of the unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly, since 2001, representing the electoral district of Ginninderra for the Liberal Party.... * Jacqui Myers Andrea Tokaji Matthew Watts |
James Higgins Meredith Hunter Meredith Hunter (Australian politician) Meredith Hunter , Australian politician, is a member of the multi-member unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Ginninderra for the ACT Greens since 2008... * |
Deborah Hannigan Chris Seddon Andrew Simmington Denis Walford Wayne Whiting |
Mike Crowther Roger Nicoll Jane Tullis |
Harold Hird Harold Hird Harold James Hird , an Australian politician, was a member of the unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Ginninderra for the Liberal Party of Australia from 1995 to 2001... (Ind 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... ) Cathy McIlhoney (Ind 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... ) Mark Parton (Ind 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... ) Adam Verwey (Ind 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... ) Darren Churchill (Dem 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... ) Eddie Sarkis Barry Smith (Ind 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... ) |
MolongloMolonglo electorateThe Molonglo electorate is one of the three electorates for the unicameral 17-member Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. It has seven seats, and is the largest of the electorates in terms of population.-History:...
Seven seats were up for election. The Labor PartyAustralian 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...
was defending three seats. The Liberal Party
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...
was defending three seats. The Australian Greens
Australian Greens
The Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, is an Australian green political party.The party was formed in 1992; however, its origins can be traced to the early environmental movement in Australia and the formation of the United Tasmania Group , the first Green party in the world, which...
were defending one seat.
| 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... Candidates |
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... Candidates |
Greens Australian Greens The Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, is an Australian green political party.The party was formed in 1992; however, its origins can be traced to the early environmental movement in Australia and the formation of the United Tasmania Group , the first Green party in the world, which... Candidates |
Motorist Australian Motorist Party The Australian Motorist Party is an Australian political party dedicated to representing motorist and road users, as well pedestrians, throughout Australia. It was founded by groups of concerned motorists... Candidates |
CAP Candidates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Andrew Barr Andrew Barr Andrew Barr is an Australian politician and Deputy Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory. He has been an Australian Labor Party member for the seat of Molonglo in the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly since 5 April 2006, after being elected on a countback to replace... * Eleanor Bates Simon Corbell Simon Corbell Simon Corbell is an Australian politician in the Australian Capital Territory, and is one of the seven members of the Legislative Assembly electorate of Molonglo, representing the Australian Labor Party... * Louise Crossman Katy Gallagher Katy Gallagher Katy Gallagher , an Australian politician, is the sixth and current Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory and a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly since 2001, representing the electorate of Molonglo for the Australian Labor Party... * Mike Hettinger Mike Hettinger Mike Hettinger is a Labor political activist in the Australian Capital Territory and a candidate for the seat of Molonglo in the 2008 election for the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly.... David Mathews |
Belinda Barnier Jacqui Burke Jacqui Burke Jacqui Burke is an Australian politician and was a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Molonglo for the Australian Liberal Party... Jeremy Hanson Jeremy Hanson Jeremy Hanson is an Australian politician with the Liberal Party of Australia, elected to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly in the Molonglo electorate at the 2008 election... * Giulia Jones Gary Kent Gary Kent Gary Kent is an Australian political figure. He was President of the Australian Capital Territory Division of the Liberal Party of Australia from 2000 to September 2007... Zed Seselja Zed Seselja Zed Seselja is a Liberal Party Australian politician. He has been a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly since 2004. He has been the territory's 12th Opposition Leader since December 2007, when he was appointed to the position following the resignation of Bill Stefaniak... * Clinton White |
Elena Kirschbaum Caroline Le Couteur Caroline Le Couteur Caroline Le Couteur , an Australian politician, was elected to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Molonglo for the ACT Greens at the 2008 election- Life before election :... * Shane Rattenbury Shane Rattenbury Shane Rattenbury , Australian politician and Speaker of the ACT Legislative Assembly, is a member of the multi-member unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Molonglo for the ACT Greens since 2008... * |
David Cumbers Kim Evans Stuart Green Angus Laburn Darren O'Neil Stephen Rowland Anthony Seddon |
Alvin Hopper Owen Saddler Nancy-Louise Scherger Norvan Vogt |
| Mulcahy Richard Mulcahy (Australian politician) Richard John Mulcahy , a former Australian politician was a member of the unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly for one term, from 2004 to 2008, representing the Liberal Patry and later as an independent.... Candidates |
LDP Liberal Democratic Party (Australia) The Liberal Democratic Party is a classical liberal Australian political party founded in 2001.-Party name:In 2007 the party tried to register federally under the name "Liberal Democratic Party" but this was opposed the by the Liberal Party, so the party chose to register as the "Liberty and... Candidates |
Pangallo Candidates | Ungrouped Candidates | |
Joanne Allen Richard Mulcahy Richard Mulcahy (Australian politician) Richard John Mulcahy , a former Australian politician was a member of the unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly for one term, from 2004 to 2008, representing the Liberal Patry and later as an independent.... Ben O'Neill |
David McAlary David Pinkerton |
Luciano Lombardo Frank Pangallo Phil Thompson |
Helen Cross Helen Cross (politician) Helen Cross is an Australian politician and was a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Molonglo, initially for the Liberal Party of Australia, and then later as an Independent. Cross was elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly at the 2001... (Ind 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... ) Tony Farrell (Ind 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... ) Greg Tannahill(Dem 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... ) Kerri Taranto (Ind 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... ) |
Results
At the close of counting on election night 18 October 2008, with 82.1 per cent of the vote counted Labor had obtained 37.6 per cent of the vote across the ACT, with the Liberals at 31.1 per cent and the Greens at 15.8 per cent. Swings were recorded against both the Labor (-9.3 per cent) and Liberal (-3.7 per cent) parties with a +6.6 per cent swing towards the Greens. Labor won 7 seats, the Liberals won 6 seats, while the Greens won 4 seats, giving them the balance of powerBalance of power (parliament)
In parliamentary politics, the term balance of power sometimes describes the pragmatic mechanism exercised by a minor political party or other grouping whose guaranteed support may enable an otherwise minority government to obtain and hold office...
, and negotiated with both major parties for the formation of a minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
. After almost two weeks of deliberations, the Greens chose to form a minority government with Labor. The ACT Electoral Commission determined and announced the election's final results on 25 October 2008 after distribution of preferences.
In Brindabella
Brindabella electorate
The Brindabella electorate is one of the three electorates for the unicameral 17-member Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. It has five seats, and is the largest of the electorates in geographic area.-History:...
, Labor lost one of its three seats to Greens candidate Amanda Bresnan
Amanda Bresnan
Amanda Bresnan is an Australian politician and a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. Bresnan was elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Brindabella for the ACT Greens at the 2008 election-Early life and education:Amanda Bresnan was...
. Government minister John Hargreaves
John Hargreaves (politician)
John Leo Hargreaves is an Australian politician. He has been an Australian Labor Party member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly since 1998...
was re-elected, but Labor backbencher Mick Gentleman
Mick Gentleman
Mick Gentleman is an Australian politician and was a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Brindabella for the Australian Labor Party from 2004 to 2008...
was beaten by another Labor candidate, Joy Burch
Joy Burch
Joy Burch is an Australian politician with the Australian Labor Party, elected to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly in the Brindabella electorate at the 2008 election....
. For the Liberal Party, former leader Brendan Smyth
Brendan Smyth (politician)
Brendan Michael Smyth is a Liberal Party of Australia politician. From 2002 to 2006 he was the Leader of the Opposition in the Australian Capital Territory. He retains his shadow previous portfolios of Health, Ageing, Business and Tourism at present. He represents the electorate of...
was re-elected, but shadow minister Steve Pratt
Steve Pratt
Stephen George "Steve" Pratt is a former Australian military officer, aid worker and Liberal politician in the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly for the electorate of Brindabella.- Early career :...
lost his seat to Steve Doszpot
Steve Doszpot
Steve Doszpot is an Australian politician with the Liberal Party of Australia, elected to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly in the Brindabella electorate at the 2008 election....
.
Labor also lost a seat in Ginninderra
Ginninderra electorate
The Ginninderra electorate is one of the three electorates for the unicameral 17-member Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. It has five seats, and is the smallest of the electorates in geographic area.-History:...
, where Greens candidate Meredith Hunter
Meredith Hunter (Australian politician)
Meredith Hunter , Australian politician, is a member of the multi-member unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Ginninderra for the ACT Greens since 2008...
was elected. Chief Minister Jon Stanhope
Jon Stanhope
Jonathan Ronald Stanhope is a former Australian politician who was Labor Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory from 2001 to 2011. Stanhope represented the Ginninderra electorate in the ACT Legislative Assembly from 1998 until 2011. He resigned as Chief Minister on 12 May 2011 and as...
and Labor MLA Mary Porter
Mary Porter (politician)
Mary Edith Porter AM is a Labor member of the ACT Assembly. She was first elected to the Assembly in October 2004. Prior to that, she was CEO of the Volunteering Association from 1993 until October 2004...
were both re-elected, and on the Liberal ticket sitting MLA Vicki Dunne
Vicki Dunne
Vicki Ann Dunne , an Australian politician, is a member of the unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly, since 2001, representing the electoral district of Ginninderra for the Liberal Party....
was joined by Alistair Coe
Alistair Coe
Alistair Bruce Coe is an Australian politician with the Liberal Party of Australia, elected to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly in the Ginninderra electorate at the 2008 election.His portfolio responsibilities are:...
.
In seven-member Molonglo
Molonglo electorate
The Molonglo electorate is one of the three electorates for the unicameral 17-member Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. It has seven seats, and is the largest of the electorates in terms of population.-History:...
, the Liberals lost one seat to the Greens. Labor ministers Katy Gallagher
Katy Gallagher
Katy Gallagher , an Australian politician, is the sixth and current Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory and a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly since 2001, representing the electorate of Molonglo for the Australian Labor Party...
, Andrew Barr
Andrew Barr
Andrew Barr is an Australian politician and Deputy Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory. He has been an Australian Labor Party member for the seat of Molonglo in the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly since 5 April 2006, after being elected on a countback to replace...
and Simon Corbell
Simon Corbell
Simon Corbell is an Australian politician in the Australian Capital Territory, and is one of the seven members of the Legislative Assembly electorate of Molonglo, representing the Australian Labor Party...
all won re-election, as did Liberal leader Zed Seselja
Zed Seselja
Zed Seselja is a Liberal Party Australian politician. He has been a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly since 2004. He has been the territory's 12th Opposition Leader since December 2007, when he was appointed to the position following the resignation of Bill Stefaniak...
. Sitting MLA Jacqui Burke
Jacqui Burke
Jacqui Burke is an Australian politician and was a member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Molonglo for the Australian Liberal Party...
lost to Jeremy Hanson
Jeremy Hanson
Jeremy Hanson is an Australian politician with the Liberal Party of Australia, elected to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly in the Molonglo electorate at the 2008 election...
for the second Liberal seat. The Greens increased their representation in this seat to two, electing new MLAs Shane Rattenbury
Shane Rattenbury
Shane Rattenbury , Australian politician and Speaker of the ACT Legislative Assembly, is a member of the multi-member unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Molonglo for the ACT Greens since 2008...
and Caroline Le Couteur
Caroline Le Couteur
Caroline Le Couteur , an Australian politician, was elected to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Molonglo for the ACT Greens at the 2008 election- Life before election :...
, the latter at the expense of Liberal-turned-Independent MLA Richard Mulcahy
Richard Mulcahy (Australian politician)
Richard John Mulcahy , a former Australian politician was a member of the unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly for one term, from 2004 to 2008, representing the Liberal Patry and later as an independent....
.