Australian federal election, 1975
Encyclopedia
Federal elections were held in Australia on 13 December 1975. All 127 seats in the House of Representatives
, and all 64 seats in the Senate
were up for election following a double dissolution
of both Houses.
Malcolm Fraser
had been commissioned as prime minister following the dismissal of the Prime Minister Gough Whitlam
’s three-year old Labor government
by Governor-General
Sir John Kerr, on 11 November 1975. The same day, Fraser advised the calling of the election, in accordance with Kerr’s stipulated conditions (see 1975 Australian constitutional crisis). Thus the Liberal Party of Australia
, led by Fraser, with coalition
partner the National Country Party
, led by Doug Anthony
, went to the election as a minority caretaker government
. The election resulted in the Coalition securing government with a 30-seat swing in the House of Representatives away from the Labor Party.
Independent: Brian Harradine
Sir John Kerr in the 1975 constitutional crisis. Labor campaigners hoped that the electorate would "maintain [its] rage" and punish the Coalition for its part in bringing down the government, proclaiming "Shame Fraser, Shame". However, the Coalition focused on economic issues, the so-called Loans Affair
, alleged Labor mismanagement of inflation, and campaigned under the slogan "Turn on the lights, Australia" (drawing on a contemporary cynicism: "Would the last businessman leaving Australia please turn out the lights?").
The Australian Capital Territory
and the Northern Territory
received an entitlement to elect 2 senators each as a consequence of the 1974 Joint Sitting of the Australian Parliament.
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....
of both Houses.
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...
had been commissioned as prime minister following the dismissal of the Prime Minister Gough 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...
’s three-year old Labor government
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...
by 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 John Kerr, on 11 November 1975. The same day, Fraser advised the calling of the election, in accordance with Kerr’s stipulated conditions (see 1975 Australian constitutional crisis). Thus the 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 Fraser, with coalition
Coalition (Australia)
The Coalition in Australian politics refers to a group of centre-right parties that has existed in the form of a coalition agreement since 1922...
partner the National Country Party
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...
, led by 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:...
, went to the election as a minority caretaker government
Caretaker government
Caretaker government is a type of government that rules temporarily. A caretaker government is often set up following a war until stable democratic rule can be restored, or installed, in which case it is often referred to as a provisional government...
. The election resulted in the Coalition securing government with a 30-seat swing in the House of Representatives away from the Labor Party.
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... |
3,313,004 | 42.84 | −6.46 | 36 | −30 | |
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... |
3,232,159 | 41.80 | +6.85 | 68 | +28 | |
National Country Party 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... |
869,919 | 11.25 | +1.29 | 23 | +2 | |
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... |
101,750 | 1.32 | −0.10 | 0 | 0 | |
Australia Party Australia Party The Australia Party was the name of a minor political party in Australia .... |
33,630 | 0.43 | −1.89 | 0 | 0 | |
Other | 182,116 | 2.36 | 0 | 0 | ||
Total | 7,732,578 | 127 | ||||
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... |
WIN | 55.70 | +7.40 | 91 | +30 | |
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... |
44.30 | −7.40 | 36 | −30 |
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... |
2,931,310 | 40.91 | −6.38 | 27 | 27 | |
Liberal/National (Joint Ticket) | 2,855,721 | 39.86 | +5.09 | 17 | ||
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... |
793,772 | 11.08 | +3.26 | 16 | 26 | |
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... |
191,049 | 2.67 | −0.89 | 0 | 0 | |
Liberal Movement | 76,426 | 1.07 | +0.11 | 1 | 1 | |
National Country Party 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... |
38,366 | 0.54 | −0.76 | 1 | 8 | |
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... |
15,519 | 0.22 | −0.01 | 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... |
114,310 | 1.60 | −0.24 | 1 | 1 | |
Other | 148,240 | 2.07 | 0 | 0 | ||
Total | 7,164,713 | 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-1975 | Swing | Post-1975 | ||||||
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... |
Labor | Leonard Reynolds Leonard Reynolds Leonard James Reynolds was an Australian politician. Born in Harden, New South Wales, he was educated at state schools before attending the University of Sydney. He undertook military service from 1943 to 1946 and was subsequently a teacher and education lecturer... |
5.1 | 10.0 | 4.9 | 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... |
Liberal | ||
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... |
Labor | 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.... |
1.3 | 8.4 | 7.1 | 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... |
Liberal | ||
Braddon, Tas Division of Braddon The Division of Braddon is an Australian Electoral Division in Tasmania.The division was created in 1955 to replace the abolished Division of Darwin, and is named for Sir Edward Braddon, a Premier of Tasmania and one of Tasmania's five original federal MPs... |
Labor | Ron Davies Ron Davies (Australian politician) Ronald "Ron" Davies was an Australian politician. Born in Latrobe, Tasmania, he was educated at state schools and then the University of Tasmania, becoming a teacher. He served in the military 1942-1945. In 1958, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Labor member for... |
4.8 | 8.6 | 3.8 | Ray Groom Ray Groom Raymond John "Ray" Groom, AO is a lawyer and former Australian sportsman and politician, representing the Liberal Party in the Federal Parliament 1975–84 and the Tasmanian Parliament 1986–2001. He was a Federal and state minister for a total of 13 years... |
Liberal | ||
Brisbane, Qld Division of Brisbane The Division of Brisbane is an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland. The division was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election... |
Labor | Manfred Cross Manfred Cross Manfred Douglas Cross, AM was an Australian politician. Born in Brisbane, he was educated at various state primary schools including Rainworth State School before attending Brisbane State High School. He then went to the University of Queensland, after which he became a public servant... |
1.1 | 5.0 | 3.9 | Peter Johnson Peter Johnson (Australian politician) Peter Francis Johnson was an Australian politician. Born in Sydney, he was a wholesaler and exporter before entering politics. In 1975, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Liberal member for Brisbane, defeating Labor MP Manfred Cross. He held the seat until his defeat... |
Liberal | ||
Canberra, ACT Division of Canberra The Division of Canberra is an Australian Electoral Division in the Australian Capital Territory. The division was created in 1974 from the southern half of the old Division of Australian Capital Territory... |
Labor | Kep Enderby Kep Enderby Keppel Earl "Kep" Enderby QC is a former Australian politician and retired judge. Enderby was a member of the House of Representatives, representing the Australian Labor Party between 1970 and 1975, and became a senior cabinet minister in the Gough Whitlam government... |
7.1 | 10.4 | 3.3 | John Haslem John Haslem John Whitton Haslem was an Australian politician. He was the Liberal Party of Australia member for the House of Representatives seat of Canberra from 1975 until his defeat by Ros Kelly in the 1980 election.... |
Liberal | ||
Capricornia, Qld Division of Capricornia The Division of Capricornia is an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland. The division was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It is named for the Tropic of Capricorn, which runs through the Division. It is located on the central Queensland coast and its... |
Labor | Doug Everingham Doug Everingham Douglas Nixon "Doug" Everingham is a former Australian politician and minister.Everingham graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery from the University of Sydney in 1946 and worked in public and private hospitals and as a family doctor.Everingham was elected the Australian Labor Party... |
4.9 | 5.0 | 0.1 | Colin Carige Colin Carige Colin Lawrence Carige, , Australian politician, was a member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1975 to 1977, representing the Division of Capricornia. He held the seat for the National Country Party.... |
National Country | ||
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... |
Labor | Race Mathews Race Mathews Charles Race Thorson Mathews, always known as Race Mathews is a Co-operative economist, and former member of Victoria's State Parliament and Australia's Federal Parliament for the Australian Labor Party... |
1.5 | 9.0 | 7.5 | 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... |
Liberal | ||
Cook, NSW Division of Cook The Division of Cook is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1969 and is named for James Cook, who mapped the east coast of Australia in 1770. It is located in the southern suburbs of Sydney, including Caringbah, Cronulla, Miranda and Sylvania... |
Labor | Ray Thorburn Ray Thorburn Raymond William "Ray" Thorburn was an Australian politician. Born in Sydney, he was educated at Sydney Technical College before becoming an electrical engineer... |
0.5 | 8.3 | 7.8 | Don Dobie Don Dobie James Donald Mathieson "Don" Dobie was an Australian politician. Born in Glasgow in Scotland, he migrated to Australia as a child and was educated at Brisbane Grammar School, the University of Melbourne, and Columbia University in New York... |
Liberal | ||
Dawson, Qld Division of Dawson The Division of Dawson is an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland. The division was created in 1949 and is named for Anderson Dawson, the first Labor Premier of Queensland and leader of the first parliamentary socialist government anywhere in the world... |
Labor | Rex Patterson Rex Patterson Rex Alan Patterson is a former Australian politician and minister.Patterson was born in Bundaberg, Queensland and educated at the University of Queensland, the Australian National University, the University of Illinois and the University of Chicago.Patterson was elected as an Australian Labor... |
0.6 | 4.2 | 3.6 | Ray Braithwaite Ray Braithwaite Raymond Allen "Ray" Braithwaite, OAM was an Australian politician. Born at Finch Hatton, Queensland, he was a chartered accountant before entering politics. In 1964 he was elected to Mackay City Council, where he remained until 1969. He also served in the military... |
National Country | ||
Denison, Tas Division of Denison The Division of Denison is anAustralian Electoral Division in Tasmania.The division was created in 1903 and is named for Sir William Denison, who was Lt-Governor of Van Diemens Land 1847-55... |
Labor | John Coates John Coates (Australian politician) John Coates is a retired Australian politician. Born in Melbourne, he was educated at the University of Sydney, after which he became a biochemist at the University of Tasmania. In 1972, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Labor member for Denison, defeating sitting... |
2.8 | 7.7 | 4.9 | Michael Hodgman Michael Hodgman William Michael Hodgman, AM QC , is an Australian Liberal retired politician. He is a former member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council, the Tasmanian House of Assembly and the Australian House of Representatives.... |
Liberal | ||
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... |
Labor | David McKenzie | 0.7 | 9.8 | 9.1 | 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.... |
Liberal | ||
Eden-Monaro, NSW Division of Eden-Monaro The Division of Eden-Monaro is anAustralian Electoral Division in New South Wales.The division was created in 1900, and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It is named for the town of Eden and the Monaro district of southern New South Wales... |
Labor | Bob Whan Bob Whan Robert Bruce "Bob" Whan, AM was an Australian politician. He was the Australian Labor Party member for the House of Representatives seat of Eden-Monaro from 1972 until his defeat by Murray Sainsbury in the 1975 election.... |
0.1 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 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:... |
Liberal | ||
Evans, NSW Division of Evans The Division of Evans was anAustralian Electoral Division in New South Wales.The division was created in 1949 and abolished in 1977. It was named for George Evans, an early explorer. It was located in the inner western suburbs of Sydney, including Ashfield, Croydon and Drummoyne... |
Labor | Allan Mulder Allan Mulder Allan William Mulder was an Australian politician. Born in Sydney, he was a systems operator with Sydney City Council before his election to Canterbury Municipal Council, of which he was Mayor in 1967. In 1972, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Labor member for... |
4.9 | 6.9 | 2.0 | John Abel John Abel (Australian politician) John Arthur Abel was an Australian politician. Born in Sydney, he was an accountant and company manager before entering politics. In 1975, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Liberal member for Evans, defeating Labor MP Allan Mulder. Abel held the seat until its... |
Liberal | ||
Franklin, Tas Division of Franklin The Division of Franklin is an Australian Electoral Division in Tasmania. The division was created in 1903 and is named for Sir John Franklin, the polar explorer who was Lt Governor of Van Diemen's Land 1843-46. It is located in southern Tasmania, including the Hobart suburbs of Bridgewater,... |
Labor | Ray Sherry Ray Sherry Raymond Henry "Ray" Sherry was an Australian politician. Born in Sydney, he was educated there at state schools. He spent 1941-1946 with the merchant navy before becoming an actor, television broadcaster and commentator, moving to Hobart in 1956... |
12.9 | 14.7 | 1.8 | Bruce Goodluck Bruce Goodluck Bruce John Goodluck AM is a retired Australian politician. Born in Hobart, Tasmania, he was a company director before serving on Clarence Municipal Council from 1972-1975. He was President of the Australian Automobile Chamber of Commerce in 1974... |
Liberal | ||
Henty, Vic Division of Henty The Division of Henty was an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was created in 1913 and abolished in 1990. It was named for the Henty family of Portland, the first European settlers in Victoria. It was located in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, including at various times... |
Labor | Joan Child Joan Child Gloria Joan Liles Child AO is a former Australian politician. She was the first, and so far only, woman to be Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives.... |
1.5 | 6.7 | 5.2 | Ken Aldred Ken Aldred Kenneth James Aldred was an Australian politician who represented the Liberal Party in the Australian House of Representatives between 1975 and 1996.... |
Liberal | ||
Holt, Vic Division of Holt The Division of Holt is anAustralian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was created in 1969 and is named for Harold Holt, who was Prime Minister of Australia 1966-67. It is located in... |
Labor | Max Oldmeadow Max Oldmeadow Maxwell Wilkinson "Max" Oldmeadow, OAM was an Australian politician. Born in Melbourne, he attended the University of Melbourne and then Melbourne Teachers' College. He served in the military during World War II, 1942-45. He was then a teacher and part-time lecturer at Monash University, and was... |
6.9 | 8.5 | 1.6 | William Yates | Liberal | ||
Isaacs, Vic Division of Isaacs The Division of Isaacs is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria. It is located in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, on the eastern shores of Port Phillip Bay... |
Labor | Gareth Clayton Gareth Clayton Gareth Clayton was an Australian politician. Born in Hampshire, England, he was educated at Liverpool University, and at Makerere University in Uganda. He became a teacher and a scientific officer for the Australian Road Research Board... |
0.6 | 7.5 | 6.9 | David Hamer David Hamer David John Hamer, AM, DSC was an Australian politician. Born in Melbourne, he was educated at Geelong Grammar School and then the Royal Australian Naval College. He served in the Royal Australian Navy from 1940 to 1968. He was a lieutenant aboard during the battles of Leyte and Lingayen Gulf... |
Liberal | ||
Kalgoorlie, WA Division of Kalgoorlie The Division of Kalgoorlie was an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Western Australia, named after the city of Kalgoorlie. The Division, which was proclaimed in 1900 as one of the original 75 divisions to be contested at the first Federal election, covered most of the land area of... |
Labor | Fred Collard Fred Collard Frederick Walter "Fred" Collard was an Australian politician. Born in Beverley, Western Australia, he was educated at state schools before becoming a goldminer and an official with the Australian Workers' Union. He served in the military 1942-1946... |
2.1 | 6.3 | 4.3 | Mick Cotter Mick Cotter John Francis "Mick" Cotter, OAM is a retired Australian politician. Born in Yarram, Victoria, he was a pastoralist, miner, prospector and contractor before entering politics. Having moved to Western Australia, he was elected to Coolgardie Shire Council in 1965... |
Liberal | ||
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.... |
Labor | Richard Gun Richard Gun Richard Townsend Gun is a retired Australian politician. Born in Adelaide, South Australia, he was educated at St Peter's College and the University of Adelaide, becoming a doctor. He was on the anaesthetics registrar at the Royal Adelaide Hospital... |
6.1 | 12.7 | 6.6 | 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... |
Liberal | ||
La Trobe, Vic Division of La Trobe The Division of La Trobe is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria. It is located in the outer eastern/south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. It was originally located closer to the city, but redistributions moved it further south-east. It originally included the suburbs of Croydon,... |
Labor | Tony Lamb Tony Lamb Antony Hamilton "Tony" Lamb, OAM was an Australian politician. Born in Horsham, Victoria, he was educated at the University of Melbourne and then the Victorian College of Pharmacy, becoming a pharmacist. In 1972, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the Labor member for La... |
4.6 | 8.9 | 4.3 | Marshall Baillieu Marshall Baillieu Marshall Baillieu is a former Australian politician. Born in Melbourne, he was a manufacturing engineer and vegetable grower before entering politics. He was active in local politics as a member of Berwick Shire Council. In 1975, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the... |
Liberal | ||
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... |
Labor | Bill Fulton | 3.3 | 5.7 | 2.4 | 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... |
National Country | ||
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... |
Labor | John Kerin John Kerin John Charles Kerin, AM is an Australian economist and former Australian Labor Party politician.-Career in politics:... |
4.4 | 8.5 | 4.1 | 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... |
Liberal | ||
Macquarie, NSW Division of Macquarie The Division of Macquarie is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. It is named for Lachlan Macquarie, who was Governor of New South Wales between 1810 and 1821... |
Labor | Anthony Luchetti Anthony Luchetti Anthony Sylvester Luchetti, AM was a long serving Australian federal member of parliament.Born of Italian/Irish parentage in Lowther, New South Wales, Luchetti was educated in the Catholic school system before working in jobs as varied as miner and journalist... |
8.7 | 10.3 | 1.6 | Reg Gillard | Liberal | ||
McMillan, Vic Division of McMillan The Division of McMillan is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of Victoria. It is located in the western part of the Gippsland region, which extends for the length of Victoria's eastern Bass Strait coastline. It includes the outer south-eastern Melbourne suburb of Pakenham, and also... |
National Country | Arthur Hewson | N/A | 2.1 | 6.7 | Barry Simon | Liberal | ||
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... |
Labor | Joe Berinson Joe Berinson Joseph Max "Joe" Berinson is a former Labor member of the Australian House of Representatives from the 1969 election until his defeat by Ross McLean at the 1975 election, representing the division of Perth, Western Australia... |
8.2 | 9.0 | 0.8 | 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.... |
Liberal | ||
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... |
Labor | Joe Riordan Joe Riordan Joseph Martin "Joe" Riordan AO is a former Australian politician and briefly government minister.A Catholic, Riordan was born in Sydney and educated at Patrician Brothers School and Marist Brother College in that city. He married Patricia Watkins in 1955; they have four sons and two daughters... |
4.5 | 7.1 | 2.6 | 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... |
Liberal | ||
St George, NSW Division of St George The Division of St George was an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It was located in the southern suburbs of Sydney, and covered the suburbs of Hurstville, Rockdale and Arncliffe.... |
Labor | Bill Morrison Bill Morrison (Australian politician) William Lawrence "Bill" Morrison AO , Australian former politician, was a member of the Australian House of Representatives and a Cabinet minister in the Whitlam government.... |
5.8 | 5.8 | 0.0 | Maurice Neil Maurice Neil Maurice James Neil was an Australian politician. Born in Manchester, England, he migrated to Australia and attended the University of Sydney. He became a barrister and then migration officer for New South Wales in London... |
Liberal | ||
Swan, WA Division of Swan The Division of Swan is an Australian Electoral Division located in Western Australia. The division is named after the Swan River.For several decades, it has been a marginal seat, extending along the Swan and Canning Rivers from the affluent suburbs in the City of South Perth to the west, which... |
Labor | Adrian Bennett Adrian Bennett Adrian Frank Bennett was an Australian politician. Born in Perth, Western Australia, he was educated at Catholic schools before becoming a transport worker. He was secretary of the Transport Workers' Union and also sat on the councils of Canning Shire and its successor Canning Town... |
5.6 | 7.7 | 2.1 | John Martyr John Martyr John Raymond Martyr is a former Australian politician.Born in Melbourne, he was a political and economic consultant before entering politics. Martyr had a long history of involvement with the Australian Labor Party from his late teens, but due to his involvement with the anti-communist Catholic... |
Liberal | ||
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... |
Labor | John Dawkins John Dawkins John Sydney "Joe" Dawkins, AO , Australian politician, was Treasurer in the Keating Labor government from December 1991 to December 1993... |
3.1 | 9.7 | 6.6 | Peter Richardson Peter Richardson (Australian politician) Peter Anthony Richardson is a former Australian politician. Born in Perth, Western Australia, he was educated at the University of Western Australia and the University of London, after which he became a gynaecologist. In 1975, he was elected to the Australian House of Representatives as the... |
Liberal | ||
- Members in italics did not contest their seat at this election.
Issues and significance
The election followed the controversial dismissal of the Whitlam government by Governor-GeneralGovernor-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 John Kerr in the 1975 constitutional crisis. Labor campaigners hoped that the electorate would "maintain [its] rage" and punish the Coalition for its part in bringing down the government, proclaiming "Shame Fraser, Shame". However, the Coalition focused on economic issues, the so-called Loans Affair
Loans Affair
The Loans Affair, also called the Khemlani Affair, is the name given to the political scandal involving the Whitlam Government of Australia in 1975, in which it was accused of attempting to borrow money illegally from Middle Eastern countries by bypassing standard procedure as dictated by the...
, alleged Labor mismanagement of inflation, and campaigned under the slogan "Turn on the lights, Australia" (drawing on a contemporary cynicism: "Would the last businessman leaving Australia please turn out the lights?").
The Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
and the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
received an entitlement to elect 2 senators each as a consequence of the 1974 Joint Sitting of the Australian Parliament.
See also
- Candidates of the Australian federal election, 1975Candidates of the Australian federal election, 1975This article provides information on candidates who stood for the 1975 Australian federal election. The election was held on 13 December 1975.-Seat changes:*Two Senate seats each were created for the Australian Capital and Northern Territories....
- Members of the Australian House of Representatives, 1975–1977
- Members of the Australian Senate, 1975–1978Members of the Australian Senate, 1975–1978This is a list of members of the Australian Senate from 1975 to 1978. The 13 December 1975 election was a double dissolution of both Houses, with all 127 seats in the House of Representatives, and all 64 seats in the Senate were up for election...