New South Wales state election, 1968
Encyclopedia
The 1968 New South Wales state election was held on 24 February 1968. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting
and was held on boundaries created at a 1966 redistribution. The election was for all of the 94 seats in the Legislative Assembly
.
, the Surveyor-General
, G Prince and the Electoral Commissioner
J McDonald. Following instructions from the government of Robin Askin, the redistribution gave an increased weighting to the votes of electors in rural New South Wales . Of the 94 electorates, 48 were to be classified as "urban" with an average enrollment of 27,531 and 46 were "country" with an average enrollment of 20,882. However, a continuing movement of population from rural to urban NSW meant that many of the "country" seats were effectively situated in the outskirts of Sydney, where the Liberal Party
traditionally had strong electoral support. Four seats (Casino
, Cobar
, Dulwich Hill
and Redfern
) were abolished and four new seats (Campbelltown
, Corrimal
, Merrylands
and Northcott
) were created . A further 9 seats, Ashfield-Croydon
( renamed Ashfield
), Concord
(Yaralla
), Hartley
(Blue Mountains), Illawarra
(Kembla
), Kurri Kurri
(Wallsend
), Mudgee
(Burrendong
), Ryde
(Fuller
), Sturt (Broken Hill
) and Wollongong-Kembla
(Wollongong
), were extensively changed and renamed. The notional net result of the redistribution was to reduce the Labor Party
's representation by at least 5 and possibly 9 seats and to reduce the Country Party
by 1.. The redistribution was unsuccessfully opposed by the Labor Party with parliamentary walkouts, legal appeals and public rallies.
by forcing the resignation of the architect, Jørn Utzon
. However, this was seen by many as a positive action by the government . New government policies during the campaign included an increase in state aid for private schools, increased spending on hospitals and a consumer affairs agency to monitor prices.
In contrast to the coalition, Labor's leader and former Premier, Jack Renshaw
had difficulty adjusting to a televised campaign and was unable to resonate with urban voters. He had also led a tired Labor government to defeat in the previous election 3 years earlier. Labor's campaign promises included four weeks annual leave for all employees on state controlled award wages, the restoration of the Sydney City Council, price controls for basic food items and state control of Credit Unions. Renshaw was unable to match the government's promises of aid for private schools, which was a difficult ideological question for Labor.
.
The DLP contested 42 seats but achieved less than 3% of the state-wide vote while the Communist party was reduced to 6 candidates who received negligible support. The New State Movement
, which had suffered a devastating defeat at a plebiscite on the formation of a new state in New England in 1967, contested 4 seats and gained 0.80% of the total vote but up to 35% in individual seats.
† Bathurst was won by the Country Party at a 1967 by-election caused by the death of Labor's Gus Kelly
‡Oxley was won by the Country Party at a 1965 by-election caused by the death of the Liberal Party's Les Jordan
All electorates were contested
and Charles Cutler
remained Premier and Deputy Premier throughout the term of the parliament. Renshaw was replaced as the Leader of the Labor Party by Pat Hills in December 1968. During the parliament there were 5 by-elections. These produced no change in party representation with the exception of the Liberal Party losing Georges River to Labor's, Frank Walker.
Instant-runoff voting
Instant-runoff voting , also known as preferential voting, the alternative vote and ranked choice voting, is a voting system used to elect one winner. Voters rank candidates in order of preference, and their ballots are counted as one vote for their first choice candidate. If a candidate secures a...
and was held on boundaries created at a 1966 redistribution. The election was for all of the 94 seats in the Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
.
Redistribution
An extensive redistribution of electoral boundaries was undertaken in 1966 by a commission consisting of Judge Amsberg of the District CourtDistrict Court of New South Wales
The District Court of New South Wales has jurisdiction to hear most indictable offences . It hears appeals from the Local Court and civil claims up to A$750 000. In some circumstances the amount may be higher, e.g. with the consent of the parties or in motor accident claims etc...
, the Surveyor-General
Surveyor General of New South Wales
The Surveyor General of New South Wales is the person nominally responsible for government surveying in New South Wales. The original duties for the Surveyor General was to measure and determine land grants for settlers in New South Wales...
, G Prince and the Electoral Commissioner
New South Wales Electoral Commission
The New South Wales Electoral Commission is the agency of the Government of New South Wales with responsibility for the adminisation, organisation, and supervision of elections in New South Wales for state government, local government, industrial and Aboriginal organisations, and registered clubs...
J McDonald. Following instructions from the government of Robin Askin, the redistribution gave an increased weighting to the votes of electors in rural New South Wales . Of the 94 electorates, 48 were to be classified as "urban" with an average enrollment of 27,531 and 46 were "country" with an average enrollment of 20,882. However, a continuing movement of population from rural to urban NSW meant that many of the "country" seats were effectively situated in the outskirts of Sydney, where 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...
traditionally had strong electoral support. Four seats (Casino
Electoral district of Casino
Casino was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales originally created in 1930 and named after Casino. It was abolished in 1968, recreated in 1971 and abolished again in 1981.-Members for Casino:...
, Cobar
Electoral district of Cobar
Cobar was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1894 to 1920, when it was combined with Willyama and Sturt to create a three-member Sturt. Cobar was recreated in 1932 and abolished in 1968. It included Cobar.-Members for Cobar:...
, Dulwich Hill
Electoral district of Dulwich Hill
Dulwich Hill was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, created in 1913, and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Dulwich Hill. With the introduction of proportional representation, it was absorbed into the multi-member electorate of...
and Redfern
Electoral district of Redfern
Redfern was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1880, and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Redfern...
) were abolished and four new seats (Campbelltown
Electoral district of Campbelltown
Campbelltown is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly of the Australian state of New South Wales in Sydney's South-west.It is represented by Bryan Doyle of the Liberal Party of Australia.-Members for Campbelltown:-Election results:...
, Corrimal
Electoral district of Corrimal
Corrimal was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian State of New South Wales from 1968 to 1988, named after the suburb of Corrimal. It was replaced by Keira. Its only member was Laurie Kelly, representing the Australian Labor Party....
, Merrylands
Electoral district of Merrylands
Merrylands was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, named after and including the Sydney suburb of Merrylands. It was first created in 1959 and abolished in 1962. It was recreated in 1968 and abolished in 1988.-Members for...
and Northcott
Electoral district of Northcott
Northcott was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales between 1968 and 1999.It was named after Sir John Northcott who served as Governor of New South Wales from 1 August 1946 to 1 August 1957...
) were created . A further 9 seats, Ashfield-Croydon
Electoral district of Ashfield-Croydon
Ashfield-Croydon was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1959 to 1968, when it was replaced by Ashfield.-Members for Ashfield-Croydon:...
( renamed Ashfield
Electoral district of Ashfield
Ashfield was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, first created in 1894 with the abolition of multi-member electoral districts from part of Canterbury, and named after the Sydney suburb of Ashfield. It was abolished in 1920, with the...
), Concord
Electoral district of Concord
Concord was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly of the Australian state of New South Wales, created in 1930, and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Concord. It was abolished in 1968.-Members for Concord:-References:...
(Yaralla
Electoral district of Yaralla
Yaralla was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1968 to 1981.-Members for Yaralla:...
), Hartley
Electoral district of Hartley (New South Wales)
Hartley was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1859 in the Lithgow area and named after the town of Hartley, near Lithgow. It replaced part of Cook and Westmoreland. From 1891 to 1894, it elected two members...
(Blue Mountains), Illawarra
Electoral district of Illawarra
Illawarra was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It was originally created in 1859, replacing East Camden. It was replaced by Wollongong in 1904 and recreated in 1927. In 1968, it was abolished and partly replaced by Kembla. In 1971,...
(Kembla
Electoral district of Kembla
Kembla was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian State of New South Wales for a single term from 1968 to 1971, named after the Mount Kembla or Port Kembla. It replaced part of Wollongong-Kembla and Illawarra and was replaced by Illawarra. Its only member was George...
), Kurri Kurri
Electoral district of Kurri Kurri
Kurri Kurri was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales created in 1927, with the abolition of the multi-member electorates of Newcastle and Maitland and named after the Hunter Valley town of Kurri Kurri. It was abolished in 1968 and replaced by...
(Wallsend
Electoral district of Wallsend
Wallsend is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. Wallsend is a Newcastle suburban electorate, deriving its name from the suburb of the same name, covering 118.57 km² and encompassing at least part of the suburbs of Wallsend, Edgeworth,...
), Mudgee
Electoral district of Mudgee
Mudgee was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales first created in 1859, partly replacing Wellington and Bligh and named after and including Mudgee. Following the abolition of Goldfields West in 1880, it elected three members simultaneously,...
(Burrendong
Electoral district of Burrendong
Burrendong was an electoral district of Legislative Assembly of the Australian state of New South Wales, created in 1968, partly replacing Mudgee and named after the Burrendong Dam. It was abolished in 1981.-Members for Burrendong:...
), Ryde
Electoral district of Ryde
Ryde is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It includes the suburbs and localities of Denistone, Denistone East, Denistone West, Macquarie Park, Marsfield, Meadowbank, Melrose Park, Ryde, North Ryde, West Ryde; and part of Eastwood.It is...
(Fuller
Electoral district of Fuller
Fuller was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, created in 1968 in the Ryde area and named after George Fuller, Premier of New South Wales, 1922-1925. It was abolished in 1981 and largely replaced by Gladesville.-Members for Fuller:...
), Sturt (Broken Hill
Electoral district of Broken Hill
Broken Hill was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. From 1894 to 1913, the Broken Hill district was covered by the electoral districts of Broken Hill, Willyama and Sturt. In the 1912 redistribution, the electoral district of Broken Hill...
) and Wollongong-Kembla
Electoral district of Wollongong-Kembla
Wollongong-Kembla was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It was created in 1941, and abolished in 1968, being split into Wollongong and Kembla.-Members for Wollongong-Kembla:...
(Wollongong
Electoral district of Wollongong
Wollongong is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Noreen Hay of the Australian Labor Party.-History:...
), were extensively changed and renamed. The notional net result of the redistribution was to reduce the 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...
's representation by at least 5 and possibly 9 seats and to reduce the 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...
by 1.. The redistribution was unsuccessfully opposed by the Labor Party with parliamentary walkouts, legal appeals and public rallies.
Issues
At the beginning of 1968, the Liberal/Country Party Coalition was perceived as a competent first-term government. With the aid of a favourable redistribution, it appeared certain that the government would be returned and subsequently the campaign failed to generate significant public interest. During the term the government had controversially resolved the problem of cost over-runs and building delays at the Sydney Opera HouseSydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
by forcing the resignation of the architect, Jørn Utzon
Jørn Utzon
Jørn Oberg Utzon, , AC was a Danish architect, most notable for designing the Sydney Opera House in Australia. When it was declared a World Heritage Site on 28 June 2007, Utzon became only the second person to have received such recognition for one of his works during his lifetime...
. However, this was seen by many as a positive action by the government . New government policies during the campaign included an increase in state aid for private schools, increased spending on hospitals and a consumer affairs agency to monitor prices.
In contrast to the coalition, Labor's leader and former Premier, Jack Renshaw
Jack Renshaw
John Brophy "Jack" Renshaw AC was an Australian politician. He was Labor Premier of New South Wales from 30 April 1964 to 13 May 1965.-Early life:...
had difficulty adjusting to a televised campaign and was unable to resonate with urban voters. He had also led a tired Labor government to defeat in the previous election 3 years earlier. Labor's campaign promises included four weeks annual leave for all employees on state controlled award wages, the restoration of the Sydney City Council, price controls for basic food items and state control of Credit Unions. Renshaw was unable to match the government's promises of aid for private schools, which was a difficult ideological question for Labor.
.
Results
Prior to the election the Country Party had gained the seats of Bathurst from the Labor Party and Oxley from the Liberal Party at by-elections caused by the deaths of sitting members. There was a slight swing to the Labor Party in the two party preferred vote at the election. However, the effects of the redistribution resulted in a significant improvement in the position of the coalition government and changes in seats at the election reflected the effects of the re-distribution rather than a swing in voter sentiment. The government had a buffer of 6 seats in the new parliament:- LiberalLiberal Party of AustraliaThe 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...
36 seats - Country PartyNational Party of AustraliaThe 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...
17 seats - Australian Labor PartyAustralian Labor PartyThe 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...
39 seats - Independent 2 seats
The DLP contested 42 seats but achieved less than 3% of the state-wide vote while the Communist party was reduced to 6 candidates who received negligible support. The New State Movement
New England New State Movement
The New England New State Movement was an Australian political movement in the twentieth century. Originally called the Northern Separation Movement, the aim of the movement was to seek the secession of the New England region and surrounding areas from the State of New South Wales and the...
, which had suffered a devastating defeat at a plebiscite on the formation of a new state in New England in 1967, contested 4 seats and gained 0.80% of the total vote but up to 35% in individual seats.
Seats changing party representation
This table lists changes in party representation since the 1965 election| Seat | Incumbent member | |Party | New member | |Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashfield Electoral district of Ashfield Ashfield was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, first created in 1894 with the abolition of multi-member electoral districts from part of Canterbury, and named after the Sydney suburb of Ashfield. It was abolished in 1920, with the... |
New Seat | David Hunter David Hunter (politician) David Benjamin Hunter was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1940 to 1976, representing three successive conservative parties - the United Australia Party, Democratic Party, and Liberal Party... |
Liberal | |||
| Ashfield-Croydon Electoral district of Ashfield-Croydon Ashfield-Croydon was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1959 to 1968, when it was replaced by Ashfield.-Members for Ashfield-Croydon:... |
David Hunter David Hunter (politician) David Benjamin Hunter was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1940 to 1976, representing three successive conservative parties - the United Australia Party, Democratic Party, and Liberal Party... |
Liberal | Abolished Seat | |||
| Bathurst | † | Labor | Clive Osborne Clive Osborne Clive Geoffrey Osborne was an Australian politician. He was a Country Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1967 to 1981, representing the electorate of Bathurst.-Private life:... |
Country | ||
| Blue Mountains | New seat | Harold Coates Harold Coates Harold George Coates, OBE was an Australian politician, serving as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly during the period 1965-1976.-Political career:... |
Independent | |||
| Broken Hill Electoral district of Broken Hill Broken Hill was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. From 1894 to 1913, the Broken Hill district was covered by the electoral districts of Broken Hill, Willyama and Sturt. In the 1912 redistribution, the electoral district of Broken Hill... |
New seat | Lew Johnstone Lew Johnstone Lewis Albert "Lew" Johnstone was an Australian politician. He was a Labor member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing Cobar from 1965 to 1968 and Broken Hill from 1968 to 1981.... |
Labor | |||
| Burrendong Electoral district of Burrendong Burrendong was an electoral district of Legislative Assembly of the Australian state of New South Wales, created in 1968, partly replacing Mudgee and named after the Burrendong Dam. It was abolished in 1981.-Members for Burrendong:... |
New seat | Roger Wotton Roger Wotton Roger Corfield Anson Wotton is a former Australian politician. He was the Country Party member for Burrendong from 1968 to 1971 and from 1973 to 1981, and then for Castlereagh from 1981 to 1991 in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.Wotton was born in Ardlethan, New South Wales, and attended... |
Country | |||
| Campbelltown Electoral district of Campbelltown Campbelltown is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly of the Australian state of New South Wales in Sydney's South-west.It is represented by Bryan Doyle of the Liberal Party of Australia.-Members for Campbelltown:-Election results:... |
New Seat | Max Dunbier Max Dunbier Maxwell John Rowland "Max" Dunbier is a former Australian politician. He was the Liberal member for Campbelltown in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1968 to 1971.... |
Liberal | |||
| Casino Electoral district of Casino Casino was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales originally created in 1930 and named after Casino. It was abolished in 1968, recreated in 1971 and abolished again in 1981.-Members for Casino:... |
Richmond Manyweathers Richmond Manyweathers Richmond William Manyweathers OBE was an Australian politician. He was a Country Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing the electorate of Casino from 1964 to 1968... |
Country | Abolished Seat | |||
| Cobar Electoral district of Cobar Cobar was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1894 to 1920, when it was combined with Willyama and Sturt to create a three-member Sturt. Cobar was recreated in 1932 and abolished in 1968. It included Cobar.-Members for Cobar:... |
Lew Johnstone Lew Johnstone Lewis Albert "Lew" Johnstone was an Australian politician. He was a Labor member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing Cobar from 1965 to 1968 and Broken Hill from 1968 to 1981.... |
Labor | Abolished Seat | |||
| Concord Electoral district of Concord Concord was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly of the Australian state of New South Wales, created in 1930, and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Concord. It was abolished in 1968.-Members for Concord:-References:... |
Thomas Murphy Thomas Murphy (Australian politician) Thomas Patrick Murphy was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly between 1953 and 1968. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party and held the minor government position of Assistant Minister in 1964-65.Murphy was the son of a railway worker and was... |
Labor | Abolished seat | |||
| Corrimal Electoral district of Corrimal Corrimal was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian State of New South Wales from 1968 to 1988, named after the suburb of Corrimal. It was replaced by Keira. Its only member was Laurie Kelly, representing the Australian Labor Party.... |
New Seat | Laurie Kelly Laurie Kelly (politician) Lawrence Borthwick "Laurie" Kelly is a former Australian politician. He was the Labor member for Corrimal in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1968 to 1988, and served as Speaker from 1976 to 1988.... |
Labor | |||
| Dulwich Hill Electoral district of Dulwich Hill Dulwich Hill was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, created in 1913, and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Dulwich Hill. With the introduction of proportional representation, it was absorbed into the multi-member electorate of... |
Cliff Mallam Cliff Mallam Heathcote Clifford Mallam was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly between 1953 and 1968 and between 1971 and 1981. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party .... |
Labor | Abolished seat | |||
| Fuller Electoral district of Fuller Fuller was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, created in 1968 in the Ryde area and named after George Fuller, Premier of New South Wales, 1922-1925. It was abolished in 1981 and largely replaced by Gladesville.-Members for Fuller:... |
New seat | Peter Coleman Peter Coleman William Peter Coleman is an Australian writer/journalist, former politician and Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of Tom Lewis and Sir Eric Willis. Following Willis' resignation as leader he was made Leader of the New South Wales Opposition... |
Liberal | |||
| Hartley Electoral district of Hartley (New South Wales) Hartley was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1859 in the Lithgow area and named after the town of Hartley, near Lithgow. It replaced part of Cook and Westmoreland. From 1891 to 1894, it elected two members... |
Harold Coates Harold Coates Harold George Coates, OBE was an Australian politician, serving as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly during the period 1965-1976.-Political career:... |
Independent | Abolished seat | |||
| Illawarra Electoral district of Illawarra Illawarra was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It was originally created in 1859, replacing East Camden. It was replaced by Wollongong in 1904 and recreated in 1927. In 1968, it was abolished and partly replaced by Kembla. In 1971,... |
Howard Fowles Howard Fowles Howard Fowles was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1941 until 1968 and a member of the Australian Labor Party . He was the acting Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for 3 months in 1962.Fowles was born in Merrylands, New... |
Labor | Abolished Seat | |||
| Kembla Electoral district of Kembla Kembla was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian State of New South Wales for a single term from 1968 to 1971, named after the Mount Kembla or Port Kembla. It replaced part of Wollongong-Kembla and Illawarra and was replaced by Illawarra. Its only member was George... |
New seat | George Petersen George Petersen (Australian politician) Wilfred George Petersen was an Australian politician, affiliated with the Australian Labor Party and elected as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.... |
Labor | |||
| Kurri Kurri Electoral district of Kurri Kurri Kurri Kurri was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales created in 1927, with the abolition of the multi-member electorates of Newcastle and Maitland and named after the Hunter Valley town of Kurri Kurri. It was abolished in 1968 and replaced by... |
Ken Booth Ken Booth (politician) Kenneth George Booth was a New South Wales politician, Treasurer, and Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of Neville Wran and Barrie Unsworth. From 1981 to 1988 he was the Treasurer of New South Wales... |
Labor | Abolished seat | |||
| Manly Electoral district of Manly Manly is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It has historically tended to be a Liberal-leaning seat. It is currently represented by the Treasurer of New South Wales, Mike Baird of the Liberal Party of Australia.-Members for Manly:-Election... |
Douglas Darby Douglas Darby Evelyn Douglas Darby MP was an Australian politician, elected as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly... |
Independent Liberal | Douglas Darby Douglas Darby Evelyn Douglas Darby MP was an Australian politician, elected as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly... |
Liberal | ||
| Merrylands Electoral district of Merrylands Merrylands was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, named after and including the Sydney suburb of Merrylands. It was first created in 1959 and abolished in 1962. It was recreated in 1968 and abolished in 1988.-Members for... |
New seat | Jack Ferguson Jack Ferguson Laurie John Ferguson was an Australian politician and member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.-Early life:... |
Labor | |||
| Mudgee Electoral district of Mudgee Mudgee was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales first created in 1859, partly replacing Wellington and Bligh and named after and including Mudgee. Following the abolition of Goldfields West in 1880, it elected three members simultaneously,... |
Leo Nott Leo Nott Leo Mervyn Nott was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly between 1953 and 1968 and again between 1971 and 1973. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party .... |
Labor | Abolished seat | |||
| Murray Electoral district of Murray (New South Wales) Murray was an electoral district in the Australian state of New South Wales. It was a single-member electorate from 1859 to 1920, but from 1920 to 1927 it was merged with Albury, Corowa and Wagga Wagga to create a three-member electorate, voting by proportional representation. It was recreated as a... |
Joe Lawson Joe Lawson (politician) Joseph Alexander Lawson was an Australian politician, elected as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.... |
Country | Joe Lawson Joe Lawson (politician) Joseph Alexander Lawson was an Australian politician, elected as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.... |
Independent | ||
| Northcott Electoral district of Northcott Northcott was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales between 1968 and 1999.It was named after Sir John Northcott who served as Governor of New South Wales from 1 August 1946 to 1 August 1957... |
New seat | Jim Cameron | Liberal | |||
| Oxley | ‡ | Liberal | Bruce Cowan Bruce Cowan David Bruce Cowan, AM was an Australian politician and Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of Tom Lewis and Sir Eric Willis... |
Country | ||
| Redfern Electoral district of Redfern Redfern was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1880, and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Redfern... |
Fred Green Fred Green (Australian politician) Frederick Green was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1950 until 1968. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party .... |
Labor | Abolished seat | |||
| Ryde Electoral district of Ryde Ryde is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It includes the suburbs and localities of Denistone, Denistone East, Denistone West, Macquarie Park, Marsfield, Meadowbank, Melrose Park, Ryde, North Ryde, West Ryde; and part of Eastwood.It is... |
Frank Downing Frank Downing Francis George Downing was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1953 until 1968. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party .... |
Labor | Abolished seat | |||
| Sturt | William Wattison William Wattison William Ernest Wattison was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1947 until 1968. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party .... |
Labor | Abolished seat | |||
| Sutherland Electoral district of Sutherland Sutherland was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1950 to 1971 before it was abolished. The seat was reformed in 1988 until 1999... |
Tom Dalton Tom Dalton Thomas William Dalton was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1953 until 1956 and from 1959 until 1968. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party .-Early life:... |
Labor | Tim Walker | Liberal | ||
| Wallsend Electoral district of Wallsend Wallsend is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. Wallsend is a Newcastle suburban electorate, deriving its name from the suburb of the same name, covering 118.57 km² and encompassing at least part of the suburbs of Wallsend, Edgeworth,... |
New seat | Ken Booth Ken Booth (politician) Kenneth George Booth was a New South Wales politician, Treasurer, and Minister of the Crown in the cabinets of Neville Wran and Barrie Unsworth. From 1981 to 1988 he was the Treasurer of New South Wales... |
Labor | |||
| Wollongong Electoral district of Wollongong Wollongong is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Noreen Hay of the Australian Labor Party.-History:... |
New seat | Jack Hough Jack Hough Michael William "Jack" Hough was an Australian politician. He was a Liberal member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing Wollongong-Kembla from 1965 to 1968 and Wollongong from 1968 to 1971.... |
Liberal | |||
| Wollongong-Kembla Electoral district of Wollongong-Kembla Wollongong-Kembla was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It was created in 1941, and abolished in 1968, being split into Wollongong and Kembla.-Members for Wollongong-Kembla:... |
Jack Hough Jack Hough Michael William "Jack" Hough was an Australian politician. He was a Liberal member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing Wollongong-Kembla from 1965 to 1968 and Wollongong from 1968 to 1971.... |
Liberal | Abolished seat | |||
| Yaralla Electoral district of Yaralla Yaralla was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1968 to 1981.-Members for Yaralla:... |
New seat | Lerryn Mutton Lerryn Mutton Lerryn William Mutton OAM is a former Australian politician. He was the Liberal member for Yaralla in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1968 to 1978.... |
Liberal | |||
† Bathurst was won by the Country Party at a 1967 by-election caused by the death of Labor's Gus Kelly
Gus Kelly (politician)
Christopher Augustus "Gus" Kelly was an Australian politician. He was an Australian Labor Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1925 to 1932 and again from 1935 until his death in 1967, representing the electorate of Bathurst...
‡Oxley was won by the Country Party at a 1965 by-election caused by the death of the Liberal Party's Les Jordan
Les Jordan
Leslie Charles Jordan was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1944 until his death in 1965 . He was initially elected as a member of the Country Party but changed allegiance to the Liberal Party of Australia in 1959.Jordan was born in Sydney...
Key dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 23 January 1968 | The Legislative Assembly was dissolved, and writs were issued by the Governor to proceed with an election. |
| 31 January 1968 | Nominations for candidates for the election closed at noon. |
| 24 February 1968 | Polling day. |
| 22 March 1968 | Last day for the writs to be returned and the results formally declared. |
| 26 March 1968 | Opening of 42nd Parliament. |
Tabulated Results
|}All electorates were contested
Aftermath
Robert AskinRobert Askin
Sir Robert William Askin GCMG, was an Australian politician and the 32nd Premier of New South Wales from 1965 to 1975, the first representing the Liberal Party of Australia. He was born in 1907 as Robin William Askin, but always disliked his first name and changed it by deed poll in 1971...
and Charles Cutler
Charles Cutler
Sir Charles Benjamin Cutler KBE, ED was an Australian politician, holding office for 28 years as an elected member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Orange...
remained Premier and Deputy Premier throughout the term of the parliament. Renshaw was replaced as the Leader of the Labor Party by Pat Hills in December 1968. During the parliament there were 5 by-elections. These produced no change in party representation with the exception of the Liberal Party losing Georges River to Labor's, Frank Walker.
See also
- Candidates of the New South Wales state election, 1968Candidates of the New South Wales state election, 1968This is a list of candidates of the 1968 New South Wales state election. The election was held on 24 February 1968.-Retiring Members:Note: The Liberal MLA for Bligh, Morton Cohen, died shortly before the election...
- Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1968–1971