New South Wales state election, 1988
Encyclopedia
Elections to the 49th Parliament
of New South Wales
were held on Saturday 19 March 1988. All seats in the Legislative Assembly
and half the seats in the Legislative Council
were up for election. The Labor
government of Premier Barrie Unsworth
was defeated by the Liberal
-National
Coalition
, led by Opposition Leader
Nick Greiner
.
The election took place following a redistribution of seats, which resulted in the Assembly growing from 99 to 109 seats.
The Australian Labor Party
, under Neville Wran
and, since 1986, Barrie Unsworth
, had been in office for 12 years. A number of corruption scandals had tarnished Labor's image. Among these was the jailing of Labor's Minister for Corrective Services Rex Jackson
in 1987 for accepting bribes for the early release of prisoners.
Greiner campaigned on a promise to clean up state government, foreshadowing the establishment of the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
In rural electorates, Labor's positions on gun laws and conservation alienated many voters. Health care was also a campaign issue.
later noted that "the 1988 result was startling, the worst Labor performance, and best Coalition result, since the Lang
era of the 1930s." Labor lost heartland seats including Balmain
, Newcastle
and Swansea
for the first time since the turn of the century.
Seven non-aligned Independents were elected to the Legislative Assembly.
Parliament of New South Wales
The Parliament of New South Wales, located in Parliament House on Macquarie Street, Sydney, is the main legislative body in the Australian state of New South Wales . It is a bicameral parliament elected by the people of the state in general elections. The parliament shares law making powers with...
of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
were held on Saturday 19 March 1988. All 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...
and half the seats in the Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
were up for election. The Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
government of Premier Barrie Unsworth
Barrie Unsworth
Barrie John Unsworth was an Australian politician, representing the Australian Labor Party in the Parliament of New South Wales from 1978 to 1991. He served as the 36th Premier from July 1986 to March 1988.-Early years:...
was defeated by the Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
-National
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...
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...
, led by Opposition Leader
Leader of the Opposition (New South Wales)
The role of the Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition in New South Wales is a title held by the leader of the largest minority party in the state lower house, the New South Wales Legislative Assembly...
Nick Greiner
Nick Greiner
Nicholas "Nick" Frank Hugo Greiner AC, is an Australian businessman and former politician. He was the 37th Premier New South Wales from 1988 to 1992. He was Leader of the New South Wales Division of the Liberal Party from 1983 to 1992 and Leader of the Opposition from 1983 to 1988. He is married...
.
The election took place following a redistribution of seats, which resulted in the Assembly growing from 99 to 109 seats.
Issues
The Liberals' campaign slogan was "A change for the better."The 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...
, under Neville Wran
Neville Wran
Neville Kenneth Wran, AC, CNZM, QC was the Premier of New South Wales from 1976 until 1986. He was National President of the Australian Labor Party from 1980 to 1986 and Chairman of both the Lionel Murphy Foundation and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation from 1986...
and, since 1986, Barrie Unsworth
Barrie Unsworth
Barrie John Unsworth was an Australian politician, representing the Australian Labor Party in the Parliament of New South Wales from 1978 to 1991. He served as the 36th Premier from July 1986 to March 1988.-Early years:...
, had been in office for 12 years. A number of corruption scandals had tarnished Labor's image. Among these was the jailing of Labor's Minister for Corrective Services Rex Jackson
Rex Jackson
Rex Frederick Jackson was an Australian politician, elected as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. He was the son of a railway fettler and born in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales and educated at Harefield Public School and Junee and Sutherland High Schools. He became a rail...
in 1987 for accepting bribes for the early release of prisoners.
Greiner campaigned on a promise to clean up state government, foreshadowing the establishment of the Independent Commission Against Corruption.
In rural electorates, Labor's positions on gun laws and conservation alienated many voters. Health care was also a campaign issue.
Key dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 22 February 1988 | The Legislative Assembly was dissolved, and writs were issued by the Governor to proceed with an election. |
| 26 February 1988 | Nominations for candidates for the election closed at noon. |
| 19 March 1988 | Polling day, between the hours of 8am and 6pm. |
| 25 March 1988 | The Unsworth Ministry resigned and the Greiner-Murray Ministry was sworn in. |
| 22 April 1988 | The writ was returned and the results formally declared. |
| 27 April 1988 | Parliament resumed for business. |
Results
The result was a landslide for the Coalition parties. Election analyst Antony GreenAntony Green
Antony John Green is an Australian psephologist and commentator for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.-Early years and background:...
later noted that "the 1988 result was startling, the worst Labor performance, and best Coalition result, since the Lang
Jack Lang (Australian politician)
John Thomas Lang , usually referred to as J.T. Lang during his career, and familiarly known as "Jack" and nicknamed "The Big Fella" was an Australian politician who was Premier of New South Wales for two terms...
era of the 1930s." Labor lost heartland seats including Balmain
Electoral district of Balmain
Balmain is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly of the Australian state of New South Wales in Sydney's Inner West. It includes the suburbs and localities of Annandale, Balmain, Balmain East, Birchgrove, Forest Lodge, Glebe, Glebe Island, Haberfield, Leichhardt, Lilyfield, Rozelle,...
, Newcastle
Electoral district of Newcastle
Newcastle is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales named after and including Newcastle. It is represented by Tim Owen of the Liberal Party of Australia.-History:...
and Swansea
Electoral district of Swansea
Swansea is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Hunter Region of the Australian state of New South Wales. It was represented by Milton Orkopoulos of the Australian Labor Party until his arrest in 2006 on allegations of child sex and drugs offences. It is now represented by Garry...
for the first time since the turn of the century.
Seven non-aligned Independents were elected to the Legislative Assembly.