1902 South Australian state election

State elections were held in South Australia on 3 May 1902 following the dissolution of both houses. All 42 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly were up for election, and all 18 seats in the Legislative Council. The House had a reduction of 12 seats compared to the previous election. The Council was reduced from 6 members in each of four districts to 6 members from Central District and four from each of North-Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts.[1] The incumbent liberal government led by Premier of South Australia John Jenkins in an informal coalition with the conservatives defeated the United Labor Party (ULP) led by Thomas Price. Each of the 13 districts elected multiple members, with voters casting multiple votes.

1902 South Australian state election
3 May 1902 (1902-05-03)
All 42 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly
22 seats were needed for a majority
  Second party Third party
 
Leader John Darling Jr. Thomas Price
Party Australasian National League United Labor
Leader since 1902 1899
Leader's seat Torrens Torrens
Last election 14 seats 11 seats
Seats won 17 seats 5 seats
Seat change 3 6
Percentage 24.3% 19.9%
Premier before election

John Jenkins
Independent

 Elected Premier

John Jenkins
Independent

Background

Following the 1899 election, Charles Kingston tried again for franchise reform. The Assembly voted against the measure and Kingston resigned his ministry. He was replaced by Vaiben Louis Solomon for a brief period of seven days, until Frederick Holder formed a government which, for the first time, included a ULP member, Lee Batchelor.

The parliament was transformed by the impact of federation. Seven leading members of the Assembly resigned and were elected to the Parliament of Australia. As a result, there were 11 by-elections in this period. The Assembly was reduced in numbers, from 54 to 42. A redistribution was carried out following these changes, to produce a chamber elected from 13 districts - one 5-member, two four-member, nine 3-member and one 2-member electorates. The election was a "new start" for the parliament.

There was no "Liberal" or "Kingston" party, but there was a relatively cohesive Kingston group among both independent members and candidates. The Liberal and Democratic Union would not be formed until the 1906 election.

Results
House of Assembly (FPTP) — Turnout 60.3% (Non-CV) — Informal 1.3%
  Party Votes % Swing Seats Change
  Australasian National League 61,768 24.3 +5.9 17 +3
  United Labor Party 48,515 19.9 –5.5 5 –6
  Independent 143,916 56.6 +0.4 20 –9
  Total 254,199     42 –12
  Liberal/National League coalition WIN
  United Labor Party

See also

References
  1. Jaensch, Dean (1 March 2007). "History of South Australian elections 1857-2006, volume 2". State Electoral Office of South Australia. Archived from the original on 29 October 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
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