1927 Victorian state election

The 1927 Victorian state election was held in the Australian state of Victoria on Saturday, 9 April 1927, to elect the 65 members of the state's Legislative Assembly.[1]

1927 Victorian state election

9 April 1927
all 65 seats in the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Leader Edmond Hogan Harry Lawson John Allan Party Labor Nationalist Country Leader since 1927 Leader's seat Warrenheip and Grenville Castlemaine and Kyneton Rodney Last election 27 seats 19 seats 13 seats Seats won 28 seats 15 seats 10 seats Seat change 1 4 3 Percentage 41.79% 30.89% 8.13% Swing 6.92 8.15 3.84
Premier before election John Allan Country Elected Premier Edmond Hogan Labor

For the first time, a Victorian state election was held on a Saturday, and voting for the Legislative Assembly was compulsory.[2] As a consequence, voter turnout in contested seats increased from 59.24% at the 1924 election to 91.76% at the 1927 election, although the informal vote increased from 1.01% in 1924 to 1.94% in 1927.

Key dates

Date	Event
4 March 1927	The Parliament was prorogued, and the Legislative Assembly dissolved.[3]
12 March 1927	Writs were issued by the Governor to proceed with an election.[3]
21 March 1927	Close of nominations.[3]
9 April 1927	Polling day.
30 April 1927	The writ was returned and the results formally declared.[3]
20 May 1927	The Hogan Ministry was sworn in.[4]
6 July 1927	Parliament resumed for business.

Results

Legislative Assembly

1927 Victorian state election[1][5] Legislative Assembly << 1924–1929 >>
Enrolled voters		850,494
Votes cast		780,399		Turnout	91.76	+32.53
Informal votes		15,125		Informal	1.94	+0.93
Summary of votes by party
Party		Primary votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
	Labor	319,848	41.79	+6.92	28	+1
	Nationalist	236,428	30.89	−8.15	15	−4
	Australian Liberal	67,663	8.84	+8.84	2	+2
	Country	62,218	8.13	−3.84	10	−3
	Country Progressive	31,849	4.16	+4.16	4	+4
	Independent	47,268	6.18	+2.97	6	+5
Total		765,274			65

Notes:

• Eight seats were uncontested at this election, and were retained by the incumbent parties:
  • Labor (4): Footscray, Northcote, Port Melbourne, Richmond
  • Nationalist (2): Benambra, Polwarth
  • Country (1): Goulburn Valley
  • Independents (1): Brighton

Outcome

The Allan Country–Nationalist Coalition Government was defeated; a minority Labor Government led by Edmund Hogan took office but was later defeated in Parliament.

See also

• Candidates of the 1927 Victorian state election
• Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, 1927–1929
• 1928 Victorian Legislative Council election

References

1. Colin A Hughes, A Handbook of Australian Government and Politics 1890-1964, Canberra: Australian National University Press, 1968 (ISBN 0708102700).
2. Victorian Electoral Commission: Unit 2: Voting rights and responsibilities
3. "Discharging members of the Legislative Council from attendance and dissolving the Legislative Assembly". Victorian Government Gazette. 4 March 1927. p. 1927:1233.
4. "Ministers of the Crown". Victorian Government Gazette. 20 May 1927. p. 1927:1757.
5. Election held on 9 April 1927, Australian Politics and Elections Database (University of Western Australia).