1972 Tasmanian state election

The Tasmanian state election, 1972 was held on 22 April 1972 in the Australian state of Tasmania to elect 35 members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The election used the Hare-Clark proportional representation system[1] — seven members were elected from each of five electorates.

1972 Tasmanian state election

22 April 1972
All 35 seats to the House of Assembly
Leader Eric Reece Angus Bethune Party Labor Liberal Leader since 26 August 1958 19 March 1960 Leader's seat Braddon Wilmot Last election 17 seats 17 seats Seats won 21 seats 14 seats Seat change 4 3 Percentage 54.93% 38.37% Swing 7.25 5.61
Premier before election Angus Bethune Liberal Elected Premier Eric Reece Labor

The one-term Liberal government of Premier Angus Bethune had collapsed following the withdrawal of support by Kevin Lyons. The opposition Labor Party, led by Eric Reece, gained a clear majority and won the election.

Background

The 1969 election had resulted in a hung parliament, with the deadlock broken when Kevin Lyons of the Centre Party formed a coalition government with Angus Bethune's Liberal Party. On 15 March 1972, Lyons resigned as Deputy Premier and effectively dissolved the Liberal-Centre coalition.[2] The resulting instability triggered an election.

The 1972 election was also notable due to the emergence and candidacy of the United Tasmania Group, the world's first Green party, formed to campaign against the proposed damming of Lake Pedder.[3]

Results

The Liberals lost three seats, giving Labor a clear majority. Eric Reece was sworn in as Premier of Tasmania for a second time on 3 May 1972. Eric Reece also received the highest personal vote ever in Braddon, gaining 14,790 votes, or 35.4% of the vote.

The United Tasmania Group gained a respectable 3.9% of the vote, failing to gain a seat in the parliament and to stop the damming of Lake Pedder, but their efforts paved the way for the Tasmanian Greens to become a significant force in Tasmanian politics.

Tasmanian state election, 22 April 1972 House of Assembly << 1969–1976 >>
Enrolled voters		216,846
Votes cast		205,803		Turnout	94.91	+0.47
Informal votes		7,533		Informal	3.66	–1.00
Summary of votes by party
Party		Primary votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
	Labor	108,910	54.93	+7.25	21	+ 4
	Liberal	76,073	38.37	–5.61	14	– 3
	United Tasmania Group	7,741	3.90	+3.90	0	± 0
	Independent	5,546	2.80	+0.49	0	± 0
	Other			–6.03		– 1
Total		198,270			35

Popular vote Labor   54.93% Liberal   38.37% United Tasmania Group   3.90% Independents   2.80%

Seats Labor   60.00% Liberal   40.00%

Distribution of Seats

Electorate Seats won Bass               Braddon               Denison               Franklin               Wilmot

Labor   Liberal

See also

• Members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly, 1972–1976
• Candidates of the Tasmanian state election, 1972

References

1. House of Assembly Elections, Parliament of Tasmania.
2. Tasmanian Political Almanac - On This Day, Parliament of Tasmania.
3. Eckersley, Robyn (1992). Environmentalism and Political Theory: Toward an Ecocentric Approach. New York: SUNY Press. pp. 193. ISBN 0-7914-1013-7.

External links

• "House of Assembly Election Results 22 April 1972". Tasmanian Parliamentary Library.