1964 Tasmanian state election

The Tasmanian state election, 1964 was held on 2 May 1964 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.

1964 Tasmanian state election
2 May 1964
All 35 seats to the House of Assembly
  First party Second party
 
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 16 seats
Seats won 19 seats 16 seats
Seat change 2 0
Percentage 51.32% 38.49%
Swing 6.82 2.57
Premier before election

Eric Reece
Labor

 Elected Premier

Eric Reece
Labor

The Labor Party, in power since 1934, was seeking a tenth term in office, and Premier Eric Reece was contesting his second election in that role, this time against Leader of the Opposition Angus Bethune of the Liberal Party. Despite its longevity, the peculiarities of the Tasmanian Hare-Clark system meant it had served as a minority government with the support of independents since the 1946 election.

This marked the last time to date that a Premier, in Reece, has won back to back elections.

Results
See also: Results of the Tasmanian state election, 1964

Labor won a majority in the House of Assembly with 19 of the 35 seats. Dr Reg Turnbull, the former Labor treasurer who had won 27.9% as an independent in Bass in 1959 (equal to 5.64% of the statewide vote) departed in 1961 for the Australian Senate, with most of his vote returning to his former party.

Tasmanian state election, 2 May 1964
House of Assembly
<< 1959–1969 >>

Enrolled voters 193,418
Votes cast 184,571 Turnout 95.43 +0.86
Informal votes 7,980 Informal 4.32 –1.44
Summary of votes by party
Party Primary votes % Swing Seats Change
  Labor 90,631 51.32 +6.82 19 + 2
  Liberal 67,971 38.49 –2.57 16 ± 0
  Country 9,280 5.26 +5.26 0 ± 0
  Democratic Labor 3,155 1.79 –3.50 0 ± 0
  Communist 92 0.05 –0.04 0 ± 0
  Independent 5,462 3.09 –5.96 0 – 2
Total 176,591     35  
Popular vote
Labor
 
 51.32%
Liberal
 
 38.49%
Country
 
 5.26%
DLP
 
 1.79%
Communist
 
 0.05%
Independents
 
 3.09%
Seats
Labor
 
 54.29%
Liberal
 
 45.71%

Distribution of Seats

See also

References
  1. House of Assembly Elections, Parliament of Tasmania.
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