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
  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 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
See also: Results of the Tasmanian state election, 1972

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

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.
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