Australian Capital Territory legislative election, 1989
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The first election for the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly was held on 4 March 1989.
The election used a modified D'Hondt method to allocate seats.
The election was notable for having a ballot paper almost one-metre wide that listed 117 candidates for the 17 seats. The parties include the “Sun Ripened Warm Tomato Party”, “Party! Party! Party!” and “Surprise Party”. It took almost two months after Election Day to determine the results of the election. Four people won seats on ostensible platforms of abolishing self government.
The polls were declared on 8 May 1989. The Assembly first sat on 11 May 1989, in rented premises at 1 Constitution Avenue, Canberra City. The final sitting was on 17 December 1991.
The membership of the first assembly was one member from the Abolish Self-Government Coalition; five members from the Australian Labor Party; four members from the Liberal Party; three members from the No Self Government Party and four members from the Residents Rally.
Paul Whalan (ALP) resigned on 30 April 1990 and Terry Connolly (ALP) was sworn in on 1 May 1990 to replace him.
One Member of the No Self Government Party later joined the Liberal Party and the other Members did not use the party name for the full duration of the first Assembly. One member of the Residents Rally later became an independent.
The office holders of the first assembly were:
- Speaker: David Prowse
- Chief Minister: Rosemary Follett (ALP)
- Leader of the Opposition: Trevor Kaine (Lib)
Following a change of government on 5 December 1989:
Chief Minister: Trevor Kaine (Lib) Leader of the Opposition: Rosemary Follett (ALP)
Following a further change of government on 6 June 1991:
Chief Minister: Rosemary Follett (ALP) Leader of the Opposition: Trevor Kaine (Lib)
Trevor Kaine resigned as Leader of the Opposition on 21 June 1991 and in a ballot for the position Craig Duby was elected. Following amendment to standing orders, Gary Humphries then became Leader of the Opposition from 21 June to 22 July 1991, after which Trevor Kaine resumed the position.
[edit] See also
- Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988
- Electoral_systems_of_the_Australian_states_and_territories#Australian_Capital_Territory
- Members of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly, 1989-1991
