Australian general election, 1983
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Federal elections were held in Australia on March 5, 1983. All 125 seats in the House of Representatives, and all 64 seats in the Senate, were up for election. The incumbent Liberal Party of Australia government in power since 1975 led by Malcolm Fraser with coalition partner the National Party of Australia led by Doug Anthony was defeated by the opposition Australian Labor Party led by Bob Hawke.
| Party | Votes | % | Swing | Seats | Change | |
| Australian Labor Party | 4,297,392 | 49.48 | +4.34 | 75 | +24 | |
| Liberal Party of Australia | 2,983,986 | 34.36 | -3.07 | 33 | -21 | |
| National Party of Australia | 799,609 | 9.21 | +0.24 | 17 | -3 | |
| Australian Democrats | 437,265 | 5.03 | -1.54 | 0 | 0 | |
| Other | 166,611 | 1.92 | +0.04 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 8,684,863 | 125 | ||||
| Australian Labor Party | WIN | 53.23 | +3.63 | 75 | +24 | |
| LPA/NAT coalition | 46.77 | -3.63 | 50 | -24 |
| Party | Votes | % | Swing | Seats Won | Seats Held | |
| Australian Labor Party | 3,637,316 | 45.49 | +3.24 | 30 | 30 | |
| Liberal/National (Joint Ticket) | 1,861,618 | 23.28 | * | 8 | 8 | |
| Liberal Party of Australia | 923,571 | 11.55 | -1.59 | 16 | 16 | |
| Australian Democrats | 764,911 | 9.57 | +0.31 | 5 | 5 | |
| National Party of Australia | 388,802 | 4.86 | * | 3 | 3 | |
| Country Liberal Party | 21,406 | 0.27 | +0.02 | 1 | 1 | |
| Independents | 193,454 | 2.42 | +1.29 | 1 | 1 | |
| Other | 203,967 | 2.55 | -1.34 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 7,995,045 | 64 | 64 |
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The coalition government led by Malcolm Fraser had to contend with a parlous economic situation with high inflation and high unemployment. The nation had seen an increase in industrial disputation and many rural areas were gripped by drought. In the previous year, Fraser had fought off a leadership challenge from Andrew Peacock, who had resigned from the Cabinet citing Fraser's "manic determination to get his own way", a phrase Fraser had himself used when he resigned from the Gorton ministry in 1971.
A by-election in Flinders in December 1982, occasioned by the retirement of Phillip Lynch, had seen an unexpected victory by the Liberal candidate, Peter Reith.
On 3 February 1983, in a meeting in Brisbane, Labor leader Bill Hayden was told by closest supporters told him that he must resign, which he did. Hawke was then elected leader unopposed. Later that morning, emboldened by the December by-election but unaware of the events in Brisbane, Fraser in Canberra called a snap election for 5 March. In response to his removal, Hayden claimed that a "drover's dog" could lead the ALP to victory.
[edit] References
- University of WA election results in Australia since 1890
- AEC 2PP vote
- AustralianPolitics.com election details
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Australian general elections
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