Electoral results for the Division of Gippsland

This is a list of electoral results for the Division of Gippsland in Australian federal elections from the division's creation in 1901 until the present.

Contents

Members

Member Party Term
  Allan McLean Protectionist 1901–1904
  Anti-Socialist 1904–1906
  George Wise Protectionist 1906–1909
  Independent 1909–1913
  James Bennett Commonwealth Liberal 1913–1914
  George Wise Independent 1914–1916
  Nationalist 1916–1922
  Thomas Paterson Country 1922–1943
  George Bowden Country 1943–1961
  Peter Nixon Country, National 1961–1983
  Peter McGauran National 1983–2008
  Darren Chester National 2008–present

Election results

Elections in the 2010s

Australian federal election, 2010: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Darren Chester 47,020 53.00 +4.63
Labor Darren McCubbin 28,008 31.57 -4.98
Greens Michael Bond 5,826 6.57 +1.03
Liberal Democrats Ben Buckley 4,895 5.52 +5.52
Family First Heath Jefferis 2,963 3.34 -0.97
Total formal votes 88,712 96.21 -0.81
Informal votes 3,496 3.79 +0.81
Total votes 92,208 94.53% -1.14
Two-candidate preferred result
National Darren Chester 54,513 61.45 +5.54
Labor Darren McCubbin 34,199 38.55 -5.54
National hold Swing +5.54

Elections in the 2000s

Gippsland by-election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Darren Chester 32,971 39.60 -8.77
Labor Darren McCubbin 23,652 28.41 -8.14
Liberal Rohan Fitzgerald 17,249 20.72 +20.72
Greens Malcolm McKelvie 5,862 7.04 +1.50
Liberty and Democracy Ben Buckley 3,518 4.23 +4.23
Total formal votes 83,252 97.12 +0.10
Informal votes 2,465 2.88 -0.10
Total votes 85,717 89.68% -5.98
Two-candidate preferred result
National Darren Chester 51,611 61.99 +6.08
Labor Darren McCubbin 31,641 38.01 -6.08
National hold Swing +6.08
Australian federal election, 2007: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Peter McGauran 42,632 48.37 -0.36
Labor Jane Rowe 32,214 36.55 +2.46
Greens Jeff Wrathall 4,881 5.54 +1.16
Family First Michael Rowell 3,802 4.31 +1.49
Independent Ben Buckley 2,787 3.16 +3.16
What Women Want Helen McAdam 1,825 2.07 +2.07
Total formal votes 88,141 97.02 +1.25
Informal votes 2,710 2.98 -1.25
Turnout 90,851 95.75 +0.12
Two-candidate preferred result
National Peter McGauran 49,280 55.91 -1.79
Labor Jane Rowe 38,861 44.09 +1.79
National hold Swing -1.79
Australian federal election, 2004: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Peter McGauran 41,531 48.73 +19.00
Labor Don Wishart 29,053 34.09 +0.23
Greens Madelon Lane 3,734 4.38 +0.46
Independent Peter Maxwell Kelly 3,139 3.68 +3.68
One Nation Ben Buckley 2,539 2.98 -1.96
Family First Doug Lillyman 2,405 2.82 +2.82
Democrats David Leonard Langmore 1,312 1.54 -2.95
Christina Sindt 1,288 1.51 +1.51
CEC Heather Stanton 233 0.27 +0.06
Total formal votes 85,234 95.77 +0.53
Informal votes 3,763 4.23 -0.53
Turnout 88,997 95.63 +0.00
Two-candidate preferred result
National Peter McGauran 49,181 57.70 +5.12
Labor Don Wishart 36,053 42.30 -5.12
National hold Swing +5.12
Australian federal election, 2001: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Peter McGauran 34,555 45.62 +2.65
Labor Bill Bolitho 19,469 25.70 -0.58
Independent Doug Treasure 4,249 5.61 +0.10
Greens Chris Aitken 4,205 5.55 +5.55
One Nation Michael Freshwater 4,066 5.37 -6.06
Democrats Jo McCubbin 3,331 4.40 -0.92
Independent John Jago 1,579 2.08 +2.08
Independent Phillip Evans 1,551 2.05 +2.05
Independent Ben Buckley 1,249 1.65 +1.65
Independent Marjorie Thorpe 791 1.04 +1.04
Independent Phillip Robinson 487 0.64 +0.64
CEC Frank Williams 221 0.29 +0.29
Total formal votes 75,753 94.41 -0.66
Informal votes 4,484 5.59 +0.66
Turnout 80,237 96.02
Two-candidate preferred result
National Peter McGauran 43,978 58.02 -0.81
Labor Bill Bolitho 31,775 41.96 +0.81
National hold Swing -0.81

Elections in the 1990s

Australian federal election, 1998: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Peter McGauran 31,774 42.97 -18.24
Labor Judith Stone 19,438 26.28 +0.30
One Nation Tony Peters 8,454 11.43 +11.43
Independent Doug Treasure 4,076 5.51 +5.51
Democrats Jo McCubbin 3,931 5.32 -2.09
Independent Leonie Cameron 2,611 3.53 +3.53
Independent Jack Vanderland 900 1.22 +1.22
Independent Les Horsfield 799 1.08 +1.08
Natural Law Frances Clarke 751 1.02 +0.36
Australia First John Weatherhead 650 0.88 +0.88
Unity Robert Thorpe 567 0.77 +0.77
Total formal votes 73,951 95.08 -2.37
Informal votes 3,829 4.92 +2.37
Turnout 77,780 95.98 -0.92
Two-candidate preferred result
National Peter McGauran 43,506 58.83 -9.81
Labor Judith Stone 30,445 41.17 +9.81
National hold Swing -9.81
Australian federal election, 1996: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Peter McGauran 46,180 61.21 +4.83
Labor Judith Stone 19,604 25.98 -4.34
Democrats John Brownstein 5,584 7.40 +4.63
Independent Ben Buckley 3,582 4.75 +4.83
Natural Law Jamie Pollock 495 0.66 -0.07
Total formal votes 75,445 97.45 -0.47
Informal votes 1,974 2.55 +0.47
Turnout 77,419 96.90 +0.57
Two-candidate preferred result
National Peter McGauran 51,400 68.64 +2.80
Labor Judith Stone 23,486 31.36 -2.80
National hold Swing +2.80
Australian federal election, 1993: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Peter McGauran 43,773 60.54 -0.15
Labor Judith Stone 21,209 29.33 +6.37
Independent Ben Buckley 3,049 4.22 +0.76
Democrats Donal Storey 2,105 2.91 -7.53
Bruce Phillips 1,720 2.38 +2.38
Natural Law Paul Van Baer 445 0.62 +0.62
Total formal votes 72,301 97.97 +0.28
Informal votes 1,495 2.03 -0.28
Turnout 73,796 96.33
Two-candidate preferred result
National Peter McGauran 47,886 66.30 -2.64
Labor Judith Stone 24,245 33.70 +2.64
National hold Swing -2.64
Australian federal election, 1990: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Peter McGauran 41,862 60.7 +16.4
Labor Merv Bundle 15,841 23.0 -7.5
Democrats Grace McCaughey 7,201 10.4 +6.2
Independent Ben Buckley 2,382 3.5 +3.5
Call to Australia Robert Watson 1,684 2.4 +2.4
Total formal votes 68,970 97.7
Informal votes 1,631 2.3
Turnout 70,601 95.7
Two-candidate preferred result
National Peter McGauran 47,507 68.9 +3.9
Labor Merv Bundle 21,406 31.1 -3.9
National hold Swing +3.9

Elections in the 1980s

Australian federal election, 1987: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Peter McGauran 29,084 44.3 +3.5
Labor Zona Child 20,056 30.5 +1.7
Liberal Grant Pearce 12,384 18.9 -0.8
Democrats Pierre Forcier 2,785 4.2 +1.2
Independent Rod Anderson 1,350 2.1 +2.1
Total formal votes 65,659 96.6
Informal votes 2,294 3.4
Turnout 67,953 95.3
Two-candidate preferred result
National Peter McGauran 42,687 65.0 +0.7
Labor Zona Child 22,958 35.0 -0.7
National hold Swing +0.7
Australian federal election, 1984: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Peter McGauran 24,818 40.8 +8.9
Labor Bill de Vink 17,522 28.8 -6.2
Liberal Rod Conley 11,984 19.7 -4.1
Nuclear Disarmament Peter Gardner 2,702 4.4 +4.4
Democrats Wilma Western 1,808 3.0 -1.0
Independent Ben Buckley 1,176 1.9 +1.9
Democratic Labor Margaret Handley 789 1.3 +1.3
Total formal votes 60,799 94.0
Informal votes 3,898 6.0
Turnout 64,697 95.1
Two-candidate preferred result
National Peter McGauran 39,056 64.3 +4.2
Labor Bill De Vink 21,692 35.7 -4.2
National hold Swing +4.2
Australian federal election, 1983: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labor Anthony Petersen 24,029 35.4 +5.2
National Peter McGauran 21,360 31.5 -25.2
Liberal Philip Davis 16,127 23.8 +23.8
Democrats Pierre Forcier 2,930 4.3 -6.2
Independent Pearce Buckley 2,059 3.0 +3.0
Democratic Labor Stewart Taig 659 1.0 +1.0
Independent Bruce Ingle 652 1.0 +1.0
Total formal votes 67,816 96.8
Informal votes 2,257 3.2
Turnout 70,073 95.4
Two-candidate preferred result
Nationals Peter McGauran 40,465 59.7 -2.2
Labor Anthony Petersen 27,351 40.3 +2.2
National hold Swing -2.2
Australian federal election, 1980: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Country Peter Nixon 37,180 56.7 -1.3
Labor Graeme McIntyre 19,791 30.2 +6.5
Democrats Pierre Forcier 6,861 10.5 +0.1
Independent Bruce Ingle 1,684 2.6 +2.6
Total formal votes 65,516 97.9
Informal votes 1,385 2.1
Turnout 66,901 95.1
Two-candidate preferred result
National Country Peter Nixon 61.9 -2.6
Labor Graeme McIntyre 38.1 +2.6
National Country hold Swing -2.6

Elections in the 1970s

Australian federal election, 1977: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Country Peter Nixon 35,778 58.0 -6.7
Labor William Switzer 14,634 23.7 -4.9
Democrats Thomas Reid 6,424 10.4 +10.4
DLP Robert McMahon 3,003 4.9 -1.9
Independent Bruce Ingle 1,884 3.1 +3.1
Total formal votes 61,723 97.6
Informal votes 1,501 2.4
Turnout 63,224 95.8
Two-candidate preferred result
National Country Peter Nixon 69.7 -1.2
Labor William Switzer 30.3 +1.2
National Country hold Swing -1.2
Australian federal election, 1975: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Country Peter Nixon 36,806 64.7 +5.2
Labor Peter Turner 16,274 28.6 -3.4
DLP Robert McMahon 3,849 6.8 +2.2
Total formal votes 56,929 98.2
Informal votes 1,018 1.8
Turnout 57,947 95.9
Two-candidate preferred result
National Country Peter Nixon 70.9 +5.1
Labor Peter Turner 29.1 -5.1
National Country hold Swing +5.1
Australian federal election, 1974: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Country Peter Nixon 32,484 59.5 +6.4
Labor Hugh Oakes 17,456 32.0 -1.9
DLP John Condon 2,533 4.6 -3.3
Australia John Bowron 2,123 3.9 -1.3
Total formal votes 54,596 98.4
Informal votes 899 1.6
Turnout 55,495 96.0
Two-candidate preferred result
Country Peter Nixon 65.8 +2.9
Labor Hugh Oakes 34.2 -2.9
Country hold Swing +2.9
Australian federal election, 1972: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Country Peter Nixon 26,007 53.1 -5.7
Labor Peter Turner 16,591 33.9 +4.6
DLP John Condon 3,869 7.9 -4.0
Australia John Bowron 2,541 5.2 +5.2
Total formal votes 49,008 98.4
Informal votes 775 1.6
Turnout 49,783 96.4
Two-candidate preferred result
Country Peter Nixon 62.9 -6.7
Labor Peter Turner 37.1 +6.7
Country hold Swing -6.7

Elections in the 1960s

Australian federal election, 1969: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Country Peter Nixon 27,068 58.8 -5.3
Labor John Wolfe 13,457 29.3 +7.8
DLP John Hansen 5,478 11.9 -2.6
Total formal votes 46,003 98.0
Informal votes 917 2.0
Turnout 46,920 96.0
Two-candidate preferred result
Country Peter Nixon 69.6 -7.7
Labor John Wolfe 30.4 +7.7
Country hold Swing -7.7
Australian federal election, 1966: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Country Peter Nixon 28,627 64.3 +6.5
Labor Thomas Powell 9,478 21.3 -9.7
DLP John Hansen 6,439 14.5 +3.2
Total formal votes 44,544 97.6
Informal votes 1,090 2.4
Turnout 45,634 95.7
Two-candidate preferred result
Country Peter Nixon 77.5 +9.5
Labor Thomas Powell 22.5 -9.5
Country hold Swing +9.5
Australian federal election, 1963: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Country Peter Nixon 25,422 57.8 +6.2
Labor Sydney Evans 13,623 31.0 -0.5
DLP John Hansen 4,970 11.3 -5.6
Total formal votes 44,015 99.0
Informal votes 452 1.0
Turnout 44,467 95.8
Two-candidate preferred result
Country Peter Nixon 68.0 +1.1
Labor Sydney Evans 32.0 -1.1
Country hold Swing +1.1
Australian federal election, 1961: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Country Peter Nixon 22,002 51.6 -6.7
Labor William Stephenson 13,430 31.5 +4.0
DLP John Hansen 7,209 16.9 +2.8
Total formal votes 42,641 98.5
Informal votes 671 1.5
Turnout 43,312 95.3
Two-candidate preferred result
Country Peter Nixon 66.9 -4.1
Labor William Stephenson 33.1 +4.1
Country hold Swing -4.1

Elections in the 1950s

Australian federal election, 1958: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Country George Bowden 23,869 58.3 -4.3
Labor Clement Little 11,258 27.5 +2.8
DLP John Hansen 5,785 14.1 +1.4
Total formal votes 40,912 98.1
Informal votes 810 1.9
Turnout 41,722 95.7
Two-candidate preferred result
Country George Bowden 71.0 -2.0
Labor Clement Little 29.0 +2.0
Country hold Swing -2.0
Australian federal election, 1955: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Country George Bowden 24,382 62.6 +2.9
Labor Clement Little 9,631 24.7 -15.6
Labor (Anti-Communist) Francis Burns 4,951 12.7 +12.7
Total formal votes 38,964 98.0
Informal votes 785 2.0
Turnout 39,749 95.2
Two-candidate preferred result
Country George Bowden 73.0 +13.3
Labor Clement Little 27.0 -13.3
Country hold Swing +13.3
Australian federal election, 1954: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Country George Bowden 22,185 60.4 -4.7
Labor Sydney Crofts 14,537 39.6 +4.7
Total formal votes 36,722 99.0
Informal votes 375 1.0
Turnout 37,097 95.4
Country hold Swing -4.7
Australian federal election, 1951: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Country George Bowden 22,799 65.1 -1.6
Labor Victor Fitzgerald 12,247 34.9 +1.6
Total formal votes 35,046 98.5
Informal votes 521 1.5
Turnout 35,567 95.9
Country hold Swing -1.6

Elections in the 1940s

Australian federal election, 1949: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Country George Bowden 22,824 66.7 +6.6
Labor Horace Hawkins 11,373 33.3 -2.4
Total formal votes 34,197 98.6
Informal votes 472 1.4
Turnout 34,669 96.2
Country hold Swing +4.6
Australian federal election, 1946: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Country George Bowden 28,526 55.2 +18.7
Labor Adam Keltie 20,196 39.1 -6.0
Communist Walter Williams 2,994 5.8 +5.8
Total formal votes 51,716 98.4
Informal votes 824 1.6
Turnout 52,540 94.6
Two-candidate preferred result
Country George Bowden 55.8 +3.4
Labor Adam Keltie 44.2 -3.4
Country hold Swing +3.4
Australian federal election, 1943: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labor Walter Williams 22,358 45.1 +11.6
Country George Bowden 18,104 36.5 -23.0
Social Credit Herbert Birch 5,313 10.7 +10.7
Independent Stephen Ashton 2,734 5.5 +5.5
One Parliament Melvyn Morgan 1,119 2.3 +2.3
Total formal votes 49,628 97.9
Informal votes 1,084 2.1
Turnout 50,712 97.4
Two-candidate preferred result
Country George Bowden 25,985 52.4 -4.3
Labor Walter Williams 23,643 47.6 +4.3
Country hold Swing -4.3
Australian federal election, 1940: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Country Thomas Paterson 20,547 42.8 -1.6
Labor James McKenna 16,082 33.5 -5.4
Country George Bowden 8,006 16.7 +16.7
Independent Calvert Wyeth 3,402 7.1 +7.1
Total formal votes 48,037 98.5
Informal votes 708 1.5
Turnout 48,745 96.0
Two-candidate preferred result
Country Thomas Paterson 27,257 56.7 -4.4
Labor James McKenna 20,780 43.3 +4.4
Country hold Swing -4.4

Elections in the 1930s

Australian federal election, 1937: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Country Thomas Paterson 29,069 61.1
Labor James McKenna 18,483 38.9
Total formal votes 47,552 98.4
Informal votes 765 1.6
Turnout 48,317 96.2
Country hold Swing
Australian federal election, 1934: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Country Thomas Paterson 32,765 69.3 -30.7
Independent Reg Pollard 14,489 30.7 +30.7
Total formal votes 47,254 98.3
Informal votes 828 1.7
Turnout 48,082 94.8
Country hold Swing -30.7
Australian federal election, 1931: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Country Thomas Paterson unopposed
Country hold Swing

Elections in the 1920s

Australian federal election, 1929: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Country Thomas Paterson 25,056 58.2 +0.5
Labor Michael Buckley 18,030 41.8 +41.8
Total formal votes 43,086 98.0
Informal votes 889 2.0
Turnout 43,975 96.4
Country hold Swing +0.5
Australian federal election, 1928: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Country Thomas Paterson 24,100 57.7 +13.1
Independent Labor George Wise 17,643 42.3 +19.5
Total formal votes 41,743 97.4
Informal votes 1,101 2.6
Turnout 42,844 95.4
Country hold Swing -5.4
Australian federal election, 1925: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Country Thomas Paterson 18,423 44.6 +5.2
Labor James Bermingham 13,417 32.5 +5.1
Independent Nationalist George Wise 9,428 22.8 +22.8
Total formal votes 41,268 97.1
Informal votes 1,240 2.9
Turnout 42,508 93.9
Two-candidate preferred result
Country Thomas Paterson 26,055 63.1 +0.2
Labor James Bermingham 15,213 36.9 +36.9
Country hold Swing +0.2
Australian federal election, 1922: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Country Thomas Paterson 9,132 39.4 -5.4
Nationalist George Wise 7,682 33.2 -22.0
Labor James Bermingham 6,357 27.4 +27.4
Total formal votes 23,171 96.1
Informal votes 950 3.9
Turnout 24,121 56.1
Two-candidate preferred result
Country Thomas Paterson 14,563 62.9 +18.1
Nationalist George Wise 8,608 37.1 -18.1
Country gain from Nationalist Swing +18.1

Elections in the 1910s

Australian federal election, 1919: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nationalist George Wise 14,367 55.2 -17.5
VFU Erland Erlandson 11,675 44.8 +44.8
Total formal votes 26,042 98.7
Informal votes 344 1.3
Turnout 26,386 73.5
Nationalist hold Swing -17.5
Australian federal election, 1917: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Nationalist George Wise 21,851 72.7 +23.7
Labor Thomas Holloway 8,215 27.3 +27.3
Total formal votes 30,066 98.3
Informal votes 518 1.7
Turnout 30,584 84.6
Nationalist gain from Independent Swing +24.7
Australian federal election, 1914: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent George Wise 15,484 51.0 +6.0
Commonwealth Liberal James Bennett 14,874 49.0 -6.0
Total formal votes 30,358 98.5
Informal votes 473 1.5
Turnout 30,831 83.3
Independent gain from Liberal Swing +6.0
Australian federal election, 1913: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Commonwealth Liberal James Bennett 15,473 55.0 +12.7
Independent George Wise 12,671 45.0 -12.7
Total formal votes 28,144 98.4
Informal votes 471 1.6
Turnout 28,615 75.5
Liberal gain from Independent Swing +12.7
Australian federal election, 1910: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent George Wise 11,306 62.1 +62.1
Commonwealth Liberal James Bowden 6,897 37.9 -62.1
Total formal votes 18,203 99.0
Informal votes 181 1.0
Turnout 18,384 65.5
Independent gain from Liberal Swing +62.1

Elections in the 1900s

Australian federal election, 1906: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Protectionist George Wise 7,825 50.3 -49.7
Anti-Socialist Allan McLean 7,728 49.7 +49.7
Total formal votes 15,553 96.3
Informal votes 601 3.7
Turnout 16,154 55.2
Protectionist hold Swing -49.7
Australian federal election, 1903: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Protectionist Allan McLean unopposed
Protectionist hold Swing
Australian federal election, 1901: Gippsland
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Protectionist Allan McLean unopposed
Protectionist win (new division)

References