Members of the Australian Senate, 1975–1978

This is a list of members of the Australian Senate from 1975 to 1978. The 13 December 1975 election was a double dissolution of both Houses, with all 127 seats in the House of Representatives, and all 64 seats in the Senate were up for election. Malcolm Fraser had been commissioned as prime minister following the dismissal of the Prime Minister Gough Whitlam’s three-year old Labor government by Governor-General Sir John Kerr, on 11 November 1975. The same day, Fraser advised the calling of the election, in accordance with Kerr’s stipulated conditions. Thus the Liberal Party of Australia, led by Fraser, with coalition partner the National Country Party, led by Doug Anthony, went to the election as a minority caretaker government. The election resulted in the Coalition securing government with a 30-seat swing in the House of Representatives away from Labor.

In accordance with section 13 of the Constitution terms for Senators (except for the four representatives of the territories) was taken to commence on 1 July 1975. Half the Senators representing the States were allocated terms finishing on 30 June 1978 and the other half on 30 June 1981. The terms of Senators representating the territories finished at the dissolution of the House of Representatives for the December 1977 election.

Senator Party State Years in Office
Brian Archer[1] Liberal Tasmania 1975–1994
Dr Peter Baume[1] Liberal New South Wales 1974–1991
Hon Reg Bishop[2] ALP South Australia 1961–1981
Neville Bonner[2] Liberal Queensland 1971–1983
Bill Brown[1] ALP Victoria 1969–1970, 1971–1978
John Button[1] ALP Victoria 1974–1993
Don Cameron[1] ALP South Australia 1969–1978
Hon John Carrick[2] Liberal New South Wales 1970–1987
Hon Jim Cavanagh[2] ALP South Australia 1961–1981
Fred Chaney[1] Liberal Western Australia 1974–1990
Ruth Coleman[1] ALP Western Australia 1974–1987
Stan Collard[1] NCP Queensland 1975–1987
Dr Mal Colston[1] ALP Queensland 1975–1999
Hon Sir Magnus Cormack[1] Liberal Victoria 1951–1953, 1962–1978
Hon Bob Cotton[2] Liberal New South Wales 1965–1978
Gordon Davidson[2] Liberal South Australia 1961, 1962, 1965–1981
Donald Devitt[1] ALP Tasmania 1965–1978
Hon Tom Drake-Brockman[1] NCP Western Australia 1958, 1959–1978
Hon Peter Durack[2] Liberal Western Australia 1970–1993
George Georges[1] ALP Queensland 1967–1987
Arthur Gietzelt[1] ALP New South Wales 1970–1989
Hon Ivor Greenwood[3] Liberal Victoria 1968–1976
Dr Don Grimes[1] ALP Tasmania 1974–1987
Hon Margaret Guilfoyle[2] Liberal Victoria 1970–1987
Janine Haines[1][4] Democrat South Australia 1977–1978, 1980–1990
Steele Hall[4] Liberal Movement/Liberal South Australia 1974–1977
Brian Harradine[2] Independent Tasmania 1975–2005
Don Jessop[2] Liberal South Australia 1970–1991
Jim Keeffe[2] ALP Queensland 1964–1983
Bernie Kilgariff CLP Northern Territory 1975–1987
John Knight Liberal Australian Capital Territory 1975–1981
Milivoj Lajovic[1] Liberal New South Wales 1975–1985
Sir Condor Laucke[2] Liberal South Australia 1967–1981
Austin Lewis[2][3] Liberal Victoria 1976–1993
Kathy Martin[1] Liberal Queensland 1974–1984
Ron Maunsell[2] NCP Queensland 1967–1981
Ron McAuliffe[2] ALP Queensland 1970–1981
Hon Doug McClelland[2] ALP New South Wales 1961–1987
Hon Jim McClelland[2] ALP New South Wales 1970–1978
Gordon McIntosh[2] ALP Western Australia 1974–1987
Geoff McLaren[1] ALP South Australia 1970–1983
Jean Melzer[2] ALP Victoria 1974–1981
Tony Messner[1] Liberal South Australia 1975–1990
Alan Missen[1] Liberal Victoria 1974–1986
Tony Mulvihill[1] ALP New South Wales 1964–1983
Hon Justin O'Byrne[2] ALP Tasmania 1947–1981
Cyril Primmer[2] ALP Victoria 1971–1985
Peter Rae[2] Liberal Tasmania 1967–1986
Ted Robertson ALP Northern Territory 1975–1987
Susan Ryan ALP Australian Capital Territory 1975–1988
Douglas Scott[2] NCP New South Wales 1970, 1974–1985
Dr Glen Sheil[2] NCP Queensland 1974–1981
Kerry Sibraa[1] ALP New South Wales 1975–1978, 1978–1994
Peter Sim[2] Liberal Western Australia 1964–1981
Tom Tehan[1] NCP Victoria 1975–1978
Andrew Thomas[1] Liberal Western Australia 1975–1983
Michael Townley[2] Liberal Tasmania 1970–1987
Peter Walsh[1] ALP Western Australia 1974–1993
Shirley Walters[1] Liberal Tasmania 1975–1993
Hon James Webster[2] NCP Victoria 1964–1981
Hon John Wheeldon[2] ALP Western Australia 1964–1981
Rt Hon Reg Withers[2] Liberal Western Australia 1966, 1967–1987
Ian Wood[1] Liberal Queensland 1950–1978
Hon Ken Wriedt[2] ALP Tasmania 1964–1980
Hon Reg Wright[1] Liberal Tasmania 1950–1978
Harold Young[1] Liberal South Australia 1968–1981

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad Term finishing 30 June 1978
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad Term finishing 30 June 1981
  3. ^ a b Liberal Ivor Greenwood died on 13 October 1976; Liberal Austin Lewis was appointed to fill the ensuing vacancy on 17 December.
  4. ^ a b Liberal Movement (later Liberal) Steele Hall resigned on 16 November 1977; Democrat Janine Haines was appointed to fill the ensuing vacancy on 14 December.

References

See also

Members of the Australian Parliament
House of Representatives

1974–1975  · 1975–1977  · 1977–1980
Senate

1974–1975  · 1975–1978  · 1978–1981