Queensland state election, 1918

Queensland state election, 1918
Queensland
16 March 1918

All 72 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland
  First party Second party
 
Leader T. J. Ryan James Tolmie
Party Labor Nationalist
Leader since 6 September 1912 15 February 1918
Leader's seat Barcoo Toowoomba
Last election 45 seats 21 seats
Seats won 48 seats 22 seats
Seat change Increase3 Increase1
Percentage 53.68% 44.62%
Swing Increase1.62 Increase2.65

Premier before election

T. J. Ryan
Labor

Elected Premier

T. J. Ryan
Labor

Elections were held in the Australian state of Queensland on 16 March 1918 to elect the 72 members of the state's Legislative Assembly.

Background

The election was the second for the Labor government of T. J. Ryan, who had been premier since 1 June 1915. The Nationalist opposition (previously known as the Ministerialists) were led by Edward Macartney who replaced Digby Denham after the 1915 election when they were reduced to 21 seats. In turn, he was replaced by James Tolmie within three months.

Results

The election saw the Labor government returned to office with an increased vote and seat count for both Labor and the Nationalists from the 1915 election.

Queensland state election, 16 March 1918[1]
Legislative Assembly
<< 1915 1920 >>

Enrolled voters 424,416
Votes cast 336,647 Turnout 80.27 -7.87
Informal votes N/A Informal 1.18 -0.39
Summary of votes by party
Party Primary votes % Swing Seats Change
  Labor 180,709 53.68 +1.62 48 +3
  Nationalist 150,225 44.62 +2.65 22 +1
  Independent 3,311 0.98 +0.06 2 +1
Total 336,647     72  

Aftermath

T.J. Ryan resigned as premier a year after the state election to run successfully for the federal seat of West Sydney in 1919. Ryan was replaced as premier by Ted Theodore. Theodore called the 1920 election one year into his premiership and two years after the 1918 election. After the election, Macartney returned to the leadership of the Nationalists, replacing Tolmie. He was later replaced for a second time, this time by William Vowles. Within a few months though, Vowles created the Queensland Country Party. However, because Vowles had created the Country Party using most of the rural-based Nationalist MLAs, Vowles was able to remain as Opposition Leader.

See also

References