A by-election was held for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Lowe on 13 March 1982. This was triggered by the resignation of former Liberal Party Prime Minister and MP Sir William McMahon.
The by-election was won by Labor Party candidate Michael Maher.
The election occurred during the Franklin Dam controversy in Tasmania, which had broad national support; 12% of voters wrote 'No Dams' on their ballot papers. [1]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labor | Michael Maher | 32,717 | 53.4 | +7.0 | |
Liberal | Philip Taylor | 23,637 | 38.6 | -10.1 | |
Democrats | Stephen Kirkham | 2,495 | 4.1 | +1.1 | |
Independent | Maddalena Gustin | 729 | 1.2 | +1.2 | |
Independent | Katherine Wentworth | 462 | 0.8 | +0.8 | |
Independent | Charles Bellchambers | 460 | 0.8 | +0.8 | |
Republican | Peter Consandine | 405 | 0.7 | +0.7 | |
Independent | Maggie Lee | 144 | 0.2 | +0.2 | |
Independent | Robert Cameron | 116 | 0.2 | +0.2 | |
Independent | John Penninger | 56 | 0.1 | +0.1 | |
Independent | Frederick Martin | 49 | 0.1 | +0.1 | |
Independent | Robert Webeck | 27 | 0.0 | +0.0 | |
Total formal votes | 61,297 | 96.7 | -0.4 | ||
Informal votes | 2,091 | 3.3 | +0.4 | ||
Turnout | 63,388 | 89.1 | -3.6 | ||
Two-party-preferred result | |||||
Labor | Michael Maher | 58.3 | +9.4 | ||
Liberal | Philip Taylor | 41.7 | -9.4 | ||
Labor gain from Liberal | Swing | +9.4 |
Robin Trevor Gray is a former Australian politician who was Premier of Tasmania from 1982 to 1989. A Liberal, he was elected Liberal state leader in 1981 and in 1982 defeated the Labor government of Harry Holgate on a policy of "state development," particularly the building of the Franklin Dam, a hydroelectric dam on the Franklin River. He was only the second non-Labor premier to hold the post in 48 years, and the first in 51 years to govern in majority.
The Franklin Dam or Gordon-below-Franklin Dam project was a proposed dam on the Gordon River in Tasmania, Australia, that was never constructed. The movement that eventually led to the project's cancellation became one of the most significant environmental campaigns in Australian history.
Commonwealth v Tasmania was a significant Australian court case, decided in the High Court of Australia on 1 July 1983. The case was a landmark decision in Australian constitutional law, and was a significant moment in the history of conservation in Australia. The case centred on the proposed construction of a hydro-electric dam on the Gordon River in Tasmania, which was supported by the Tasmanian government, but opposed by the Australian federal government and environmental groups.
The Division of Braddon is an Australian electoral division in the state of Tasmania. The current MP is Gavin Pearce of the Liberal Party, who was elected at the 2019 federal election.
The following lists events that happened during 1982 in Australia.
Harold Norman Holgate AO was a Labor Party politician and Premier of Tasmania from 11 November 1981 to 26 May 1982.
Douglas Ackley Lowe AM was the 35th Premier of Tasmania, from 1 December 1977 to 11 November 1981. His time as Premier coincided with controversy over a proposal to build a dam on Tasmania's Gordon River, which would have flooded parts of the Franklin River. The ensuing crisis saw Lowe overthrown as Premier and resign from the Labor Party, acting as an independent for the remainder of his political career.
Sir Walter Angus Bethune was an Australian politician and member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly. He was Premier of Tasmania from 26 May 1969 to 3 May 1972.
Norman Karl Sanders is an Australian former politician, representing the Australian Democrats in the Tasmanian House of Assembly from 1980 to 1982 and the Australian Senate from 1985 to 1990.
The 1983 Australian federal election was held in Australia on 5 March 1983. All 125 seats in the House of Representatives and all 64 seats in the Senate were up for election, following a double dissolution. The incumbent Coalition government which had been in power since 1975, led by Malcolm Fraser and Doug Anthony, was defeated in a landslide by the opposition Labor Party led by Bob Hawke.
The 1986 Tasmanian state election was held on 8 February 1986 in the Australian state of Tasmania to elect 35 members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The election used the Hare-Clark proportional representation system — seven members were elected from each of five electorates. The quota required for election was 12.5% in each division.
The 1982 Tasmanian state election was held on 15 May 1982 in the Australian state of Tasmania to elect 35 members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The election used the Hare-Clark proportional representation system — seven members were elected from each of five electorates. The quota required for election was 12.5% in each division.
The 1979 Tasmanian state election was held on 28 July 1979 in the Australian state of Tasmania to elect 35 members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The election used the Hare-Clark proportional representation system — seven members were elected from each of five electorates. The quota required for election was 12.5% in each division.
The Tasmanian power referendum was a one-question referendum held on 12 December 1981, and intended to determine the location of a proposed hydroelectricity dam to be built on the Gordon River in Tasmania, Australia.
Geoffrey Alan "Geoff" Pearsall is a former Australian politician. A member of the Liberal Party, he served as a member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly from 1969 until 1988 and as Leader of the Opposition (1979–1981). Robin Gray succeeded him in the latter role.
A by-election was held for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Flinders on 4 December 1982. It was triggered by the resignation of the sitting member and former Liberal Party deputy leader, Sir Phillip Lynch. Fifteen people nominated for Liberal preselection, including Jim Short, Roger Johnston and Richard Alston. The Labor candidate, Rogan Ward, was a previous mayor of the former City of Frankston.
Mary Lindsay Caroline Willey was an Australian politician.
Tasmania's Wilderness Battles: A History is a 2008 book by environmentalist Greg Buckman, who has "spent [his life] fighting Tasmanian environmental battles." The book looks at the wilderness areas of Tasmania which have been the focus of extensive conflict over environmental issues. Buckman presents a record of some of the significant events in that conflict, primarily from the viewpoint of an environmentalist.
The Liberal Party of Australia , commonly known as the Tasmanian Liberals, is the state division of the Liberal Party of Australia in Tasmania. The party currently governs in Tasmania. The party is part of the federal Liberal Party of Australia which governs nationally in Coalition with the National Party of Australia.
The Australian Labor Party , commonly known as Tasmanian Labor, is the Tasmanian branch of the Australian Labor Party. It has been one of the most successful state Labor parties in Australia in terms of electoral success.