1989 Australian Capital Territory election

Last updated

1989 Australian Capital Territory election
Flag of the Australian Capital Territory.svg
←  1982 (House) 4 March 1989 (1989-03-04) 1992  →
All 17 seats of the unicameral Legislative Assembly
9 seats needed for a majority
Opinion polls
Turnout88.8%
 First partySecond partyThird party
  RosemaryFollett.jpg Trevor Kaine and John Langmore (cropped).jpg
NSGP
Leader Rosemary Follett Trevor Kaine Craig Duby
Party Labor Liberal No Self Govt
Leader since 17 December 1988 10 December 1988 1989
Seats won543
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 5Increase2.svg 4Increase2.svg 3
Popular vote32,37021,08813,647
Percentage22.82%14.87%11.47%
 Fourth partyFifth partySixth party
  SenatorXenophonWitnessK (cropped).jpg
ASGC
FEC
Leader Bernard Collaery Dennis Stevenson Tony Fleming
Party Residents Rally Abolish Self Govt Fair Elections
Leader since198819899 February 1989
Seats won410
Seat changeIncrease2.svg 4Increase2.svg 1Steady2.svg
Popular vote16,27410,6417,765
Percentage9.62%7.50%5.47%
Resulting Chief Minister

Rosemary Follett
Labor

The 1989 Australian Capital Territory election was held on 4 March 1989 to elect the 1st Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. This was the first direct election by voters in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) for their power legislative body.

Contents

The Labor Party, led by Rosemary Follett, and the Liberal Party, led by Trevor Kaine, were the main challengers. Candidates were elected to fill seats using modified d'Hondt electoral system [1] for a multi-member single (at-large) constituency.

The result was a hung parliament. However, Labor, with the largest representation in the 17-member unicameral Assembly, formed Government with the support of various non-aligned minor parties. Follett was elected the first Chief Minister at the first sitting of the first Assembly on 11 May 1989. [2]

Key dates

Overview

Background to self-government in the ACT

The Australian Capital Territory was established in 1911, initially called the Federal Capital Territory. The Territory was carved out of the state of New South Wales to make way for the site of the capital of Australia. As the Territory grew, particularly the city of Canberra from the 1960s, there were increasing calls for some form of self-government. [4] There were a number of appointed and elected advisory bodies between 1920 and 1986. The main elected representative body of the ACT was the Australian Capital Territory House of Assembly that sat from 1975 to 1986. This House served primarily as an advisory body, with most legislative powers managed by the Federal Minister for the Territories, under section 122 of the Australian Constitution. [5] In an advisory referendum held in 1978, voters in the ACT rejected a proposal for self-government, with 63% voting in favour of the proposition that the 'present arrangements for governing the Australian capital should continue for the time being'. Thirty percent of voters favoured self-government with a locally elected body with state-like powers, and 6% voted for a locally elected body with powers and functions similar to those of local government. [6] [7] In spite of the referendum outcome, in 1983, the federal Labor government of Prime Minister Bob Hawke set up a Self-Government Task Force to report on the government of the ACT. [8] Further, it wanted to force the ACT into line with the states on funding levels [7] and, in late 1988, the Australian Government passed the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act, allowing for the self-government of the ACT.

Political parties and election process

The Australian Capital Territory comprised one electorate for the election. However, electors were only able to cast ordinary votes within their own federal electoral seats of either Canberra or Fraser. The election was conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission, operating under Commonwealth legislation. [3] The election was notable for having a ballot paper almost one-metre wide that listed 117 candidates for election representing 22 political parties. A number of parties ran in opposition to self-government and there was a number of people taking full advantage of some of the more ludicrous or ridiculous aspects of the ballot paper. [9] The parties include the "Sun-Ripened Warm Tomato Party", "Party! Party! Party!" and "Surprise Party". [10]

The centre-left Labor Party, led by Rosemary Follett, and the centre-right Liberal Party, led by Trevor Kaine, were the main challengers. Three minor parties also played a prominent role in the campaign including Residents Rally, a self described "community-based urban green party", [11] led by Bernard Collaery, as well as two parties campaigning on platforms of opposing self-government. [9]

Results

1989 ACT Legislative Assembly.svg
PartyVotes%Seats
Labor 32,37022.825
Liberal 21,08814.874
Independents 16,35111.530
No Self Government Party 16,27411.473
Residents Rally 13,6479.624
Abolish Self Government Coalition 10,6417.501
Fair Elections Coalition 7,7655.470
The A.C.T Community Party5,7774.070
Canberra First4,9183.470
Family Movement 3,8852.740
Democrats 2,3501.660
National 1,9471.370
Sun Ripened Warm Tomato 1,6661.170
Party! Party! Party!9790.690
Christian Alternative8460.60–
Democratic Socialist Perspective 7130.500
Sleepers Wake1730.120
Surprise Party1660.120
Disabled & Redeployed Workers1630.110
A Better Idea800.060
Home Rule OK620.040
Total141,861100.0017
Valid votes141,86194.31
Invalid/blank votes8,5605.69
Total votes150,421100.00
Registered voters/turnout169,49388.75

Aftermath

It took almost two months after election day to determine the results of the election. [12] Four people won seats on ostensible platforms of abolishing self-government. The result was a hung parliament. First preference results of the major contenders at conclusion of the final count were: Labor Party – 22.8 per cent, Liberal – 14.9 per cent, No Self Government Party – 11.5 per cent, Residents Rally – 9.6 per cent, and Abolish Self-Government Coalition – 7.5 per cent. [13] Other candidates and parties that polled well, but failed to achieve a quota included Fair Elections Coalition (5.5%), John Haslem (4.8%), The A.C.T. Community Party (4.1%), and Bill Mackay (4.0%).

Following distribution of preferences, the membership of the first Assembly was one member from the Abolish Self-Government Coalition; five members from the Australian Labor Party; four members from the Liberal Party; three members from the No Self Government Party and four members from the Residents Rally. [14] Labor, with the largest representation in the 17-member unicameral Assembly, formed a minority Government. Follett was elected the first Chief Minister at the first sitting of the first Assembly on 11 May 1989, [2] sitting in rented premises at 1 Constitution Avenue, Canberra City. The final sitting of the first Assembly was on 17 December 1991.

Officeholders

The office holders of the first Assembly [2] were:

Candidates

At the inaugural election, candidates were elected to fill seats using a modified D'Hondt method for a multi-member single constituency covering the entire Territory. Seventeen vacancies were available to fill the unicameral ACT Legislative Assembly. Tickets that elected at least one MLA are highlighted in the relevant colour. Successful candidates are indicated by an asterisk (*). [15]

Abolished ACT House of Assembly candidates

With the ACT House of Assembly abolished in 1986, the following elected representatives from the previous House nominated as candidates for election to the inaugural ACT Legislative Assembly:

Labor

Liberal

Independents

Nationals

Family Team

All candidates and parties seeking election

Labor candidates Liberal candidates NSG candidates Residents Rally candidates ASGC candidates
   
  1. Rosemary Follett*
  2. Paul Whalan*
  3. Wayne Berry*
  4. Ellnor Grassby*
  5. Bill Wood*
  6. Di Ford
  7. Kevin Gill
  8. Anna Robieson
  9. Martin Attridge
  10. Peta Beelen
  11. Barry Reid
  1. Gary Humphries*
  2. Trevor Kaine*
  3. Robyn Nolan*
  4. Bill Stefaniak*
  5. Greg Cornwell
  6. Lyle Dunne
  7. Peter Kobold
  8. Judith Dowson
  9. Peter Jansen
  10. Bob Winnel
  1. Craig Duby*
  2. Carmel Maher*
  3. David Prowse*
  4. John Taylor
  5. Norman Henry
  6. Peter Alabaster
  7. John Cunningham
  8. Chris Elworthy
  9. Elma Lindh
  10. Nev Aurousseau
  11. John Cantlon
  12. Ken Durie
  13. Bob Smythe
  14. Lindsay Sales
  15. Philippa Meredith
  16. Jack Wright
  17. Yvonne Hammond
  1. Bernard Collaery*
  2. Norm Jensen*
  3. Michael Moore*
  4. Hector Kinloch*
  5. Joan Kellett
  6. Chris Donohue
  7. Marion Le
  8. Kelvin Giles
  9. Catherine Rossiter
  1. Dennis Stevenson*
  2. Flo Grant
  3. Gladys Dickson
  4. Chris Tazreiter
  5. Nerolie Bush
  6. Geoff Doepel
  7. Trish Orton
  8. Gail Aiken
  9. Mike Trevethan
  10. Reg Hayward
  11. Colin Beaton
  12. John Hesketh
Democrats candidates Nationals candidates Family Team candidates FEC candidates Canberra First candidates
 
  1. Arminel Ryan
  2. Bill Mason
  3. Heather Jeffcoat
  1. David Adams
  2. Michael Mullins
  3. Bruce MacKinnon
  1. Bev Cains
  2. Dawn Casley-Smith
  3. Ron Gane
  4. Bill Fearon
  5. Dennis Meagher
  6. Drewe Just
  1. Tony Fleming
  2. Alan Runciman
  3. Sarah Kirschbaum
  4. Gordon McAllister
  5. Gus Petersilka
  6. Julie McCarron-Benson
  1. Allan Nelson
  2. Beryl Byrnes
  3. John McMahon
  4. Jeff Brown
  5. Michael Apps
  6. Barry Brogan
  7. Jennie Booth
  8. Arthur Hetherington
  9. Elisabeth Apps
  10. Mike McColl
  11. Matt Campbell
  12. Garry Behan
Haslem candidatesParty! Party! Party! candidates SWP candidate DRWP candidates Home Rule OK candidate
 
  1. John Haslem
  2. Caryl Haslem
  1. Amanda Call
  2. Shane McMillan
  1. Kristian Whittaker
  1. Peter Burrows
  2. Derek Robinson
  1. Tony Boye
A Better Idea candidate Christian Alt. candidates Sleepers Wake candidate Community candidates Tomato candidates
 
  1. Mick Scurfield
  1. Nathan Stirling
  2. Bernadette Ibell
  1. John Bellamy
  1. Ken Fry
  2. Domenic Mico
  3. Lorne Doyle
  1. Emile Brunoro
  2. Rick Kenny
Spagnolo candidate Surprise Party candidateUngrouped candidates
 
  1. Tony Spagnolo
  1. C J Burns

Frank Crnkovic (Ind)
Bill Mackey (Ind)
Bob Reid (Ind)
Kevin Robert Wise (Ind)
Gary James Pead (Ind)
Bill Pye (Ind)
John Rocke (Ind)
Harold Hird (Ind)
Lyall L Gillespie (Ind)

Opinion polling

Voting intention

DateFirmInterview
mode		Sample
size		Primary vote
ALP LIB NSG RR ASG HAS COM CFP DEM SRWT OTH
4 March 1989 1989 election —150,42122.8%14.9%11.5%9.6%7.5%4.8%4.1%3.5%1.7%1.2%18.5%
26 February−2 March 1989 Canberra Times /Datacol [16] [a] Telephone57631.0%15.8%8.0%7.9%6.7%4.5%3.5%2.6%2.2%—3.1% [b]
17−21 February 1989 Canberra Times /Datacol [17] Telephone48421.1%10.8%4.1%3.2%2.1%1.8%2.3%3.0%1.1%—6.3% [c]
19 February 1989Billy Bong Research/SRWTP [18] [19] [20] [a] Telephone26421.2%15.3%17.2%7.7%———3.7%—3.7%9.9% [d]
19−22 December 1988 Canberra Times /Datacol [21] Telephone37935.9%20.0%—1.1%————3.8%—8.9% [e]

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Vote totals are shown after the "undecided" vote was distributed.
  2. ↑ The Fair Elections Coalition had 2.8%, the National Party had 2.0%, the Family Team had 1.5%, Bill Mackey "leading the independent list" had 2.1%, and fellow independent Harold Hird had 1.0%. [16]
  3. ↑ All other parties had 6.3%, "undecided" had 35.0% and 9.1% said they would vote informally. [17]
  4. ↑ The Fair Elections Coalition had 1.8%, the National Party had 1.1%, "independents (grouped)" had 6.2%, the Rainbow Alliance had 0.8% and 21.4% said they would vote informally. [18]
  5. ↑ Other parties had 2.7%, independents had 6.2% and "undecided" had 30.3%. [21]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Humphries</span> Australian politician (born 1958)

Gary John Joseph Humphries is a Deputy President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. He was a member of the Australian Senate representing the Australian Capital Territory for the Liberal Party of Australia from 2003 to 2013. He was the Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory from 2000 to 2001; and was elected to the first parliament of the Australian Capital Territory, in 1989, later representing the Molonglo electorate until 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly</span> Unicameral legislature of the Australian Capital Territory

The Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory is the unicameral legislature of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). It sits in the Legislative Assembly Building on Civic Square, close to the centre of the city of Canberra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosemary Follett</span> Australian politician

Rosemary Follett is an Australian former politician who was the first Chief Minister of Australian Capital Territory, serving in 1989 and again between 1991 and 1995. She was the first woman to become head of government in an Australian state or territory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sun Ripened Warm Tomato Party</span> Defunct joke political party

The Sun Ripened Warm Tomato Party was an Australian joke political party that contested the first election for the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly in 1989.

The Residents Rally (RR), officially known as the Residents Rally for Canberra Inc and also known simply as the Rally, was an Australian political party that was active during the early years of self-government in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). It was led by human rights lawyer Bernard Collaery, who described it as a "community-based urban green party".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trevor Kaine</span> Australian politician (1928–2008)

Trevor Thomas Kaine, was an Australian politician who served as Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory from 1989 to 1991. Kaine was elected into a multi-member single electorate in the unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly, from 1989 to 2001, initially as a member of the Liberal Party and later as an independent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1992 Australian Capital Territory election</span>

Elections to the 1992 Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly was held on Saturday, 15 February, alongside a referendum on an electoral system for future elections. The incumbent Labor Party, led by Rosemary Follett, was challenged by the Liberal Party, led by Trevor Kaine. Candidates were elected to fill seats using the modified d'Hondt electoral system for a multi-member single constituency. The result was another hung parliament. However, Labor, with the largest representation in the 17-member unicameral Assembly, formed Government with the support of Michael Moore and Helen Szuty. Follett was elected Chief Minister at the first sitting of the second Assembly on 27 March 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1995 Australian Capital Territory election</span>

The 1995 Australian Capital Territory election was held on 18 February 1995 to elect all 17 members of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. A referendum on entrenching the ACT's electoral system was also held alongside the election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2001 Australian Capital Territory election</span> Australian election

Elections to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly were held on Saturday, 20 October 2001. The incumbent Liberal Party, led by Gary Humphries, was challenged by the Labor Party, led by Jon Stanhope. Candidates were elected to fill three multi-member electorates using a single transferable vote method, known as the Hare-Clark system. The result was another hung parliament. However Labor, with the largest representation in the 17-member unicameral Assembly, formed Government with the support of the ACT Greens and Democrats. Stanhope was elected Chief Minister at the first sitting of the fifth Assembly on 12 November 2001. The election was conducted by the ACT Electoral Commission and was the first time in Australia's history that an electronic voting and counting system was used for some, but not all, polling places.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004 Australian Capital Territory election</span>

Elections to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly were held on Saturday, 16 October 2004. The incumbent Labor Party, led by Jon Stanhope, was challenged by the Liberal Party, led by Brendan Smyth. Candidates were elected to fill three multi-member electorates using a single transferable vote method, known as the Hare-Clark system. The result was a clear majority of nine seats in the 17-member unicameral Assembly for Labor. It marked the first and so far only time in the history of ACT self-government that one party was able to win a majority in its own right. Stanhope was elected Chief Minister at the first sitting of the sixth Assembly on 4 November 2004. The election was conducted by the ACT Electoral Commission and was the second time in Australia's history that an electronic voting and counting system was used for some, but not all, polling places, expanding on the initial trial of the system at the 2001 ACT election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Molonglo electorate</span> Electorate of the Australian Capital Territory

The Molonglo electorate was one of the three electorates for the unicameral 17-member Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly between 1995 and 2016. It had seven seats, and was the largest of the three electorates in terms of population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Australian Capital Territory election</span>

Elections to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly were held on Saturday, 18 October 2008. The incumbent Labor Party, led by Jon Stanhope, was challenged by the Liberal Party, led by Zed Seselja. Candidates were elected to fill three multi-member electorates using a single transferable vote method, known as the Hare-Clark system. The result was another hung parliament with Labor winning seven seats, the Liberals six seats and the Greens finishing with four seats, giving the Greens the balance of power in the 17-member unicameral Assembly. On 31 October 2008, after almost two weeks of deliberations, the Greens chose to support a Labor minority government. Consequently, Labor was re-elected to a third consecutive term of government in the ACT. Stanhope was elected Chief Minister at the first sitting of the seventh Assembly on 5 November 2008. The election was conducted by the ACT Electoral Commission.

The Australian Capital Territory House of Assembly was the main elected representative body of the Australian Capital Territory between 1975 and 1986, during which time preparation began for the granting of self-government to the Territory. The Assembly had a largely advisory role, with most of the power over the Territory being in the hands of the relevant federal minister.

Craig John Duby, former Australian politician, was a member of the unicameral Legislative Assembly of the Australian Capital Territory between 1989 and 1992, elected to the multi-member single constituency Assembly as a representative of the No Self-Government Party. During his term in office, Duby was a member of the Independents Group and the Hare-Clark Independence Party. Duby was the Minister for Finance and Urban Services and briefly was the Minister for Housing and Community Services in the Kaine ministry. For part of one day, he served as the Leader of the Opposition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shane Rattenbury</span> Australian politician

Shane Stephen Rattenbury is an Australian politician who currently serves as the Attorney-General of the Australian Capital Territory and a member of the multi-member district unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Molonglo from 2008 to 2016 and the electorate of Kurrajong since 2016 for the ACT Greens. He was previously the Speaker of the ACT Legislative Assembly, and was the first Speaker in any parliament in the world representing a Green political party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meredith Hunter (politician)</span> Australian politician

Meredith Hunter is an Australian former politician who was a member of the multi-member unicameral Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Ginninderra for the ACT Greens from 2008 to 2012. She was also the Parliamentary Convenor of the ACT Greens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deputy Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory</span>

The Deputy Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory is the second-most senior officer in the government of the Australian Capital Territory. The position has been a ministerial portfolio since its establishment in 1989. Unlike in other states and territories, the deputy chief minister of the ACT is not nominally appointed by an administrator or vice-regal, but by the chief minister.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Australian Capital Territory election</span>

Elections to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly occurred on Saturday, 20 October 2012. The 11-year incumbent Labor Party, led by Chief Minister Katy Gallagher, won a fourth term over the main opposition Liberal Party, led by opposition leader Zed Seselja.

The ACT Labor Party, officially known as the Australian Labor Party (ACT Branch) and commonly referred to simply as ACT Labor, is the Australian Capital Territory branch of the Australian Labor Party (ALP). The branch is the current ruling party in the ACT and is led by Andrew Barr, who has concurrently served as chief minister since 2014. It is one of two major parties in the unicameral ACT Legislative Assembly, and is currently in a coalition with the ACT Greens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alliance (Australian Capital Territory)</span> Political alliance in Australia

The Alliance, sometimes known as the Liberal–Residents Rally Alliance, was a political alliance between the Liberal Party, Residents Rally and Independents Group in the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly.

References

  1. ↑ Australian Capital Territory Electoral Commission, Modified d'Hondt Electoral System
  2. 1 2 3 "Legislative Assembly for the ACT – Week 1" (PDF). ACT Hansard . ACT Legislative Assembly. 11 May 1989. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  3. 1 2 "Election timetable". ACT Legislative Assembly election – 1989. ACT Electoral Commission. 1989. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  4. ↑ "A brief history of self-government in the ACT". Education – fact sheets. ACT Legislative Assembly. 2010. Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  5. ↑ "Self-Government – Setting the Scene". Education – fact sheets. ACT Legislative Assembly. 2010. Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  6. ↑ "Australian Capital Territory – Parliaments". Civics and Citizenship Education. Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  7. 1 2 "Canberra 1983–1993 – 8th decade". The history of Canberra. Hull, Crispin. 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  8. ↑ "Australian Capital Territory". Documenting a Democracy. National Archives of Australia. Archived from the original on 16 July 2005. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  9. 1 2 "20 Years of Self Government". Stateline . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 8 May 2009. Archived from the original on 11 November 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2010.
  10. ↑ "Election compendium" (PDF). ACT Electoral Commission. 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 February 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  11. ↑ Collaery, Bernard (1991). "Community policing – an ACT perspective". Australian Institute of Criminology . Retrieved 3 September 2010.
  12. ↑ Cumming, Fia (4 May 1989). "Elected! The ACT gets its first Assembly, at last". The Canberra Times. p. 1. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  13. ↑ "First Preference Results". 1989 Election. ACT Electoral Commission. 1989. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  14. ↑ "List of elected candidates". 1989 Election. ACT Electoral Commission. 1989. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  15. ↑ "List of candidates". 1989 Election. ACT Electoral Commission. 1989. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  16. 1 2 Fraser, Andrew (3 March 1989). "Minority still top tip". The Canberra Times. p. 1. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  17. 1 2 Fraser, Andrew (23 February 1989). "20pc: How ALP can win". The Canberra Times. p. 1. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  18. 1 2 Whitfield, Kathryn (19 February 1989). "Poll: major parties unwanted". The Canberra Times. p. 1. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  19. ↑ "How the poll was done". The Canberra Times. 19 February 1989. p. 1. Retrieved 28 October 2024.
  20. ↑ Middleton, Karen (20 February 1989). "Kaine and Follett reject poll finding". The Canberra Times. p. 1. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  21. 1 2 Fraser, Andrew (26 December 1988). "ALP in lead for ACT poll". The Canberra Times. p. 1. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.