1979 Australian Capital Territory election

The 1979 Australian Capital Territory election was held on 2 June 1979 to elect all 18 members of the House of Assembly, the main elected representative body of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). This was the first election for the House after it had been renamed from Legislative Assembly.^[1]

1979 Australian Capital Territory
general election

← 1974 2 June 1979 1982 →
Turnout	90.0% ( 2.0)
First party Second party   Leader Peter Vallee Jim Leedman Party Labor Liberal Leader since January 1977 Leader's seat Fraser Canberra Seats won 8 4 Seat change 4 3 Percentage 37.4% 18.5% Swing 15.2 12.3   Third party Fourth party   DEM FAM Leader Gordon Walsh Bev Cains Party Democrats Family Team Leader's seat Canberra Canberra (won seat) Last election Did not contest Did not contest Seats before 1 0 Seats won 2 1 Seat change 2 3 Percentage 6.5% Swing 6.5

The election saw a swing of 15% towards the Labor Party, while the conservative Family Team won its first seat. The Australian Democrats also contested for the first time, winning two seats.^[2][3]

Background

As preparations were still being made for the granting of self-government to the ACT, the House served a largely advisory role, with most powers over the ACT still lying in the hands of the relevant federal minister through the life of the Assembly.^[4]

Nine members were elected by single transferable vote proportional representation from each of the ACT's two federal House of Representatives divisions, making 18 in total. Independent members who vacated mid-term were replaced by recounting their original votes to their next preferences to choose a runner-up. Members endorsed by a political party were replaced by a nominee of that party.

Results

Vote totals

House of Assembly (STV/PR)

Party			Votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
	Labor			37.4	+15.2	8	4
	Liberal			18.5	–12.3	4	3
	Democrats			6.5	+6.5	2	2
	Family Team					1	1
	Unemployed Workers Union					0
	Independents					3	1
Formal votes				90.0	–2.0
Informal votes				10.0	+7.0
Total				100.0
Registered voters / turnout				90.0	–2.0

Distribution of seats

Electorate Seats held Canberra                   Fraser

Labor   Liberal   Democrats   Family Team   Independent

References

1. "HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY VOTE 15pc ALP swinh first count". Trove. The Canberra Times.
2. "Australian Capital Territory House of Assembly Elections – Division of Fraser". Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. Special. No. S113. Australia. 20 June 1979. p. 1 – via National Library of Australia.
3. "Australian Democrats: Our History".
4. "The road to self-government". Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory. 25 April 2020.