Australian federal election, 1946

Australian federal election, 1946

1943 ← 28 September 1946 → 1949

All 76 seats of the Australian House of Representatives 39 seats were needed for a majority in the House 19 (of the 36) seats of the Australian Senate   First party Second party   Leader Ben Chifley Robert Menzies Party Labor Liberal/Country coalition Leader since 13 July 1945 23 September 1943 Leader's seat Macquarie Kooyong Last election 49 seats 19 seats Seats won 43 seats 26 seats Seat change 6 7 Percentage 54.10% 45.90% Swing 4.10 4.10

Prime Minister before election Ben Chifley Labor Elected Prime Minister Ben Chifley Labor

Federal elections were held in Australia on 28 September 1946. All 74 seats in the House of Representatives, and 19 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election. The incumbent Australian Labor Party led by Prime Minister of Australia Ben Chifley defeated the newly formed opposition Liberal Party of Australia (descended from the United Australia Party) led by its founder Robert Menzies with coalition partner the Country Party led by Arthur Fadden. Frank Forde also served as Prime Minister during July 1945.

House of Reps (IRV) — 1946–49—Turnout 93.97% (CV) — Informal 2.45%

	Party	Votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
	Australian Labor Party	2,159,953	49.71	−0.22	43	−6
	Liberal Party of Australia	1,241,650	28.58	+12.53	15	+3
	Country Party	464,737	10.70	+3.73	11	+4
	Liberal & Country League (SA)	161,170	3.71	*	2	+2
	Lang Labor	69,138	1.59	+0.87	1	+1
	Liberal Country Party (VIC)	28,999	0.67	−2.87	1	0
	Independents	79,452	1.83	−10.33	1	0
	Other	139,645	3.21		0	−4
	Total				74
	Australian Labor Party	WIN	54.10	−4.10	43	−6
	Liberal/Country coalition		45.90	+4.10	26	+7

Independent: Doris Blackburn

Senate (P BV) — 1946–49—Turnout 93.97% (CV) — Informal 8.01%

	Party	Votes	%	Swing	Seats Won	Seats Held
	Australian Labor Party	2,133,272	52.06	−3.02	16	33
	Liberal/Country (Joint Ticket)	1,561,718	38.12	+12.47	3
	Liberal Party of Australia	213,304	5.21	*	0	2
	Country Party	*	*	−0.96	0	1
	Other	189,032	4.61		0	0
	Total	4,097,326			19	36

Seats changing hands

Seat	Pre-1946				Swing	Post-1946
	Party		Member	Margin		Margin	Member	Party
Bourke, Vic		Labor	Bill Bryson	3.6	4.7	1.1	Doris Blackburn	Independent
Calare, NSW		Labor	John Breen	9.9	11.7	1.8	John Howse	Liberal
Capricornia, Qld		Labor	Frank Forde	5.9	8.8	2.9	Charles Davidson	Liberal
Franklin, Tas		Labor	Charles Frost	9.9	10.0	0.1	Bill Falkinder	Liberal
Henty, Vic		Independent	Arthur Coles	5.5	9.8	4.3	Jo Gullett	Liberal
Reid, NSW		Labor	Charles Morgan	N/A	7.4	4.2	Jack Lang	Lang Labor
Swan, WA		Labor	Donald Mountjoy	3.0	3.2	0.2	Leonard Hamilton	Country
Wakefield, SA		Labor	Albert Smith	1.2	3.9	2.7	Philip McBride	Liberal
Wilmot, Tas		Liberal	Allan Guy	1.7	3.4	1.7	Gil Duthie	Labor

• Members in italics did not contest their seat at this election.

See also

• Candidates of the Australian federal election, 1946
• Members of the Australian House of Representatives, 1946–1949
• Members of the Australian Senate, 1947–1950

References

• University of WA election results in Australia since 1890
• Two-party-preferred vote since 1937