Australian federal election, 1940
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Australian federal election, 1940
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Federal elections were held in Australia on 21 September 1940. All 74 seats in the House of Representatives, and 19 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election. The incumbent United Australia Party led by Prime Minister of Australia Robert Menzies with coalition partner the Country Party led by Archie Cameron defeated the opposition Australian Labor Party led by John Curtin, after the Coalition formed a minority government with the support of two independent MPs. In October 1941 the two independents switched their support to Labor, bringing Curtin to power.
House of Reps (IRV) — 1940–43—Turnout 94.82% (CV) — Informal 2.56%
| |
Party |
Votes |
% |
Swing |
Seats |
Change |
| |
Australian Labor Party |
1,556,941 |
40.16 |
−3.02 |
32 |
+3 |
(1 elected
unopposed) |
| |
United Australia Party |
1,171,788 |
30.22 |
−3.48 |
23 |
-5 |
| |
Country Party |
531,397 |
13.71 |
−1.84 |
13 |
-3 |
| |
Non-Communist Labor Party |
202,721 |
5.23 |
* |
4 |
+4 |
| |
State Labor Party |
101,191 |
2.61 |
* |
0 |
0 |
| |
Independents |
312,948 |
8.07 |
+3.89 |
2 |
+1 |
| |
Total |
3,876,986 |
|
|
74 |
|
| |
UAP/Country coalition |
|
49.70 |
* |
36 |
−8 |
| |
Australian Labor Party |
|
50.30 |
* |
32 |
+3 |
Independents: Arthur Coles (Henty, Vic), Alexander Wilson (Wimmera, Vic)
Note that the Victorian Country Party at this election was split into two factions, the United Country Party, which was loyal to the state party, and the Liberal Country Party, loyal to the federal party and formed following John McEwen's expulsion from the UCP. The UCP elected one member and the LCP two.
Senate (P BV) — 1940–43—Turnout 94.75% (CV) — Informal 9.56%
| |
Party |
Votes |
% |
Swing |
Seats Won |
Seats Held |
| |
UAP/Country (Joint Ticket) |
1,587,541 |
43.70 |
+15.02 |
10 |
|
| |
Australian Labor Party |
1,363,072 |
37.52 |
−10.96 |
3 |
17 |
| |
Non-Communist Labor Party |
274,861 |
7.57 |
* |
0 |
0 |
| |
United Australia Party |
243,597 |
6.71 |
−9.42 |
6 |
15 |
| |
Country Party |
* |
* |
−1.90 |
0 |
4 |
| |
Independents |
71,760 |
1.98 |
−1.41 |
0 |
0 |
| |
Other |
91,986 |
2.53 |
|
0 |
0 |
| |
Total |
4,097,326 |
|
|
19 |
36 |
[edit] Seats changing hands
| Seat |
Pre-1940 |
Swing |
Post-1940 |
| Party |
Member |
Margin |
Margin |
Member |
Party |
| Barton, NSW |
|
United Australia |
Albert Lane |
1.8 |
13.9 |
12.1 |
H.V. Evatt |
Labor |
|
| Calare, NSW |
|
Country |
Harold Thorby |
2.2 |
5.6 |
3.4 |
John Breen |
Labor |
|
| Cook, NSW |
|
Labor |
Thomas Sheehan |
N/A |
33.9 |
13.6 |
Thomas Sheehan |
Labor (N-C) |
|
| Dalley, NSW |
|
Labor |
Sol Rosevear |
N/A |
14.9 |
7.2 |
Sol Rosevear |
Labor (N-C) |
|
| Denison, Tas |
|
Labor |
Gerald Mahoney |
3.9 |
5.0 |
1.1 |
Arthur Beck |
United Australia |
|
| Henty, Vic |
|
United Australia |
Henry Gullett |
N/A |
3.2 |
13.5 |
Arthur Coles |
Independent |
|
| Lang, NSW |
|
Labor |
Daniel Mulcahy |
N/A |
13.4 |
16.0 |
Daniel Mulcahy |
Labor (N-C) |
|
| Macquarie, NSW |
|
United Australia |
John Lawson |
2.1 |
10.2 |
8.1 |
Ben Chifley |
Labor |
|
| Maranoa, Qld |
|
Country |
James Hunter |
4.3 |
5.9 |
1.6 |
Frank Baker |
Labor |
|
| Riverina, NSW |
|
Country |
Horace Nock |
7.2 |
8.8 |
1.6 |
Joseph Langtry |
Labor |
|
| Wakefield, SA |
|
Labor |
Sydney McHugh |
6.7 |
10.0 |
3.4 |
Jack Duncan-Hughes |
United Australia |
|
| Wannon, Vic |
|
United Australia |
Thomas Scholfield |
1.3 |
5.0 |
3.7 |
Donald McLeod |
Labor |
|
| Warringah, NSW |
|
Independent |
Percy Spender |
1.9 |
23.6 |
25.5 |
Percy Spender |
United Australia |
|
| Watson, NSW |
|
United Australia |
John Jennings |
3.8 |
5.8 |
2.0 |
Max Falstein |
Labor |
|
| West Sydney, NSW |
|
Labor |
Jack Beasley |
100.0 |
64.3 |
14.3 |
Jack Beasley |
Labor (N-C) |
|
| Wilmot, Tas |
|
Labor |
Lancelot Spurr |
0.2 |
5.2 |
5.0 |
Allan Guy |
United Australia |
|
- Members in italics did not contest their seat at this election.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
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