1918 Queensland state election

Queensland state election, 1918

16 March 1918 (1918-03-16)
All 72 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland
First party Second party   Leader T. J. Ryan James Tolmie Party Labor Nationalist Leader since 6 September 1912 (1912-09-06) 15 February 1918 (1918-02-15) Leader's seat Barcoo Toowoomba Last election 45 seats 21 seats Seats won 48 seats 22 seats Seat change 3 1 Percentage 53.68% 44.62% Swing 1.62 2.65
Premier before election T. J. Ryan Labor Elected Premier T. J. Ryan Labor

Elections were held in the Australian state of Queensland on 16 March 1918 to elect the 72 members of the state's Legislative Assembly.

Background

The election was the second for the Labor government of T. J. Ryan, who had been premier since 1 June 1915. The Nationalist opposition (previously known as the Ministerialists) were led by Edward Macartney who replaced Digby Denham after the 1915 election when they were reduced to 21 seats. In turn, he was replaced by James Tolmie within three months.

Results

The election saw the Labor government returned to office with an increased vote and seat count for both Labor and the Nationalists from the 1915 election.

Queensland state election, 16 March 1918 Legislative Assembly << 1915–1920 >>
Enrolled voters		424,416
Votes cast		336,647		Turnout	80.27	-7.87
Informal votes		N/A		Informal	1.18	-0.39
Summary of votes by party
Party		Primary votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
	Labor	180,709	53.68	+1.62	48	+3
	Nationalist	150,225	44.62	+2.65	22	+1
	Independent	3,311	0.98	+0.06	2	+1
Total		336,647			72

Aftermath

T.J. Ryan resigned as premier a year after the state election to run successfully for the federal seat of West Sydney in 1919. Ryan was replaced as premier by Ted Theodore. Theodore called the 1920 election one year into his premiership and two years after the 1918 election. After the election, Macartney returned to the leadership of the Nationalists, replacing Tolmie. He was later replaced for a second time, this time by William Vowles. Within a few months though, Vowles created the Queensland Country Party. However, because Vowles had created the Country Party using most of the rural-based Nationalist MLAs, Vowles was able to remain as Opposition Leader.

See also

• Candidates of the Queensland state election, 1918
• Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, 1915–1918
• Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, 1918–1920
• Ryan Ministry