1918 South Australian state election

South Australian state election, 1918

6 April 1918 (1918-04-06)
All 46 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly 24 seats were needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader Archibald Peake Andrew Kirkpatrick Party Liberal Union Labor Farmers and Settlers Association (South Australia) Leader since 5 June 1909 14 July 1917 Leader's seat Alexandra Upper house Last election - 26 seats Seats won 28 seats 17 seats 1 Seat change - 9 1 Percentage 45.85% 44.69% 4.26% Swing - 1.20 4.26
Premier before election Archibald Peake Liberal Union Elected Premier Archibald Peake Liberal Union

State elections were held in South Australia on 6 April 1918. All 46 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly were up for election. The incumbent Liberal Union government led by Premier of South Australia Archibald Peake defeated the opposition Australian Labor Party led by Leader of the Opposition Andrew Kirkpatrick. Each district elected multiple members, with voters casting multiple votes.

The Crawford Vaughan Labor government fell in July 1917 due to the Australian Labor Party split of 1916 on conscription, and was replaced by a Peake Liberal minority government. This was replaced by the Peake Liberal-National Labor coalition government in August 1917. Peake initially formed a ministry of liberals, but after complaints from National Labor who had supported him in the confidence motion, he included three National Labor members. Crawford Vaughan, National Labor leader, did not take a place in the ministry. Prior to the 1918 election, three more parties emerged. The Farmers and Settlers Association (F&S), Single Tax (ST) and the Farmers and Producers Country Party (FPCP). The Liberal and National Labor parties went to the election in coalition.

The United Labor Party was renamed to the South Australian Branch of the Australian Labor Party on 14 September 1917.

House of Assembly (FPTP) — Turnout 51.9% (Non-CV) — Informal 1.4%

	Party	Votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
	Liberal Union/Nationalist coalition	148,856	45.85	*	28	*
	Australian Labor Party	145,093	44.69	-1.20	17	-9
	Farmers and Settlers	13,844	4.26	*	1	*
	Independent	12,454	3.84	+1.32	0	0
	Other	4,400	1.36	*
	Total	324,647			46
	Liberal Union/Nationalist coalition	WIN			28	*
	Australian Labor Party				17	-9

See also

• Candidates of the South Australian state election, 1918
• Members of the South Australian House of Assembly, 1918-1921
• Members of the South Australian Legislative Council, 1918-1921

References

• History of South Australian elections 1857-2006, volume 1: ECSA
• State and federal election results in Australia since 1890