1976 Tasmanian state election

Tasmanian state election, 1976

11 December 1976
All 35 seats to the House of Assembly
First party Second party   Leader Bill Neilson Max Bingham Party Labor Liberal Leader since 31 March 1975 4 May 1972 Leader's seat Franklin Denison Last election 21 seats 14 seats Seats won 18 seats 17 seats Seat change 3 3 Percentage 52.48% 44.49% Swing 2.45 6.12
Premier before election Bill Neilson Labor Elected Premier Bill Neilson Labor

Elections for the Tasmanian House of Assembly were held on 11 December 1976. The incumbent Labor Party, led by Bill Neilson, won a second term against the opposition Liberal Party, led by Max Bingham.

Background

Labor had won the 1972 election, by a landslide margin of 7 seats, with Labor leader Eric Reece elected as Premier of Tasmania for the second time. Reece retired from Parliament on 31 March 1975, after the ALP introduced a mandatory retirement age of 65. Liberal Party leader Angus Bethune retired three months later, and was replaced by Max Bingham.

Results

See also: Results of the Tasmanian state election, 1976

Labor won the election, although their majority was reduced to one seat.

Tasmanian state election, 11 December 1976 House of Assembly << 1972–1979 >>
Enrolled voters		258,550
Votes cast		244,424		Turnout	94.54	–0.37
Informal votes		9,294		Informal	3.80	+0.14
Summary of votes by party
Party		Primary votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
	Labor	123,386	52.48	–2.45	18	– 3
	Liberal	104,613	44.49	+6.12	17	+ 3
	United Tasmania Group	5,183	2.20	–1.70	0	± 0
	Workers Party	524	0.22	+0.22	0	± 0
	Independent	1,424	0.61	–2.19	0	± 0
Total		235,130			35

Distribution of Seats

Electorate	Seats won
Bass
Braddon
Denison
Franklin
Wilmot

	Labor
	Liberal

See also

• Members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly, 1976–1979
• Candidates of the Tasmanian state election, 1976

References

• "House of Assembly Election Results 11 December 1976". Tasmanian Parliamentary Library.