1977 Queensland state election

Issues

The major issue in the election was law and order. In 1977, the Government had passed a law making it illegal to march in the street without a permit, which were rarely given. The Coalition argued that this prevented traffic disruption and other inconveniences to the people of Brisbane, while the ALP claimed that it was a curtailment of civil liberties. Joh Bjelke-Petersen also no longer had the Whitlam Labor Government (which was unpopular in Queensland) to use as a campaigning tool.

Key dates

Result

The Labor Party gained twelve seats from the Coalition and Independents, making something of a recovery from its disastrous 1974 performance. Even so, the Coalition retained a commanding majority in the Legislative Assembly.

For the first time, the National Party won more votes than the Liberal party (an electoral malapportionment had allowed the Nationals to win more seats than the Liberals previously). The Liberal Party had begun to decline.

The Democratic Labor Party had ceased to exist. The Australian Democrats contested their first election in Queensland.

Results

| turnout % = 91.35% | informal % = 1.53% |votes % = 42.83% |votes % = 27.15% |votes % = 25.22% |votes % = 1.61% |votes % = 1.50% |votes % = 1.69% |}

New parties in this election were the Australian Democrats, who stood 12 candidates, and the Progress Party, who stood 27 candidates.

Seats changing hands

• Members listed in italics did not recontest their seats.
• In addition, the Independent member for Mackay, Ed Casey re-joined the Labor party before the election and retained the seat.

Post-election pendulum

References

References

1. (10 October 1977). "A Proclamation".
2. (10 October 1977). "Extraordinary".
3. (16 December 1977). "Extraordinary".
4. (20 December 1977). "Notices of Results of General Election".
5. (23 February 1978). "A Proclamation".
6. Australian Government and Politics Database. "Parliament of Queensland, Assembly election, 12 November 1977".
7. Hughes, Colin A.. (1986). "A handbook of Australian government and politics, 1975-1984". ANU Press.
8. Cribb, M.N.B.. (April 1978). "Australian Political Chronicle: July–December 1977". Australian Journal of Politics and History.