1986 Western Australian state election

Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 8 February 1986 to elect all 57 members to the Legislative Assembly and 17 members to the 34-seat Legislative Council. The Labor government, led by Premier Brian Burke, won a second term in office against the Liberal Party, led by Opposition Leader Bill Hassell since 16 February 1984.

The election resulted in one of Labor's best state election results after World War II, and featured a united National Party for the first time since the 1977 election.

Results

Legislative Assembly

Notes: The National Country Party (NCP) and the National Party (NP), which had been two separate parties from 1978 onwards, united in 1985 to form the National Party. Three sitting members who had previously identified as National Country Party stood for the Liberal Party in 1986, with two losing their seats to the Nationals, and the other (Bert Crane in Moore) retaining his seat. The Nationals also gained Avon from the Labor Party, and Mount Marshall from the Liberals, who had held it for a single term.

Legislative Council

Seats changing parties Seat Pre-1986 Swing Post-1986 Party Member Margin Margin Member Party Avon  Labor Ken McIver 8.4* N/A 1.8** Max Trenorden National  Mount Marshall  Liberal Bill McNee 5.7*** N/A 3.3 Mort Schell National  Subiaco  Independent Tom Dadour 1.6** 3.3 1.7* Carmen Lawrence Labor 

Members listed in italics did not contest their seat at this election. * figure is vs. Liberal ** figure is vs. Labor *** figure is vs. National (pre-merger)

Post-election pendulum

Labor seats (32)Marginal GeraldtonJeff CarrALP0.4% SubiacoCarmen LawrenceALP1.7% WarrenDavid EvansALP2.9% CollieTom JonesALP4.2% MundaringGavan TroyALP5.3% BunburyPhil SmithALP5.4%Fairly safe Esperance-DundasJudyth WatsonALP7.1% MandurahJohn ReadALP9.4% JoondalupJackie WatkinsALP9.5% WhitfordPam BeggsALP9.8% NollamaraKeith WilsonALP9.9%Safe MitchellDavid SmithALP10.0% ScarboroughGraham BurkettALP10.3% WelshpoolBill ThomasALP13.2% BalcattaRon BertramALP13.4% HelenaGordon HillALP14.5% RockinghamMike BarnettALP14.6% PilbaraPam BuchananALP14.7% GosnellsYvonne HendersonALP14.8% PerthTerry BurkeALP14.9% Victoria ParkRon DaviesALP14.9% ArmadaleBob PearceALP15.7% CanningTom BatemanALP15.8% KimberleyErnie BridgeALP16.5% Morley-SwanArthur TonkinALP16.9% MaylandsPeter DowdingALP17.1% AscotMal BryceALP18.2% MelvilleBarry HodgeALP19.5% FremantleDavid ParkerALP21.8%CockburnClive HughesALP24.7%BalgaBrian BurkeALP29.6%KalgoorlieIan TaylorALP30.1% v IND Liberal/National seats (25)MarginalDaleCyril RushtonLIB1.6%Murchison-EyreRoss LightfootLIB1.6%AvonMax TrenordenNAT1.8%Mount LawleyGeorge CashLIB2.1%MurdochBarry MacKinnonLIB2.3%AlbanyLeon WattLIB3.3%Mount MarshallMort SchellNAT3.3% v LIBFairly safeDarling RangeGeorge SpriggsLIB6.2%KarrinyupJim ClarkoLIB6.3%South PerthBill GraydenLIB6.5%ClontarfTony WilliamsLIB8.1%CottesloeBill HassellLIB8.2%KalamundaIan ThompsonLIB8.9%NarroginCambell NalderNAT9.1% v LIBMurray-WellingtonJohn BradshawLIB9.8%SafeEast MelvilleRichard LewisLIB10.0%GascoyneIan LauranceLIB10.5%Katanning-RoeMonty HouseNAT11.2% v LIBStirlingMatt StephensNAT12.2% v LIBVasseBarry BlaikieLIB13.5%FloreatAndrew MensarosLIB14.6%NedlandsRichard CourtLIB14.9%GreenoughReg TubbyLIB23.6%MooreBert CraneLIB24.5%MerredinHendy CowanNAT29.0%

Opinion polling +Morgan Gallop opinion poll resultsDatePrimary voteLeader's approval ratingLaborLiberal-NationalLaborLiberal19 February 1983 election53.844.2March–April 198358377044May–June 198355417248July–August 198351436847September–October 198348476343November–December 198356406345January–February 19845342713715 February 1984Bill Hassell replaces Ray O'Connor as leader of the Liberal PartyMarch–April 198449466838May–June 198454416638July–August 198450466540September–October 198457386939November–December 198453426341January–February 198545495839March–April 198545475336May–June 198545486137July–August 198548476434September–October 198549456132November–December 1985534065328 February 1986 election53.244.9

See also Candidates of the 1986 Western Australian state election Members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, 1983–1986 Members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, 1986–1989

References