1971 Western Australian state election

Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 20 February 1971 to elect all 51 members to the Legislative Assembly and 15 members to the 30-seat Legislative Council. The four-term Liberal-Country Party coalition government, led by Premier David Brand, was defeated by the Labor Party, led by Opposition Leader John Tonkin.

This was the first election in which no seats were uncontested since the introduction of responsible government in 1890. This was partly due to the Democratic Labor Party deciding to contest every seat up for election in both Houses.

There was a large increase in the number of electors, because this was the first election after 18 year olds had been given the vote.

Results

Legislative Assembly

Legislative Council

Post-election pendulum

Labor seats (26)Marginal MirrabookaArthur TonkinALP1.7% KarrinyupStan LaphamALP2.0% Merredin-YilgarnJim BrownALP2.7% ToodyayJames MoilerALP3.6% AlbanyWyndham CookALP5.1% ClontarfDonald MayALP5.5%Fairly safe Mount HawthornRon BertramALP7.4% GeraldtonBill SewellALP8.3% CanningTom BatemanALP8.6% MaylandsJohn HarmanALP9.4% PerthTerry BurkeALP9.9%Safe NorthamKen McIverALP11.3% v IND GascoyneDaniel NortonALP11.8% PilbaraArthur BickertonALP13.5% v DLP MelvilleJohn TonkinALP15.6% BelmontColin JamiesonALP16.1% v IND BalcattaHerb GrahamALP16.6% v DLP FremantleHarry FletcherALP17.3%KalgoorlieTom EvansALP20.0%WarrenDavid EvansALP21.9%Victoria ParkRon DaviesALP25.2% v DLPSwanJohn BradyALP25.5% v DLPAscotMerv TomsALP25.8% v DLPBoulder-DundasTom HartreyALP28.5% v INDCollieTom JonesALP29.8%CockburnDon TaylorALP32.0% v DLP Liberal/Country seats (25)MarginalBunburyMaurice WilliamsLIB1.2%RoeBill YoungCP1.3% v INDMurchison-EyrePeter CoyneLIB2.3%VasseBarry BlaikieLIB2.4%Darling RangeIan ThompsonLIB3.0%MurrayEwart RuncimanLIB3.2%SubiacoTom DadourLIB4.9%Fairly safeDaleCyril RushtonLIB6.0%Mount LawleyRay O'ConnorLIB6.8%WellingtonIven ManningLIB7.0%NarroginWilliam ManningCP7.7%CottesloeRoss HutchinsonLIB9.7%SafeStirlingMatt StephensCP10.2%South PerthBill GraydenLIB10.5%BlackwoodDavid ReidCP11.6% v LIBWembleyRay YoungLIB11.6%KatanningCrawford NalderCP11.7%FloreatAndrew MensarosLIB12.5%KimberleyAlan RidgeLIB12.6%East MelvilleDes O'NeilLIB16.6%MooreEdgar LewisCP17.2%GreenoughDavid BrandLIB18.4%Mount MarshallRay McPharlinCP22.6%NedlandsCharles CourtLIB24.9%AvonHarry GayferCP30.5% v IND

See also Candidates of the 1971 Western Australian state election Members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, 1968–1971 Members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, 1971–1974

References