Elections were held in the Australian state of Queensland on 22 May 1915 to elect the 72 members of the state's Legislative Assembly.
The election was the second for the Liberal government of Digby Denham, who had been premier since 7 February 1911. The opposition Labor Party, led by T. J. Ryan, had two previous Premiers — Anderson Dawson in 1899 and William Kidston in 1906 — but the former did not command a majority of parliamentary support, while the latter maintained it by splitting the Labor Party. Labor had never before held majority government.
The election was the first in Australia to be conducted using compulsory voting due to Denham's concern that Trade Unions were effectively mobilising the ALP vote; he felt that compulsory voting would ensure a more level playing field. However, it turned out that the change to compulsory voting was not enough to save Denham's premiership.
The election resulted in the defeat of the government, and Queensland's first majority Labor government. All except two members of the Ministry up for election, including Denham himself, lost their seats.
Key dates Date Event 15 April 1915 The Parliament was dissolved. 15 April 1915 Writs were issued by the Governor to proceed with an election. 28 April 1915 Close of nominations. 22 May 1915 Polling day, between the hours of 8am and 6pm. 1 June 1915 The Denham Ministry resigned and the Ryan Ministry was sworn in. 21 June 1915 The writ was returned and the results formally declared. 13 July 1915 Parliament resumed for business.
Results
The election saw a landslide to Labor from the 1912 election.
335,195 electors were enrolled to vote at the election, but 8 seats (11.1% of the total) were uncontested—6 Labor seats representing 24,564 enrolled voters, one Liberal seat representing 3,999 voters, and one Farmers' Union seat representing 4,571 voters.
Seats changing party representation
This table lists changes in party representation at the 1915 election.
Seat Incumbent member Party New member PartyAlbertJohn Appel LiberalJohn Appel Farmers' UnionAubignyAlfred Luke LiberalArthur Moore Farmers' UnionBowenEdwin Caine LiberalCharles Collins LaborBremerJames Cribb LiberalFrank Cooper LaborBulimbaWalter Barnes LiberalHugh McMinn LaborCharters TowersRobert Williams LiberalWilliam Wellington LaborCookHenry Douglas LiberalHenry Ryan LaborDraytonWilliam Bebbington LiberalWilliam Bebbington Farmers' UnionEnoggeraRichard Trout LiberalWilliam Lloyd LaborFitzroyKenneth Grant LiberalHarry Hartley LaborGympieGeorge Mackay LiberalThomas Dunstan LaborIpswichJames Blair LiberalDavid Gledson LaborKurilpaJames Allan LiberalWilliam Hartley LaborMackayWalter Paget LiberalWilliam Smith LaborMaryboroughEdward Corser LiberalAlfred Jones LaborMerthyrThomas Welsby LiberalPeter McLachlan LaborMount MorganJames Crawford LiberalJames Stopford LaborMusgraveJohn White LiberalThomas Armfield LaborNanangoRobert Hodge LiberalRobert Hodge Farmers' UnionNormanbyEdward Archer LiberalJens Peterson LaborOxleyDigby Denham LiberalThomas Jones LaborPittsworthDonald Mackintosh LiberalPercy Bayley Farmers' UnionPort CurtisJohn Kessell LiberalGeorge Carter LaborSouth BrisbaneThomas Bouchard LiberalEdgar Free LaborTownsvilleRobert Philp LiberalDaniel Ryan LaborWindsorHugh Macrossan LiberalHerbert McPhail Labor
Members listed in italics did not recontest their seats.
Aftermath This was the start of a period of Labor hegemony over the Assembly which lasted until 1957; the only breach was the Moore ministry of the 1929–1932 period.
See also Candidates of the Queensland state election, 1915 Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, 1912–1915 Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, 1915–1918 Denham Ministry Ryan Ministry
References