Results of the 1979 South Australian state election (Legislative Council)

South Australian state election, 15 September 1979^[1] Legislative Council << 1975–1982 >>
Enrolled voters		826,586
Votes cast		765,032		Turnout	92.6	–0.7
Informal votes		33,637		Informal	4.4	–0.8
Summary of votes by party
Party		Primary votes	%	Swing	Seats won	Seats held
	Liberal	370,398	50.6	+22.8	6	11
	Labor	290,552	39.7	–7.6	4	10
	Democrats	47,527	6.5	+6.5	1	1
	National Country	7,716	1.1	–1.0	0	0
	Marijuana	6,132	0.8	+0.8	0	0
	Other	9,070	1.3	*	0	0
Total		731,395			11	22

Continuing members

The following MLCs were not up for re-election this year.

1979 South Australian state election: Legislative Council
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Quota			60,852
	Liberal	1. Ren DeGaris (elected) 2. Trevor Griffin (elected) 3. Arthur Whyte (elected) 4. Legh Davis (elected) 5. John Burdett (elected) 6. Robert Ritson (elected) 7. Amanda Vanstone	370,398	50.6	+22.8
	Labor	1. Brian Chatterton (elected) 2. Cec Creedon (elected) 3. Gordon Bruce (elected) 4. Barbara Wiese (elected) 5. James Hennessy 6. Erwin Williamson 7. Giovanni Vassallo	290,552	39.7	−7.6
	Democrats	1. Lance Milne (elected) 2. Christopher Harte 3. Raymond Buttery 4. Nicholas Theologou 5. Brian Fain 6. Robert North	47,527	6.5	+6.5
	National	1. Warren Norton 2. Allan Woolford 3. Wayne Murphy	7,716	1.1	−1.0
	Marijuana	Stephen Dimitriou	6,132	0.8	+0.8
	Group D	1. Harold Steele 2. Emily Perry 3. Peter Clifton	5,671	0.8	+0.8
	Independent	Screw Parasites	3,399	0.5	+0.5
Total formal votes			731,395	95.6	+0.8
Informal votes			33,637	4.4	−0.8
Turnout			765,032	92.6	−0.7