1974 Australian Capital Territory general election

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| <- 1970 | 28 September 1974 | 1979 ->

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Turnout| 92.0%
|  | First party  | Second party  | Third party

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|  |  |

AUS

Leader  |  | Terry Higgins | Ivor Vivian
Party  | Liberal | Labor | Australia
Leader's seat  | Canberra | N/A | Fraser
Seats won  | 7 | 4  | 1
Percentage  | 30.8% | 22.2%  | 4.6%
Swing  |  17.3 |  6.0  |

The 1974 Australian Capital Territory general election was held on 28 September 1974 to elect all 18 members of the Legislative Assembly, the main elected representative body of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). This was the first election for the Assembly, replacing the Advisory Council, although elected members did not start sitting until 1975.[1]

The election saw a swing of almost 20% towards the Liberal Party, while Labor lost around 6% of its vote compared to the 1970 Advisory Council election.[1]

## Background

[edit]

As preparations were still being made for the granting of self-government to the ACT, the House served a largely advisory role, with most powers over the ACT still lying in the hands of the relevant federal minister through the life of the Assembly.[2]

Nine members were elected by single transferable vote proportional representation from each of the ACT's two federal House of Representatives divisions, making 18 in total. Independent members who vacated mid-term were replaced by recounting their original votes to their next preferences to choose a runner-up. Members endorsed by a political party were replaced by a nominee of that party.

## Results

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### Vote totals

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Legislative Assembly (STV/PR)  Party  | Votes  | %  | Swing  | Seats  | Change

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| Liberal |  | 30.8  | +17.3  | 7  |
| Labor |  | 22.2  | −6.0  | 4  |
| Australia |  | 4.6  |  | 2  |
| ACT Women Voters  |  |  |  | 0  |
| Independents |  |  |  | 5  |
Formal votes  |  | 93.0  |  |  |
Informal votes  |  | 7.0  |  |  |
Total  |  | 100.0  |  |  |
Registered voters / turnout  |  | 92.0  |  |  |

### Distribution of seats

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| Electorate  | Seats held

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Canberra |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fraser |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
|  | Labor

|

| Liberal
| Australia
| Independent

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "20pc gain by Liberals: Labor rebuff in ACT election". The Canberra Times. Canberra. 30 September 1974. p. 1 - via Trove.
2. ^ "The road to self-government". Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory. 25 April 2020.

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