TASMANIA ======================================================================== HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ======================================================================== THE THIRTY-SEVENTH PARLIAMENT ELECTED 11 DECEMBER 1976 ======================================================================== The Thirty-Seventh Parliament was opened on 14 February 1977 and was dissolved on 2 July 1979. Sources ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Voting figures are taken from the "Report on Parliamemtary Elections", 1977, by K F Febey, Chief Electoral Officer. Biographies of elected members are from Bennett and the Tasmanian Parliament website. Since the National Library's Trove newspaper archive ends in 1954, I have been unable to locate a list of candidates for this election. The "Report on Parliamemtary Elections" gives only candidate surnames. Scott and Barbara Bennett's "Biographical Register of the Tasmanian Parliament 1851-1960" gives biographical details of members elected before 1960. From 1960 onwards, therefore, I have no biographical information other than date and place of birth, which is given at the Parliament of Tasmania website. Summary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bill Nielson led Labor to a second successive victory at this election. Labor again polled a majority of the primary vote, but lost three seats and had a majority of only one over the Liberals. Neilson resigned through ill-healh in December 1977 and was succeedd by Doug Lowe, who became Tasmania's youngest Premier at 34. Gillian James was elected at Bass, becoming the first Labor woman in the House of Assembly. No other women were elected. STATE SUMMARY OF VOTES AND SEATS ======================================================================== Enrolled voters: 258,550 Total votes counted: 244,424 94.5 Informal votes: 9,294 03.8 Formal votes: 235,130 96.2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Party Votes % Seats ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Labor Party 123,386 52.5 -02.4 18 -3 Liberal Party 104,613 44.5 +06.1 17 +3 United Tasmania Group 5,183 02.2 -01.7 - Others 1,948 00.8 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total 235,130 35 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Liberals won seats from Labor in Bass, Braddon and Denison. VOTES AND SEATS BY DIVISION ========================================================================================================================= Division Labor Party Liberal Party Others ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Votes % Quotas Seats Votes % Quotas Seats Votes % Quotas Seats ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bass 21,180 48.7 -00.6 3.90 3 -1 21,360 49.2 +06.3 3.93 4 +1 907 02.1 0.17 - Braddon 26,922 53.9 -09.0 4.31 4 -1 22,920 45.9 +12.1 3.67 3 +1 128 00.3 0.26 - Denison 21,909 46.8 +00.5 3.74 3 -1 21,909 46.8 +04.8 3.74 4 +1 3,013 13.7 1.10 - Franklin 28,102 59.4 +00.7 4.75 4 16,994 35.9 +02.6 2.88 3 2,204 08.0 0.64 - Wilmot 25,273 53.1 -03.9 4.56 4 21,430 45.0 +02.9 3.60 3 879 01.0 0.08 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 123,386 52.5 -02.4 18.89 18 -3 104,613 44.5 +06.1 16.02 17 +3 7,131 03.0 1.09 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In the totals for each party I have shown the number of notional statewide quotas they obtained. The notional statewide quota (6,531) is the statewide formal vote (235,130) divided by 36. VOTING BY DIVISION ======================================================================== BASS (seven members to be elected) ======================================================================== Main polling places: George Town, Launceston, Lilydale, St Leonards ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Enrolled voters: 48,072 Total votes cast: 45,333 94.3 Informal votes: 1,886 04.2 Formal votes: 43,447 95.8 Quota for election: 5,431 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Party Votes % Quotas Seats ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Australian Labor Party 21,180 48.7 -00.6 3.90 3 -1 Liberal Party 21,360 49.2 +06.3 3.93 4 +1 United Tasmania Group 764 01.8 +00.7 0.08 - Others 143 00.3 0.03 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total 43,447 7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ VOTING BY CANDIDATE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Candidate Party Votes % ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Smith United Tas Group 255 00.6 Brown United Tas Group 414 01.0 Batchelor United Tas Group 95 00.2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Michael T C BARNARD * Labor Party 8,401 19.3 ELECTED 1 Workman Labor Party 1,373 03.2 Harold N HOLGATE * Labor Party 3,471 08.0 ELECTED 2 Tripp Labor Party 397 00.9 Hedley D Farquhar * Labor Party 1,533 03.5 Breen Labor Party 869 02.0 Gillian H JAMES Labor Party 3,943 09.1 ELECTED 3 O'Byrne Labor Party 1,193 02.7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rhodes Liberal Party 2,109 04.9 Luck Liberal Party 646 01.5 Eric W BEATTIE * Liberal Party 3,824 08.8 ELECTED 4 Maxwell H BUSHBY * Liberal Party 2,948 06.8 ELECTED 5 Neil H Pitt * Liberal Party 2,068 04.8 Richard J Beswick Liberal Party 1,931 04.4 Neil M ROBSON Liberal Party 2,870 06.6 ELECTED 6 Archer Liberal Party 1,964 04.5 Laurence J MOONEY Liberal Party 3,000 06.9 ELECTED 7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Wilson 143 00.3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total 43,447 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ For Beswick, see Bass 1979 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Michael Thomas Claude Barnard (1942-99): Elected 1969, 1972, 1976 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Timothy Alan Barrenger (born 1940): Elected 1969. Defeated 1972. Defeated 1976 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eric William Beattie (1912-2006): Elected 1946, 1948. Defeated 1950. Filled vacancy 1954. Elected 1955, 1956, 1959, 1964, 1969, 1969, 1972, 1976 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Maxwell Holmes Bushby (1954-94): Filled vacancy 1961. Elected 1964, 1969, 1972, 1976 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Hedley David Farquhar (1927-2009): Elected 1972. Defeated 1976 Died 22 June 2009 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Harold Norman Holgate (1933-97): Filled vacancy 1974. Elected 1976 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gillian Hilma James (1934-2025): Elected 1976 Born: 6 December 1934, Launceston First Labor woman in the House of Assembly ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Laurence James Mooney (1923-2007): Elected 1976 Born: 5 May 1923, Victoria ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Neil Henry Pitt (1929-96): Elected 1972. Defeated 1976 Died 3 May 1996 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Neil Maxwell Robson (1928-2013): Elected 1976 Born: 5 July 1928, Smithton ------------------------------------------------------------------------ BRADDON (seven members to be elected) ======================================================================== Main polling places: Burnie, Devonport, Zeehan, Wynyard ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Enrolled voters: 54,844 Total votes cast: 51,736 94.3 Informal votes: 1,766 03.4 Formal votes: 49,970 96.6 Quota for election: 6,247 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Party Votes % Quotas Seats ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Australian Labor Party 26,922 53.9 -09.0 4.31 4 -1 Liberal Party 22,920 45.9 +12.1 3.67 3 +1 Others 128 00.3 0.02 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total 49,970 7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ VOTING BY CANDIDATE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Candidate Party Votes % ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vickers Labor Party 2,837 05.7 Wright Labor Party 924 01.8 Maurice Dart Labor Party 1,443 02.9 Smith Labor Party 1,053 02.2 Geoffrey D CHISHOLM * Labor Party 4,090 08.2 ELECTED 4 Michael W FIELD Labor Party 3,565 07.1 ELECTED 5 R Glen DAVIES * Labor Party 7,953 15.9 ELECTED 1 John A COUGHLAN * Labor Party 5,057 10.1 ELECTED 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ronald CORNISH Liberal Party 4,000 08.0 ELECTED 6 Furmage Liberal Party 2,138 04.3 Bessell Liberal Party 2,777 05.6 Roger F GROOM Liberal Party 3,334 06.7 ELECTED 7 Raymond C BONNEY * Liberal Party 6,438 12.9 ELECTED 2 Dowling Liberal Party 963 01.9 Hawkes Liberal Party 1,439 02.9 Atkins Liberal Party 1,831 03.7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kelly 128 00.3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total 49,970 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Raymond Claude Bonney (1919-94): Elected 1972, 1976 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Geoffrey Donald Chisholm (1929-2006): Elected 1964, 1969, 1972, 1976 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ John Anthony Coughlan (1934-91): Filled vacancy 1975. Elected 1976 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ronald Cornish (born 1944): Elected 1976 Born: 21 March 1944, Burnie ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ronald Glen Davies (1943-2003): Elected 1972, 1976 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Speaker of the House of Assembly 14 February 1977 to 10 September 1979 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Michael Walter Field (born 1948): Elected 1976 Born: 28 May 1948, Latrobe ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Roger Francis Groom (1936-2024): Elected 1976 Born: 3 November 1936, Hobart ------------------------------------------------------------------------ DENISON (seven members to be elected) ======================================================================== Main polling places: Hobart, Merton, Moonah, New Town ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Enrolled voters: 52,304 Total votes cast: 48,659 93.0 Informal votes: 1,828 03.8 Formal votes: 46,831 96.2 Quota for election: 5,854 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Party Votes % Quotas Seats ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Australian Labor Party 21,909 46.8 +00.5 3.74 3 -1 Liberal Party 21,909 46.8 +04.8 3.74 4 +1 United Tasmania Group 2,665 05.7 -01.2 0.46 - Others 348 00.7 0.06 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total 46,831 7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ VOTING BY CANDIDATE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Candidate Party Votes % ------------------------------------------------------------------------ E Max BINGHAM * Liberal Party 14,521 31.0 ELECTED 1 Maxwell K ROBINSON Liberal Party 474 01.0 ELECTED 7 Giffard Liberal Party 230 00.5 Townley Liberal Party 839 01.8 Robert MATHER * Liberal Party 1,305 02.8 ELECTED 5 Robert W BAKER * Liberal Party 1,466 03.1 ELECTED 6 Brownlow Liberal Party 1,297 02.8 Hendrick Petrusma Liberal Party 1,777 03.8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fidler Social Workers 72 00.2 Tully Social Workers 51 00.1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Neil L C BATT * Labor Party 8,639 18.4 ELECTED 2 Gascoigne Labor Party 1,316 02.8 Dr Julian J AMOS Labor Party 3,167 06.8 ELECTED 3 Thurstans Labor Party 1,831 03.9 Kenneth E Austin * Labor Party 1,132 02.4 Ian K Cole * Labor Party 1,887 04.0 Lavey Labor Party 1,269 02.7 John E GREEN * Labor Party 2,668 05.7 ELECTED 4 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Buckingham Workers 199 00.4 Mollon Workers 26 00.1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rod Broadby United Tas Group 1,525 03.3 Hazlewood United Tas Group 73 00.2 Gee United Tas Group 352 00.8 Armstrong United Tas Group 64 00.1 Jones United Tas Group 290 00.6 Hickson United Tas Group 265 00.6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total 46,831 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ For Petrusma, see Legislative Council, Hobart 1982. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Julian John Amos (born 1945): Elected 1976 Born: 1 October 1945, Victoria ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Kenneth Ernest Austin (1914-86): Elected 1964, 1969, 1972. Defeated 1976 Died 14 August 1986 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Robert Wilfred Baker (1917-85): Elected 1969, 1972, 1976 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Neil Leonard Charles Batt (born 1937): Elcted 1969, 1972, 1976 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eardley Max Bingham (1927-2021): Elected 1969, 1972, 1976 Leader of the Opposition Leader of the Liberal Party ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ian Kenneth Cole (born 1947) Filled vacancy 1974. Defeated 1976 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ John Edward Green (1945-2020): Filled vacancy 1974. Elected 1976 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Robert Mather (1914-2002): Elected 1964, 1969, 1972, 1976 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Maxwell Keith Robinson (1932-2014): Elected 1976 Born: 15 December 1932, Hobart ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FRANKLIN (seven members to be elected) ======================================================================== Main polling places: Clarence, Huon, Glenorchy, Snug ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Enrolled voters: 51,586 Total votes cast: 49,168 95.3 Informal votes: 1,868 03.8 Formal votes: 47,300 96.2 Quota for election: 5,913 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Party Votes % Quotas Seats ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Australian Labor Party 28,102 59.4 +00.7 4.75 4 Liberal Party 16,994 35.9 +02.6 2.88 3 United Tasmania Group 1,299 02.7 -05.3 0.22 - Otehrs 905 01.9 0.15 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total 47,300 7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ VOTING BY CANDIDATE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Candidate Party Votes % ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ikin United Tas Group 562 01.2 Harrison-Williams United Tas Group 44 00.1 Levett United Tas Group 222 00.5 Daviwa United Tas Group 89 00.2 Walker United Tas Group 89 00.2 Brown United Tas Group 145 00.3 Chapman United Tas Group 148 00.3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eric W BARNARD * Labor Party 2,891 06.1 ELECTED 5 Douglas A LOWE * Labor Party 6,944 14.6 ELECTED 3 Bill McKinnon Labor Party 656 01.4 Woodruff Labor Party 1,291 02.7 Brown Labor Party 645 01.4 Stewart C H Frost * Labor Party 1,291 02.7 William A NEILSON * Labor Party 11,373 24.0 ELECTED 1 Robinson Labor Party 98 00.2 Raymond H SHERRY Labor Party 3,676 07.8 ELECTED 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ John M BEATTIE Liberal Party 6,077 12.8 ELECTED 4 Dempsey Liberal Party 510 01.1 Douglas F Clark * Liberal Party 1,604 03.4 Stephen B GILMOUR Liberal Party 2,516 05.3 ELECTED 7 Duggan Liberal Party 1,735 03.7 Geoffrey A PEARSALL * Liberal Party 3,976 08.4 ELECTED 6 O'Connor Liberal Party 103 00.2 Pallett Liberal Party 473 01.0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Francis 119 00.3 Threlfall 327 00.7 Priest 125 00.3 Jarvis 334 00.8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total 47,300 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eric Walter Barnard (1924-2017): Elected 1959, 1964, 1969, 1972, 1976 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ John Maxwell Beattie (1932-2020): Elected 1972, 1976 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Douglas Frank Clark (1927-2008): Elected 1964, 1969, 1972. Defeated 1976 Died 4 May 2008 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Stewart Charles Hilton Frost (1911-95: Elected 1964, 1969, 1972. Defeated 1976 Died 27 September 1995 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Stephen Bernard Gilmour (born 1943): Elected 1976 Born: 15 June 1943, England ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Douglas Ackley Lowe (born 1942): Elected 1969, 1972, 1976 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Premier from 1 December 1977 Leader of the Australian Labor Party from 1 December1977 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ William Arthur Neilson (1925-89): Elected 1946, 1948, 1950, 1955, 1956, 1959, 1964, 1969, 1972, 1976 Resigned 1 December 1977 Died 9 November 1989 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Premier to 1 December 1977 Leader of the Australian Labor Party to 1 December 1977 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Geoffrey Alan Pearsall (born 1946): Elected 1969, 1972, 1976 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Raymond Henry Sherry (1924-89): Elected 1976 Born: 3 October 1924, NSW Career: MHR for Franklin 1969-75. Father of Senator Hon Nick Sherry. Sherry retired at the 1979 election. Doed 13 June 1989 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WILMOT (seven members to be elected) ======================================================================== Main polling places: Beaconsfield, Deloraine, Latrobe, New Norfolk ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Enrolled voters: 51,744 Total votes cast: 49,528 95.7 Informal votes: 1,946 03.9 Formal votes: 47,582 96.1 Quota for election: 5,948 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Party Votes % Quotas Seats ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Australian Labor Party 25,273 53.1 -03.9 4.56 4 Liberal Party 21,430 45.0 +02.9 3.60 3 United Tasmania Group 455 01.0 0.08 - Workers Party 299 00.6 0.05 - Others 125 00.3 0.02 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total 47,582 7 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ VOTING BY CANDIDATE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Candidate Party Votes % ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Lester Workers Party 253 00.5 Chaffey Workers Party 46 00.1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Edhouse Labor Party 1,573 03.3 Michael R POLLEY * Labor Party 8,055 16.9 ELECTED 1 Darrel J BALDOCK * Labor Party 6,265 13.2 ELECTED 2 Terence G AULICH Labor Party 1,483 03.1 ELECTED 5 Rhodes Labor Party 521 01.1 Dr Andrew B K LOHREY * Labor Party 3,704 07.9 ELECTED 4 Batt Labor Party 3,094 06.5 Vertigan Labor Party 578 01.2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Graeme R PAGE Liberal Party 2,694 05.7 ELECTED 7 Youd Liberal Party 1,791 03.8 FitzGerald Liberal Party 1,029 02.2 Ian M BRAID * Liberal Party 3,891 08.2 ELECTED 6 Leonard H Bessell * Liberal Party 1,306 02.7 Robin T GRAY Liberal Party 4,632 09.7 ELECTED 3 Roach Liberal Party 2,231 04.7 Burn Liberal Party 1,649 03.5 Christopher R Ingamells * Liberal Party 2,207 04.6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Bourke United Tas Group 343 00.7 Joyce United Tas Group 63 00.1 Jackson United Tas Group 49 00.1 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ King 125 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total 47,582 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Terence Gordon Aulich (born 1945): Elected 1976 Born: 5 October 1945, NSW ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Darrel John Baldock (1938-2011): Elected 1972, 1976 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Leonard Hubert Bessell (1917-81): Elected 1956, 1959, 1964, 1969, 1972. Defeated 1976 Died 13 July 1981 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ian Maxwell Braid (born 1935): Elected 1969. Defeated 1972. Filled vacancy 1975. Elected 1976 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Robin Trevor Gray (born 1940): Elected 1976 Born 1 March 1940, Victoria ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Christopher Robert Ingamells (1914-86): Elected 1959, 1964, 1969, 1972. Defeated 1976 Died 27 October 1986 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Andrew Barnard Keith Lohrey (born 1939): Elected 1972, 1976 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Graeme Reginald Page (1943-2023): Elected 1976 Born: 14 February 1943, Launceston ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Michael Robert Polley (born 1949): Elected 1972, 1976 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ VACANCIES 1976-79 ======================================================================== FRANKLIN ======================================================================== 12 December 1977, following the resignation of William A Neilson ------------------------------------------------------------------------ William G McKINNON Labor Party ------------------------------------------------------------------------ William Gillies McKinnon (1933-2020): Filled vacancy 1977 Born: 24 January 1933, Scotland ------------------------------------------------------------------------