New South Wales state election, 1959
Encyclopedia
The 1959 New South Wales state election was held on 21 March 1959. It was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting
and was held on boundaries created at a 1957 redistribution. The election was for all of the 94 seats in the Legislative Assembly
.
. Reflecting population shifts from the eastern and inner western suburbs of Sydney to western Sydney, two safe Liberal
seats, Ashfield
and Croydon
were combined into the seat of Ashfield-Croydon
and two safe Labor
seats, Paddington and Waverley
were combined into Paddington-Waverley
. Merrylands
was created in Western Sydney and was a notional Labor seat. In addition, the marginal seat of Parramatta
became a safe Labor seat. In southern Sydney, the marginal seat of Sutherland
became a safe Labor seat by the creation of Cronulla
which had a notional Liberal majority. The effect of the redistribution was to increase Labor's numbers by 1.
had been premier for 8 years. Cahill, who was commonly known as "old smoothie" continued to be a popular premier but the opposition campaign argued that his cabinet consisted of "tired old men". While nationally the Labor party remained divided on sectarian and ideological grounds, in New South Wales much of the split between Labor and the DLP
had been avoided. Clive Evatt
, the brother of H V Evatt, who had been the major left-wing agitator within the caucus was expelled from the party after he voted against a government move to increase tram fares. As a result, party unity was significantly improved. However, a small branch of the DLP under the leadership of Jake Kane had organised in NSW and nominated candidates at this election for the first time.
Cahill attacked the opposition for its "reckless election promises" which were "worth no more than a handful of Bondi sand" . Labor promised, that if re-elected, it would form a Commonwealth- State Housing Corporation to lend up to 95% of housing costs on a 45 year basis. It would attempt to reduce road taxes for haulage companies and promised a vigorous program of road development including the possible use of privately constructed toll roads. Cahill announced plans to build Housing Commission towers in Surry Hills and promised a referendum on the abolition of the New South Wales Legislative Council
.
The coalition of the Liberal Party and the Country Party
coalition had been led by Pat Morton
since September 1955. However, Morton remained a somewhat aloof figure, with a public presence more typical of pre-war conservative politicians, and found it difficult to connect with the public. Davis Hughes
, who had led the Country Party since September 1958 was forced to resign the leadership at the start of the campaign when it was revealed that he had falsely claimed to have a university degree. He was replaced by Charles Cutler
.
The opposition campaigned on the government's broken promises and its continuing record of over-budget and uncompleted public works. In addition it promised to abolish several taxes including; land tax and the road maintenance tax. School transport would be free and the number of high school bursaries increased. Sewering the outer western suburbs, with a deep sea discharge, and completing the Sandy Hollow railway line were the opposition's public works priorities. The housing crisis was to be resolved by the government construction of 100,000 houses in 3 years
.
Labor regained the seat of Hurstville
from Clive Evatt
who had sat as an Independent Labor member since his expulsion from the party. It had already reclaimed Kahibah
at a by-election caused by the death of the Independent Labor Member Tom Armstrong
. However Labor failed to take back the usually safe seat of Waratah from Frank Purdue
. As expected Labor won Parramatta
, Sutherland
and Merrylands
but lost
Dubbo
, Cronulla
and Blacktown to the Liberals. It had already lost the seat of Wagga Wagga
at a by-election caused by the death of Eddie Graham
. Labor also lost Young
to the Country Party.
The DLP performed poorly, finishing behind the Communist party with less than 2% of the vote.
‡ Labor won the seat of Kahibah at a 1957 by-election caused by the death of the Independent Labor member Tom Armstrong
¶ The Liberal Party won the seat of Wagga Wagga from Labor at a 1957 by-election caused by the death of Eddie Graham
died in October 1959 and was replaced by Robert Heffron
who continued as Premier for the rest of the term. Pat Morton
was replaced as Leader of the Opposition
in July 1959 by Robert Askin
. Charles Cutler
remained Leader of the New South Wales National Party throughout the term of the parliament. During the parliament there were 6 by-elections with Labor and the Country Party each winning a seat at the other party's expense.
Instant-runoff voting
Instant-runoff voting , also known as preferential voting, the alternative vote and ranked choice voting, is a voting system used to elect one winner. Voters rank candidates in order of preference, and their ballots are counted as one vote for their first choice candidate. If a candidate secures a...
and was held on boundaries created at a 1957 redistribution. The election was for all of the 94 seats in the Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
.
Redistribution
A redistribution of electoral boundaries was undertaken in 1957 based on the 1954 Australian CensusCensus in Australia
The Australian census is administered once every five years by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The most recent census was conducted on 9 August 2011; the next will be conducted in 2016. Prior to the introduction of regular censuses in 1961, they had also been run in 1901, 1911, 1921, 1933,...
. Reflecting population shifts from the eastern and inner western suburbs of Sydney to western Sydney, two safe Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
seats, Ashfield
Electoral district of Ashfield
Ashfield was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, first created in 1894 with the abolition of multi-member electoral districts from part of Canterbury, and named after the Sydney suburb of Ashfield. It was abolished in 1920, with the...
and Croydon
Electoral district of Croydon (New South Wales)
Croydon was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, created in 1927, with the abolition of proportional representation from part of the multi-member electorate of Western Suburbs, and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Croydon...
were combined into the seat of Ashfield-Croydon
Electoral district of Ashfield-Croydon
Ashfield-Croydon was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1959 to 1968, when it was replaced by Ashfield.-Members for Ashfield-Croydon:...
and two safe Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
seats, Paddington and Waverley
Electoral district of Waverley
Waverley was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1894, with the abolition of multi-member constituencies, out of part of Paddington, and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Waverley. In 1920, with the...
were combined into Paddington-Waverley
Electoral district of Paddington-Waverley
Paddington-Waverley was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It was created in 1959, when Paddington and part of Waverley were merged. Paddington-Waverley was abolished in 1962 and partly replaced by Bligh.-Members for Paddington-Waverley:...
. Merrylands
Electoral district of Merrylands
Merrylands was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, named after and including the Sydney suburb of Merrylands. It was first created in 1959 and abolished in 1962. It was recreated in 1968 and abolished in 1988.-Members for...
was created in Western Sydney and was a notional Labor seat. In addition, the marginal seat of Parramatta
Electoral district of Parramatta
Parramatta is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is currently held by Geoff Lee of the Liberal Party of Australia....
became a safe Labor seat. In southern Sydney, the marginal seat of Sutherland
Electoral district of Sutherland
Sutherland was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1950 to 1971 before it was abolished. The seat was reformed in 1988 until 1999...
became a safe Labor seat by the creation of Cronulla
Electoral district of Cronulla
Cronulla is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Mark Speakman of the Liberal Party of Australia.-Members for Cronulla:-Election results:...
which had a notional Liberal majority. The effect of the redistribution was to increase Labor's numbers by 1.
Issues
In March 1959, Labor had been in power for 18 years and Joseph CahillJoseph Cahill
John Joseph Cahill was Premier of New South Wales in Australia from 1952 to 1959. He is best remembered as the Premier who approved construction on the Sydney Opera House, and for his work increasing the authority of local government in the state.-Early years:Joe Cahill, as he was popularly known,...
had been premier for 8 years. Cahill, who was commonly known as "old smoothie" continued to be a popular premier but the opposition campaign argued that his cabinet consisted of "tired old men". While nationally the Labor party remained divided on sectarian and ideological grounds, in New South Wales much of the split between Labor and the DLP
Democratic Labor Party (historical)
The Democratic Labor Party was an Australian political party that existed from 1955 until 1978.-History:The DLP was formed as a result of a split in the Australian Labor Party that began in 1954. The split was between the party's national leadership, under the then party leader Dr H.V...
had been avoided. Clive Evatt
Clive Evatt
Clive Evatt QC was an Australian politician, barrister and raconteur. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1939 until 1959. At various times he sat as a member of the Industrial Labor Party, ALP and as an independent.-Early life:Evatt was born in Maitland and was the...
, the brother of H V Evatt, who had been the major left-wing agitator within the caucus was expelled from the party after he voted against a government move to increase tram fares. As a result, party unity was significantly improved. However, a small branch of the DLP under the leadership of Jake Kane had organised in NSW and nominated candidates at this election for the first time.
Cahill attacked the opposition for its "reckless election promises" which were "worth no more than a handful of Bondi sand" . Labor promised, that if re-elected, it would form a Commonwealth- State Housing Corporation to lend up to 95% of housing costs on a 45 year basis. It would attempt to reduce road taxes for haulage companies and promised a vigorous program of road development including the possible use of privately constructed toll roads. Cahill announced plans to build Housing Commission towers in Surry Hills and promised a referendum on the abolition of the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
.
The coalition of the Liberal Party and the Country Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
coalition had been led by Pat Morton
Pat Morton
Philip Henry Morton was an Australian businessman and politician. Born in Lismore in Northern New South Wales to a prominent political family and educated at Lismore High School, Morton left school at fourteen to be employed in a legal firm, before branching out into various businesses...
since September 1955. However, Morton remained a somewhat aloof figure, with a public presence more typical of pre-war conservative politicians, and found it difficult to connect with the public. Davis Hughes
Davis Hughes
Sir Davis Hughes was an Australian politician and bureaucrat.-Early life:Hughes was born in Launceston, Tasmania and was educated at Launceston High School and the University of Tasmania, although he did not graduate. He married Joan Johnson in 1940 and they had issue one son and two daughters...
, who had led the Country Party since September 1958 was forced to resign the leadership at the start of the campaign when it was revealed that he had falsely claimed to have a university degree. He was replaced by Charles Cutler
Charles Cutler
Sir Charles Benjamin Cutler KBE, ED was an Australian politician, holding office for 28 years as an elected member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Orange...
.
The opposition campaigned on the government's broken promises and its continuing record of over-budget and uncompleted public works. In addition it promised to abolish several taxes including; land tax and the road maintenance tax. School transport would be free and the number of high school bursaries increased. Sewering the outer western suburbs, with a deep sea discharge, and completing the Sandy Hollow railway line were the opposition's public works priorities. The housing crisis was to be resolved by the government construction of 100,000 houses in 3 years
.
Results
The result of the election showed little change but was a clear victory for Labor with a buffer of 2 seats in the parliament:- Australian Labor PartyAustralian Labor PartyThe Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
49 seats - LiberalLiberal Party of AustraliaThe Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
28 seats - Country PartyNational Party of AustraliaThe National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
16 seats - Independent 1 seat
Labor regained the seat of Hurstville
Electoral district of Hurstville
Hurstville was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, named after and including the Sydney suburb of Hurstville....
from Clive Evatt
Clive Evatt
Clive Evatt QC was an Australian politician, barrister and raconteur. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1939 until 1959. At various times he sat as a member of the Industrial Labor Party, ALP and as an independent.-Early life:Evatt was born in Maitland and was the...
who had sat as an Independent Labor member since his expulsion from the party. It had already reclaimed Kahibah
Electoral district of Kahibah
Kahibah was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales created in 1894 with the abolition of multi-member districts from part of the electoral district of Newcastle and named after the Newcastle suburb of Kahibah. It was abolished in 1920, with the...
at a by-election caused by the death of the Independent Labor Member Tom Armstrong
Tom Armstrong (1903-1957)
Tom Armstrong was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Parliament from 1953 until his death in 1957. He was independent but generally supported the Australian Labor Party government of Joseph Cahill. Armstrong was born and educated to elementary level in Lambton, New...
. However Labor failed to take back the usually safe seat of Waratah from Frank Purdue
Frank Purdue
Frank Outen Jensen Purdue was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1956 until 1962 and again between 1964 and 1965. He was prominent in local Government and was Lord Mayor of Newcastle, NSW for 9 years between 1951 and 1965...
. As expected Labor won Parramatta
Electoral district of Parramatta
Parramatta is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is currently held by Geoff Lee of the Liberal Party of Australia....
, Sutherland
Electoral district of Sutherland
Sutherland was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1950 to 1971 before it was abolished. The seat was reformed in 1988 until 1999...
and Merrylands
Electoral district of Merrylands
Merrylands was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, named after and including the Sydney suburb of Merrylands. It was first created in 1959 and abolished in 1962. It was recreated in 1968 and abolished in 1988.-Members for...
but lost
Dubbo
Electoral district of Dubbo
Dubbo is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Troy Grant of the National Party of Australia....
, Cronulla
Electoral district of Cronulla
Cronulla is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Mark Speakman of the Liberal Party of Australia.-Members for Cronulla:-Election results:...
and Blacktown to the Liberals. It had already lost the seat of Wagga Wagga
Electoral district of Wagga Wagga
Wagga Wagga is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Daryl Maguire of the Liberal Party of Australia....
at a by-election caused by the death of Eddie Graham
Eddie Graham (politician)
The Hon. Edgar Hugh Graham was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1941 until his death . He was a member of the Australian Labor Party and held numerous ministerial positions...
. Labor also lost Young
Electoral district of Young
Young was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales in the Young area. It elected two members between 1880 to 1894 and one member from 1894 to 1904, when it was replaced by Burrangong. Young was recreated in 1927 and abolished in 1981.-Members for...
to the Country Party.
The DLP performed poorly, finishing behind the Communist party with less than 2% of the vote.
Seats changing party representation
This table lists changes in party representation since the 1956 election| Seat | Incumbent member | |Party | New member | |Party | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashfield Electoral district of Ashfield Ashfield was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, first created in 1894 with the abolition of multi-member electoral districts from part of Canterbury, and named after the Sydney suburb of Ashfield. It was abolished in 1920, with the... |
Richard Murden Richard Murden Richard William Murden was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for two terms from 1953 until 1959. He was a member of the Liberal Party of Australia.... |
Liberal | Abolished absorbed into Ashfield-Croydon Electoral district of Ashfield-Croydon Ashfield-Croydon was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1959 to 1968, when it was replaced by Ashfield.-Members for Ashfield-Croydon:... |
|||
| Ashfield-Croydon Electoral district of Ashfield-Croydon Ashfield-Croydon was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1959 to 1968, when it was replaced by Ashfield.-Members for Ashfield-Croydon:... |
New seat | David Hunter David Hunter (politician) David Benjamin Hunter was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1940 to 1976, representing three successive conservative parties - the United Australia Party, Democratic Party, and Liberal Party... |
Liberal | |||
| Blacktown | John Freeman John Freeman (politician) Major John Freeman MBE is a retired British politician, diplomat and broadcaster. He was the Labour Member of Parliament for Watford from 1945 to 1955.-Life and career:... |
Labor | Alfred Dennis Alfred Dennis Alfred Hugh Dennis is an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1959 to 1962, representing the electorate of Blacktown. He was elected in 1959 as a Liberal for the typically safe Labor seat, but resigned to sit as an independent in 1962.Dennis was... |
Liberal | ||
| Cronulla Electoral district of Cronulla Cronulla is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Mark Speakman of the Liberal Party of Australia.-Members for Cronulla:-Election results:... |
New Seat | Ian Griffith Ian Griffith Ian Ross Griffith was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1956 until 1978... |
Liberal | |||
| Croydon Electoral district of Croydon (New South Wales) Croydon was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, created in 1927, with the abolition of proportional representation from part of the multi-member electorate of Western Suburbs, and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Croydon... |
David Hunter David Hunter (politician) David Benjamin Hunter was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1940 to 1976, representing three successive conservative parties - the United Australia Party, Democratic Party, and Liberal Party... |
Liberal | Abolished absorbed into Ashfield-Croyden Electoral district of Ashfield-Croydon Ashfield-Croydon was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1959 to 1968, when it was replaced by Ashfield.-Members for Ashfield-Croydon:... |
|||
| Dubbo Electoral district of Dubbo Dubbo is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Troy Grant of the National Party of Australia.... |
Clarrie Robertson Clarrie Robertson Clarence Gordon Robertson was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly between 1942 and 1950 and again between 1953 and 1959. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party.... |
Labor | Les Ford Les Ford Leslie Hunter Ford was an Australian politician. He was a Liberal Party of Australia member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1959 to 1964, representing the electorate of Dubbo.... |
Liberal | ||
| Kahibah Electoral district of Kahibah Kahibah was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales created in 1894 with the abolition of multi-member districts from part of the electoral district of Newcastle and named after the Newcastle suburb of Kahibah. It was abolished in 1920, with the... |
‡ | Independent Labor | Jack Stewart Jack Stewart (politician) John Julius Thomas Stewart was an Australian politician who represented the Electoral district of Kahibah and the Charlestown for the Australian Labor Party.-Early life:... |
Labor | ||
| Merrylands Electoral district of Merrylands Merrylands was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, named after and including the Sydney suburb of Merrylands. It was first created in 1959 and abolished in 1962. It was recreated in 1968 and abolished in 1988.-Members for... |
New Seat | Jack Ferguson Jack Ferguson Laurie John Ferguson was an Australian politician and member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.-Early life:... |
Labor | |||
| Paddington | Maurice O'Sullivan | Labor | Abolished absorbed into Paddington-Waverley Electoral district of Paddington-Waverley Paddington-Waverley was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It was created in 1959, when Paddington and part of Waverley were merged. Paddington-Waverley was abolished in 1962 and partly replaced by Bligh.-Members for Paddington-Waverley:... |
|||
| Paddington-Waverley Electoral district of Paddington-Waverley Paddington-Waverley was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It was created in 1959, when Paddington and part of Waverley were merged. Paddington-Waverley was abolished in 1962 and partly replaced by Bligh.-Members for Paddington-Waverley:... |
New Seat | Bill Ferguson Bill Ferguson William Henry Ferguson BEM is one of the best known cricket scorers. For 52 years from 1905 until his death, Ferguson acted as the scorer and baggageman for Australia, England, West Indies, South Africa and New Zealand in 43 tours and 208 Test matches.He is often credited with two of the most... |
Labor | |||
| Parramatta Electoral district of Parramatta Parramatta is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is currently held by Geoff Lee of the Liberal Party of Australia.... |
James Clough | Liberal | Daniel Mahoney | Labor | ||
| Sutherland Electoral district of Sutherland Sutherland was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales from 1950 to 1971 before it was abolished. The seat was reformed in 1988 until 1999... |
Ian Griffith Ian Griffith Ian Ross Griffith was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1956 until 1978... |
Liberal | Tom Dalton Tom Dalton Thomas William Dalton was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1953 until 1956 and from 1959 until 1968. He was a member of the Australian Labor Party .-Early life:... |
Labor | ||
| Wagga Wagga Electoral district of Wagga Wagga Wagga Wagga is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is represented by Daryl Maguire of the Liberal Party of Australia.... |
¶ | Labor | Wal Fife Wal Fife Wallace Clyde Fife is a former Australian politician.Fife was born in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, and was educated at Gurwood Street public school, Wagga Wagga and Canberra Grammar School. In 1948 he started working in the federal secretariat of the Liberal Party of Australia and in 1949 he... |
Liberal | ||
| Waverley Electoral district of Waverley Waverley was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1894, with the abolition of multi-member constituencies, out of part of Paddington, and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Waverley. In 1920, with the... |
Bill Ferguson Bill Ferguson William Henry Ferguson BEM is one of the best known cricket scorers. For 52 years from 1905 until his death, Ferguson acted as the scorer and baggageman for Australia, England, West Indies, South Africa and New Zealand in 43 tours and 208 Test matches.He is often credited with two of the most... |
Labor | Abolished absorbed into Paddington-Waverley Electoral district of Paddington-Waverley Paddington-Waverley was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. It was created in 1959, when Paddington and part of Waverley were merged. Paddington-Waverley was abolished in 1962 and partly replaced by Bligh.-Members for Paddington-Waverley:... |
|||
| Young Electoral district of Young Young was an electoral district for the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales in the Young area. It elected two members between 1880 to 1894 and one member from 1894 to 1904, when it was replaced by Burrangong. Young was recreated in 1927 and abolished in 1981.-Members for... |
Fred Cahill Fred Cahill Frederick Joseph Cahill was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1941 until 1959 . He was a member of the Australian Labor Party .... |
Labor | George Freudenstein George Freudenstein George Francis Freudenstein was an Australian politician. He was a Country Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1959 to 1981, representing the electorate of Young... |
Country National Party of Australia The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is... |
‡ Labor won the seat of Kahibah at a 1957 by-election caused by the death of the Independent Labor member Tom Armstrong
Tom Armstrong (1903-1957)
Tom Armstrong was an Australian politician. He was a member of the New South Wales Parliament from 1953 until his death in 1957. He was independent but generally supported the Australian Labor Party government of Joseph Cahill. Armstrong was born and educated to elementary level in Lambton, New...
¶ The Liberal Party won the seat of Wagga Wagga from Labor at a 1957 by-election caused by the death of Eddie Graham
Eddie Graham (politician)
The Hon. Edgar Hugh Graham was an Australian politician and a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1941 until his death . He was a member of the Australian Labor Party and held numerous ministerial positions...
Key dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 16 February 1959 | The Legislative Assembly was dissolved, and writs were issued by the Governor to proceed with an election. |
| 20 February 1959 | Nominations for candidates for the election closed at noon. |
| 21 March 1959 | Polling day. |
| 16 April 1959 | Last day for the writs to be returned and the results formally declared. |
| 21 April 1959 | Opening of 39th Parliament. |
Tabulated Results
|}- There were 1,850,675 enrolled voters in 83 contested electorates and 224,593 were enrolled in 11 uncontested electorates (1 Labor, 5 Liberal and 5 Country ).
Aftermath
Joseph CahillJoseph Cahill
John Joseph Cahill was Premier of New South Wales in Australia from 1952 to 1959. He is best remembered as the Premier who approved construction on the Sydney Opera House, and for his work increasing the authority of local government in the state.-Early years:Joe Cahill, as he was popularly known,...
died in October 1959 and was replaced by Robert Heffron
Robert Heffron
Robert James "Bob" Heffron was one of the longest-serving New South Wales state parliamentarians. He was the Australian Labor Party Premier of New South Wales from 28 October 1959, to 30 April 1964.-Early years:...
who continued as Premier for the rest of the term. Pat Morton
Pat Morton
Philip Henry Morton was an Australian businessman and politician. Born in Lismore in Northern New South Wales to a prominent political family and educated at Lismore High School, Morton left school at fourteen to be employed in a legal firm, before branching out into various businesses...
was replaced as Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (New South Wales)
The role of the Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition in New South Wales is a title held by the leader of the largest minority party in the state lower house, the New South Wales Legislative Assembly...
in July 1959 by Robert Askin
Robert Askin
Sir Robert William Askin GCMG, was an Australian politician and the 32nd Premier of New South Wales from 1965 to 1975, the first representing the Liberal Party of Australia. He was born in 1907 as Robin William Askin, but always disliked his first name and changed it by deed poll in 1971...
. Charles Cutler
Charles Cutler
Sir Charles Benjamin Cutler KBE, ED was an Australian politician, holding office for 28 years as an elected member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Orange...
remained Leader of the New South Wales National Party throughout the term of the parliament. During the parliament there were 6 by-elections with Labor and the Country Party each winning a seat at the other party's expense.
See also
- Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1959–1962Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1959–1962This is a list of members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1959 to 1962, as elected at the 1959 state election....
- Candidates of the New South Wales state election, 1959Candidates of the New South Wales state election, 1959This is a list of candidates of the 1959 New South Wales state election. The election was held on 21 March 1959.-Labor:*Fred Cahill MLA *George Campbell MLA *John Crook MLA *John Freeman MLA...