Tasmanian state election, 1982
Encyclopedia
Elections for the Tasmanian House of Assembly
were held on the 15 May 1982. The incumbent Labor Party
, in power since 1972 and led by Premier Harry Holgate
, was defeated by the opposition Liberal Party
, led by Robin Gray
.
The proposed Franklin Dam
was a major issue around the time of the election.
The Australian Democrats
contested all electorates. Independent Green candidates contested the electorate of Denison
only.
retained his seat, which had originally been won at the Denison state by-election in 1980. Former Labor premier Doug Lowe
also retained his seat as an independent.
|}
resigned in late 1982 and independent Green Bob Brown
was elected as his replacement after a recount of votes.
Tasmanian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or Lower House, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the Legislative Council or Upper House...
were held on the 15 May 1982. The incumbent Labor Party
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...
, in power since 1972 and led by Premier Harry Holgate
Harry Holgate
Harold Norman "Harry" Holgate AO was an Australian Labor Party politician and Premier of Tasmania from 11 November 1981 to 26 May 1982....
, was defeated by the opposition Liberal Party
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...
, led by Robin Gray
Robin Gray (Australian politician)
Robin Trevor Gray is a former Australian politician who was Premier of Tasmania from 1982 to 1989. A Liberal, he was elected Liberal state leader in 1981 and in 1982 defeated the Labor government of Harry Holgate on a policy of "state development," particularly the building of the Franklin Dam, a...
.
The proposed Franklin Dam
Franklin Dam
The Franklin Dam or Gordon-below-Franklin Dam project was a proposed dam on the Gordon River in Tasmania, Australia, that was never constructed. The movement that eventually led to the project's cancellation became one of most significant environmental campaigns in Australian history.The dam was...
was a major issue around the time of the election.
The Australian Democrats
Australian Democrats
The Australian Democrats is an Australian political party espousing a socially liberal ideology. It was formed in 1977, by a merger of the Australia Party and the New LM, after principals of those minor parties secured the commitment of former Liberal minister Don Chipp, as a high profile leader...
contested all electorates. Independent Green candidates contested the electorate of Denison
Division of Denison (state)
The Electoral Division of Denison is one of the 5 electorates in the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The division is named after Sir William Denison, who was Lieutenant Governor of Van_Diemen's Land 1847-55, and Governor of New South Wales 1855-61. The division shares its name and boundaries with the...
only.
Results
The Liberal Party won a comfortable majority. The Democrats' Norm SandersNorm Sanders
Norman Karl Sanders is an Australian former politician, representing the Australian Democrats in the Tasmanian House of Assembly from 1980 to 1982 and the Australian Senate from 1985 to 1990.-Early life:...
retained his seat, which had originally been won at the Denison state by-election in 1980. Former Labor premier Doug Lowe
Doug Lowe (Australian politician)
Douglas Ackley "Doug" Lowe AM was the 35th Premier of Tasmania, from 1 December 1977 to 11 November 1981. His time as Premier coincided with controversy over a proposal to build a dam on Tasmania's Gordon River, which would have flooded parts of the Franklin River...
also retained his seat as an independent.
|}
- The Independent Labor label refers to the separate campaigns by former Premier Doug LoweDoug Lowe (Australian politician)Douglas Ackley "Doug" Lowe AM was the 35th Premier of Tasmania, from 1 December 1977 to 11 November 1981. His time as Premier coincided with controversy over a proposal to build a dam on Tasmania's Gordon River, which would have flooded parts of the Franklin River...
and Labor MHA Mary WilleyMary WilleyMary Lindsay Caroline Willey is a former Australian politician. She was born in Warrawee, New South Wales, but later moved to Tasmania. At the 1979 state election, she was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly as a Labor member for Bass. She resigned from the Labor Party in 1981 in protest at...
. - The Green vote referred to here is Bob BrownBob BrownRobert James Brown is an Australian senator, the inaugural Parliamentary Leader of the Australian Greens and was the first openly gay member of the Parliament of Australia...
's campaign in the seat of DenisonDivision of Denison (state)The Electoral Division of Denison is one of the 5 electorates in the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The division is named after Sir William Denison, who was Lieutenant Governor of Van_Diemen's Land 1847-55, and Governor of New South Wales 1855-61. The division shares its name and boundaries with the...
, where he attained 8.6% of the vote.
Distribution of Seats
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Aftermath
Democrat Norm SandersNorm Sanders
Norman Karl Sanders is an Australian former politician, representing the Australian Democrats in the Tasmanian House of Assembly from 1980 to 1982 and the Australian Senate from 1985 to 1990.-Early life:...
resigned in late 1982 and independent Green Bob Brown
Bob Brown
Robert James Brown is an Australian senator, the inaugural Parliamentary Leader of the Australian Greens and was the first openly gay member of the Parliament of Australia...
was elected as his replacement after a recount of votes.