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Federal election major party leaders
< 1929 1931 1934 >
Labor James Scullin Prime Minister Parliament: 9 years Leader since: 1928 Division: Yarra
United Australia Joseph Lyons Opposition Leader Parliament: 2 years Leader since: 1931 Division: Wilmot WIN

Federal elections were held in Australia on 19 December 1931. All 75 seats in the House of Representatives, and 18 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election. The incumbent Australian Labor Party led by Prime Minister of Australia James Scullin was defeated by the newly-formed opposition United Australia Party (descended from the Nationalist Party of Australia) led by ex-Labor Joseph Lyons with coalition partner the Country Party led by Earle Page.

[edit] Results

**House of Reps (IRV) — 1931-34 — Turnout 95.04% (CV) — Informal 3.48%**
Party	Votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
United Australia Party	1,145,083	36.10	+2.20	34	+20	^{(1 elected} _unopposed)
Australian Labor Party	859,513	27.10	-21.74	14	-32
Country Party	388,544	12.25	+1.98	16	+6	^{(3 elected} _unopposed)
Australian Labor Party (NSW)	335,309	10.57	*	4	+4
Emergency Committee (SA)	174,288	5.49	*	6	+6
Independents	260,786	8.22	+6.09	1	-3
Other	8,511	0.27		0	-1
Total	3,172,034			75
UAP/Country coalition	WIN			50	+26
Australian Labor Party				14	-32

Independent: Littleton Groom (Darling Downs, Qld)

**Senate (P BV) — 1931-34 — Turnout 95.02% (CV) — Informal 9.60%**
Party	Votes	%	Swing	Seats Won	Seats Held
UAP/Country (Joint Ticket)	945,741	30.16	*	6
Australian Labor Party	917,218	29.25	-19.70	3	10
United Australia Party	791,870	25.26	-14.02	9	21
Australian Labor Party (NSW)	379,870	12.12	*	0	0
Communist Party of Australia	29,443	0.94	*	0	0
Country Party	*	*	-11.18	0	5
Independents	71,181	2.27	+1.68	0	0
Total	3,135,323			18	36

[edit] Issues

The election was dominated by the Great Depression in Australia, which was at its height. As the Labor Government had come to office two days before the Wall Street Crash of 1929, it was seen as being responsible for many of the economic and social problems Australia faced. Lang Labor also split from the Labor Party, the result was Labor's vote dropping to its lowest level since 1901.

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University of WA election results in Australia since 1890

[edit] Results

Contents

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