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	‹ 1974 1977 ›
Australian federal election, 1975
All 127 seats of the Australian House of Representatives; and all 60 seats of the Australian Senate
13 December 1975
	Incumbent PM; Malcolm Fraser; Liberal/National coalition PM-elect; Malcolm Fraser; Liberal/National coalition

Federal elections were held in Australia on 13 December 1975. All 127 seats in the House of Representatives, and all 64 seats in the Senate were up for election following a double dissolution of both Houses.

Malcolm Fraser had been commissioned as prime minister following the dismissal of the Prime Minister Gough Whitlam’s three-year old Labor government by Governor-General Sir John Kerr, on 11 November 1975. The same day, Fraser advised the calling of the election, in accordance with Kerr’s stipulated conditions (see 1975 Australian constitutional crisis). Thus the Liberal Party of Australia, led by Fraser, with coalition partner the National Country Party, led by Doug Anthony, went to the election as a minority caretaker government. The election resulted in the Coalition securing government with a 30-seat swing in the House of Representatives away from Labor.

[edit] Results

**House of Reps (IRV) — 1975-77 — Turnout 95.39% (CV) — Informal 1.89%**
Party	Votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
Australian Labor Party	3,313,004	42.84	-6.46	36	-30
Liberal Party of Australia	3,232,159	41.80	+6.85	68	+28
National Country Party	869,919	11.25	+1.29	23	+2
Democratic Labor Party	101,750	1.32	-0.10	0	0
Australia Party	33,630	0.43	-1.89	0	0
Other	182,116	2.36		0	0
Total	7,732,578			127
Liberal/National coalition	WIN	55.70	+7.40	91	+30
Australian Labor Party		44.30	-7.40	36	-30

**Senate (STV) — 1975-77 — Turnout 95.39% (CV) — Informal 9.10%**
Party	Votes	%	Swing	Seats Won	Seats Held
Australian Labor Party	2,931,310	40.91	-6.38	27	27
Liberal/National (Joint Ticket)	2,855,721	39.86	+5.09	17
Liberal Party of Australia	793,772	11.08	+3.26	16	26
Democratic Labor Party	191,049	2.67	-0.89	0	0
Liberal Movement	76,426	1.07	+0.11	1	1
National Country Party	38,366	0.54	-0.76	1	8
Country Liberal Party	15,519	0.22	-0.01	1	1
Independents	114,310	1.60	-0.24	1	1
Other	148,240	2.07		0	0
Total	7,164,713			64	64

Independent: Brian Harradine

[edit] Issues and significance

The election followed the controversial dismissal of the Whitlam government by Governor-General Sir John Kerr in the 1975 constitutional crisis. Labor campaigners hoped that the electorate would "maintain [its] rage" and punish the Coalition for its part in bringing down the government, proclaiming "Shame Fraser, Shame". However, the Coalition focused on economic issues, the so-called Loans Affair, alleged Labor mismanagement of inflation, and campaigned under the slogan "Turn on the lights, Australia" (drawing on a contemporary cynicism: "Would the last businessman leaving Australia please turn out the lights?").

The Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory received an entitlement to elect 2 senators each as a consequence of the 1974 Joint Sitting of the Australian Parliament.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

AustralianPolitics.com 1975 election details
University of WA election results in Australia since 1890
AEC 2PP vote
Prior to 1984 the AEC did not undertake a full distribution of preferences for statistical purposes. The stored ballot papers for the 1983 election were put through this process prior to their destruction. Therefore the figures from 1983 onwards show the actual result based on full distribution of preferences.

Contents

[edit] Results

[edit] Issues and significance

[edit] See also

[edit] References