South Australian state election, 1982

South Australian state election, 1982
South Australia
6 November 1982 (1982-11-06)
All 47 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly
24 seats were needed for a majority
11 (of the 22) seats in the South Australian Legislative Council
  First party Second party
 
Leader John Bannon David Tonkin
Party Labor Liberal
Leader since 18 September 1979 1975
Leader's seat Ross Smith Bragg
Last election 19 seats 25 seats
Seats won 24 seats 21 seats
Seat change Increase5 Decrease4
Percentage 50.9% 49.1%
Swing Increase5.9 Decrease5.9
Premier before election

David Tonkin
Liberal

 Elected Premier

John Bannon
Labor

State elections were held in South Australia on 6 November 1982. All 47 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly were up for election. The incumbent Liberal Party of Australia led by Premier of South Australia David Tonkin was defeated by the Australian Labor Party led by Leader of the Opposition John Bannon.

House of Assembly (IRV) — Turnout 93.18% (CV) — Informal 5.78%
Party Votes % Swing Seats Change
  Australian Labor Party 353,999 46.28 +5.43 24 +5
  Liberal Party of Australia 326,372 42.67 -5.27 21 -4
  Australian Democrats 54,457 7.12 -1.18 0 -1
  Nationals SA 17,782 2.32 +0.42 1 0
  Independent 12,252 1.60 +0.60 1 0
  Total 764,862     47
  Australian Labor Party WIN 50.90 +5.90 25 +5
  Liberal Party of Australia 49.10 -5.90 22 -5

Independent: Norm Peterson

Background

Parliamentary elections for both houses of the Parliament of South Australia were held in South Australia in 1982, which saw John Bannon and the Australian Labor Party defeat the incumbent Liberal Party of Australia led by David Tonkin, after one term in power.

As Premier, Tonkin combined fiscal conservatism with socially progressive reforms. In the former, Tonkin made significant cuts to the public service, earning him the enmity of the unions, while an example of the latter was the passage of the land rights bill and the return to the Pitjantjatjara people of 10 per cent of South Australia's area.

Prior to the election, Tonkin removed Robin Millhouse (a former Liberal member who had defected to the Liberal Movement and then the Australian Democrats, and whose popularity enabled him to hold his seat of Waite) with an offer of a vacant seat in the Supreme Court . However the subsequent by-election saw the seat retained by Democrats candidate Heather Southcott, although the Liberals claimed the seat at the 1982 general election.

One potential election factor was the copper and uranium mine at Olympic Dam, near Roxby Downs. Enabling legislation had been passed earlier in 1982, despite the opposition of the Labor Party. In what was a controverisal move in Labor circles, Bannon defused this as an election issue by promising that development would go ahead under a Labor government (a commitment which was honoured), despite having previously opposed it.

The Liberals also had to contend with the early 1980s recession.

After the election loss, Tonkin resigned as Liberal leader and was succeeded by John Olsen, who won a leadership ballot against Dean Brown. A heart complaint caused Tonkin to leave parliament soon after at which a 1983 Bragg by-election was triggered, the Liberals easily retained the seat.

A 1984 Elizabeth by-election saw Independent Labor candidate Martyn Evans win the seat.

In the South Australian Legislative Council, the sole balance of power was held unbroken by the Australian Democrats from their inception in mid-1970s, until the late 1990s. Though the Democrats would exceed 16 percent of the vote at the 1997 election, during the following term the Democrats would lose the sole balance of power for the first time, sharing the balance of power with independent members, slowly losing numbers and influence, until they were eventually without parliamentary representation as of the 2010 election.

Post-election Pendulum

For previous pendulums and maps, see South Australian state elections.
LABOR SEATS (24)
Marginal
Brighton June Appleby ALP 0.8%
Newland John Klunder ALP 3.6%
Henley Beach Don Ferguson ALP 4.0%
Whyalla Max Brown ALP 4.1% v IND
Fairly safe
Mawson Susan Lenehan ALP 6.6%
Unley Kym Mayes ALP 6.6%
Norwood Greg Crafter ALP 9.1%
Ascot Park John Trainer ALP 9.3%
Hartley Terry Groom ALP 10.0%
Safe
Mitchell Ron Payne ALP 10.7%
Gilles Jack Slater ALP 10.7%
Albert Park Kevin Hamilton ALP 11.1%
Florey Bob Gregory ALP 13.2%
Playford Terry McRae ALP 14.7%
Adelaide Jack Wright ALP 15.6%
Price George Whitten ALP 16.1%
Baudin Don Hopgood ALP 16.2%
Napier Terry Hemmings ALP 19.2%
Peake Keith Plunkett ALP 19.5%
Elizabeth Peter Duncan ALP 20.0%
Stuart Gavin Keneally ALP 20.0%
Salisbury Lynn Arnold ALP 22.5%
Ross Smith John Bannon ALP 25.7%
Spence Roy Abbott ALP 27.9%
LIBERAL SEATS (21)
Marginal
Coles Jennifer Adamson LIB 1.3%
Todd Scott Ashenden LIB 1.4%
Morphett John Oswald LIB 1.5%
Mount Gambier Harold Allison LIB 2.2%
Torrens Michael Wilson LIB 4.5%
Fairly safe
Hanson Heini Becker LIB 8.2%
Fisher Stan Evans LIB 9.8%
Safe
Rocky River John Olsen LIB 10.3%
Mitcham Stephen Baker LIB 10.4% v AD
Murray David Wotton LIB 10.6%
Eyre Graham Gunn LIB 12.1%
Glenelg John Mathwin LIB 12.4%
Light Bruce Eastick LIB 15.2%
Chaffey Peter Arnold LIB 15.4%
Victoria Allan Rodda LIB 16.6%
Kavel Roger Goldsworthy LIB 16.7%
Bragg David Tonkin LIB 18.1%
Alexandra Ted Chapman LIB 19.0%
Goyder John Meier LIB 25.1%
Davenport Dean Brown LIB 26.5%
Mallee Peter Lewis LIB 30.0%
CROSSBENCH SEATS (2)
Semaphore Norm Peterson IND 10.3% v ALP
Flinders Peter Blacker NAT 23.7% v ALP

Legislative Council Results

1982 Legislative Council Result (STV)
Party Seats
  Australian Labor Party 47.0% 5
  Liberal Party of Australia 42.1% 5
  Australian Democrats 5.5% 1
  Nationals SA 2.0%
1982-1985 Legislative Council
Party Seats
  Liberal Party of Australia 11
  Australian Labor Party 9
  Australian Democrats 2

See also

References

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