1948 Tasmanian state election

The 1948 Tasmanian state election was held on 21 August 1948 in the Australian state of Tasmania to elect 30 members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The election used the Hare-Clark proportional representation system[1] — six members were elected from each of five electorates.

1948 Tasmanian state election
21 August 1948
All 30 seats to the House of Assembly
  First party Second party
 
Leader Robert Cosgrove Neil Campbell
Party Labor Liberal
Leader since 25 February 1948 February 1945
Leader's seat Denison Wilmot
Last election 16 seats 12 seats
Seats won 15 seats 12 seats
Seat change Decrease1 Steady0
Percentage 49.38% 37.84%
Swing Decrease1.59 Increase3.59
Premier before election

Robert Cosgrove
Labor

 Elected Premier

Robert Cosgrove
Labor

In December 1947, Labor leader Robert Cosgrove had stood down as Premier while he faced charges of bribery, corruption and conspiracy. Cosgrove was acquitted of all charges on 22 February 1948, and was re-elected as Premier by the caucus, taking over from Edward Brooker who had filled in for him for three months. Brooker died on 18 June, four months after handing the premiership back to Cosgrove, and two months prior to the 1948 election.[2]

On 8 July, the Legislative Council voted to grant the House of Assembly two months supply provided an election was called after that time. The election was fought mainly on constitutional issues.[2]

Labor lost its slender one seat majority, winning 15 seats out of 30, although they regained government and Cosgrove remained as Premier after receiving the support of one of the Independent members, Bill Wedd.[2]

Results
See also: Results of the Tasmanian state election, 1948

Tasmanian state election, 21 August 1948
House of Assembly
<< 1946–1950 >>

Enrolled voters 161,088
Votes cast 148,588 Turnout 92.24% +1.17%
Informal votes 5,866 Informal 3.95% –6.13%
Summary of votes by party
Party Primary votes  % Swing Seats Change
  Labor 70,476 49.38% –1.59% 15 – 1
  Liberal 54,010 37.84% +3.59% 12 ± 0
  Ind. Lib. 9,729 6.82% –1.96% 1 ± 0
  Independent 8,330 5.84% –0.17% 2 + 1
Total 142,722     30  

Distribution of votes

Primary vote by division
Bass Darwin Denison Franklin Wilmot
Labor Party55.9%47.7%44.5%47.8%51.7%
Liberal Party44.1%45.7%20.9%33.8%45.8%
Other–6.6%34.6%18.4%2.5%

Distribution of seats

See also

References
  1. House of Assembly Elections, Parliament of Tasmania.
  2. W. A. Townsley, Cosgrove, Sir Robert (1884 - 1969), Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 13, Melbourne University Press, 1993, pp 505-507.
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