Tasmanian state election, 1948

Tasmanian state election, 1948

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 1 0 Percentage 49.38% 37.84% Swing 1.59 3.59

Premier before election Robert Cosgrove Labor Elected Premier Robert Cosgrove Labor

A general election for the House of Assembly was held in the Australian state of Tasmania on 21 August 1948.

Background

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.^[1]

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.^[1]

Results

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 Seats

Electorate Seats won Bass             Darwin             Denison             Franklin             Wilmot

Labor   Liberal   Ind. Lib.   Independent

Aftermath

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.^[1]

See also

• Members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly, 1948–1950
• Candidates of the Tasmanian state election, 1948

References

1. W. A. Townsley, Cosgrove, Sir Robert (1884 - 1969), Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 13, Melbourne University Press, 1993, pp 505-507.

External links

• Assembly Election Results, 1948, Parliament of Tasmania.
• Report on Parliamentary Elections, 1949, Tasmanian Electoral Commission.