The 1995 Australian Capital Territory election was held on 18 February 1995 to elect all 17 members of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. A referendum on entrenching the ACT's electoral system was also held alongside the election.

Like the 1989 and 1992 elections, the result was another hung parliament. However, the Liberal Party were able to form government with the support of Michael Moore and Paul Osborne. Liberal leader Kate Carnell was elected chief minister at the first sitting of the third Assembly on 9 March 1995.

This was the first time the Legislative Assembly used single transferable voting, following the results of the 1992 electoral system referendum. Canberra had been divided into three multi-member district instead of the previous single at-large district.

This was also the first time at an Australian federal, state or territory election that the leaders of both major parties have been female. This would not occur again until the 2020 Queensland state election.

Key dates Close of party registration: 12 January 1995 Pre-election period commenced/nominations opened: 13 January 1995 Rolls closed: 20 January 1995 Nominations closed: 26 January 1995 Nominations declared/ballot paper order determined: 27 January 1995 Pre-poll voting commenced: 30 January 1995 Polling day: 18 February 1995 Poll declared: 2 March 1995 Source:

Candidates

Sitting members at the time of the election are listed in bold. Tickets that elected at least one MLA are highlighted in the relevant colour. Successful candidates are indicated by an asterisk (*).

Brindabella

Five seats were up for election.

Labor candidatesLiberal candidatesGreens candidatesDemocrats candidates  Eva Cawthorne Annette Ellis Steve Whan Andrew Whitecross* Bill Wood*Sandie Brooke Tony De Domenico* Trevor Kaine* Louise Littlewood Brian LoweJulie McInness Andrew Parratt Liz StephensCharlie Bell Lyn ForcevilleMoore candidatesSmokers candidatesUngrouped  Nick Isaacson Stephanie IsaacsonKeith Dencio Stan KowalskiJanice Ferguson (Ind) Margaret Kobier (Ind) Paul Osborne* (Ind) Tony Savage (Ind)

Ginninderra

Five seats were up for election.

Labor candidatesLiberal candidatesGreens candidatesDemocrats candidates  Wayne Berry* Ellnor Grassby Roberta McRae* Jacqueline Shea Fiona WilsonLyle Dunne Martin Gordon Cheryl Hill Harold Hird* Bill Stefaniak*Gary Corr Lucy Horodny* Michelle RiellyPeter Granleese Peter MainMoore candidatesSmokers candidatesUngrouped  Graeme Evans Helen SzutyDonovan Ballard Lorraine BevanKevin Connor (Ind)

Molonglo

Seven seats were up for election.

Labor candidatesLiberal candidatesGreens candidatesDemocrats candidates  Terry Connolly* Simon Corbell Rosemary Follett* David Lamont Marion Reilly Michael Wilson Silvia ZamoraGreg Aouad David Ash Kate Carnell* Greg Cornwell* Gary Humphries* Lucinda Spier Gwen WilcoxNatasha Davis Shane Rattenbury Kerrie Tucker*Nicola Appleyard Greg KramerMoore candidatesSmokers candidatesUngrouped  Mark Dunstone Michael Moore* Tona Ven RaayJohn McMahon John ReavellMike Boland (Ind) Arthur Burns Allison Dellit Terry De LucaAlex Middleton Regina Slazenger (Ind) Fred Weston (Ind)

Results

+ Results by electorate Brindabella Ginninderra Molonglo Party Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Votes % Seats Liberal 18,494 37.1 2 19,507 40.7 2 28,894 42.9 3 Labor 15,758 31.6 2 15,693 32.7 2 20,825 30.9 2 Greens 3,965 8.0 0 4,176 8.7 1 6,826 10.1 1 Moore Independents 1,907 3.8 0 3,837 8.0 0 5,901 8.8 1 Independent 6,779 13.6 1 1,059 2.2 0 1,422 2.1 0 Democrats 1,878 3.8 0 2,420 5.1 0 2,159 3.2 0 Smokers Are Voters And Civil Rights 1,116 2.2 0 1,247 2.6 0 1,407 2.1 0

+ Distribution of seats Electorate Seats held Brindabella     I     Ginninderra           Molonglo       M       I - Independent politician M - Moore Independents

Opinion polling Voting intention DateFirmInterviewmode SamplesizePrimary vote 18 February 1995 1995 election — 176,264 40.5% 31.6% 9.1% 7.1% 3.9% 2.3% 5.6% — 8−14 February 1995 Canberra Times/Datacol Telephone 1278 26.2% 23.8% 6.4% 4.9% 3.5% 0.9% 2.4% 31.9% 28 January−7 February 1995 Canberra Times/Datacol Telephone 916 22% 26% 5% 4% 3% 1% 2% 36% 21 August−20 September 1994 Canberra Times/Datacol Telephone 964 32% 36% 1% 3% 1% 6% 21% 15 February 1992 1992 election — 166,467 29.0% 39.9% — 5.6% 4.5% — 21.0% —

Brindabella DateFirmInterviewmode SamplesizePrimary vote 18 February 1995 1995 election — 49,897 37.1% 31.6% 8.0% 3.8% 3.8% 2.2% 13.6% — 8−14 February 1995 Canberra Times/Datacol Telephone 1278 25% 23% 5% 4% 3% 2% 6% 32% 28 January−7 February 1995 Canberra Times/Datacol Telephone 916 19% 29% 4% 2% 2% 1% 6% 39% 21 August−20 September 1994 Canberra Times/Datacol Telephone 964 37% 33% 0% 2% 1% 6% 22%

Ginninderra DateFirmInterviewmode SamplesizePrimary vote 18 February 1995 1995 election — 47,939 32.7% 40.7% 8.7% 8.0% 5.1% 2.6% 2.2% — 8−14 February 1995 Canberra Times/Datacol Telephone 1278 23% 25% 4% 6% 4% 1% 1% 35% 28 January−7 February 1995 Canberra Times/Datacol Telephone 916 22% 24% 5% 4% 4% 1% 2% 39% 21 August−20 September 1994 Canberra Times/Datacol Telephone 964 29% 36% 0% 3% 0% 6% 24%

Molonglo DateFirmInterviewmode SamplesizePrimary vote 18 February 1995 1995 election — 67,434 42.9% 30.9% 10.1% 8.8% 3.2% 2.1% 2.1% — 8−14 February 1995 Canberra Times/Datacol Telephone 1278 29% 23% 9% 5% 3% 0% 1% 30% 28 January−7 February 1995 Canberra Times/Datacol Telephone 916 25% 26% 7% 5% 5% 0% 0% 31% 21 August−20 September 1994 Canberra Times/Datacol Telephone 964 29% 39% 2% 5% 2% 5% 19%

Preferred chief minister DateFirmInterviewmode Samplesize Carnell Follett Don'tknow 8−14 February 1995 Canberra Times/Datacol Telephone 1278 36% 38% 26% 28 January−7 February 1995 Canberra Times/Datacol Telephone 916 39% 36% 25% 21 August−20 September 1994 Canberra Times/Datacol Telephone 964 39% 36% 26%

Leadership approval ratings Rosemary Follett (Labor) Date FirmInterviewmode Samplesize Approval rating Performance rating Approve Disapprove 28 January−7 February 1995 Canberra Times/Datacol Telephone 916 13% 19% 37% 25% 6%

Kate Carnell (Liberal) Date FirmInterviewmode Samplesize Approval rating Performance rating Approve Disapprove 28 January−7 February 1995 Canberra Times/Datacol Telephone 916 10% 18% 38% 28% 6%

Michael Moore (MMIG) Date FirmInterviewmode Samplesize Approval rating Performance rating Approve Disapprove 28 January−7 February 1995 Canberra Times/Datacol Telephone 916 20% 21% 40% 16% 4%

See also Members of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly, 1995–1998 First Carnell Ministry List of Australian Capital Territory elections

Notes

References

External links ACT Electoral Commission ACT Legislative Assembly - List of Members (1989 - 2008)