1996 Western Australian state election

Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 14 December 1996 to elect all 57 members to the Legislative Assembly and all 34 members to the Legislative Council. The Liberal–National coalition government, led by Premier Richard Court, won a second term in office against the Labor Party, led by Opposition Leader Geoff Gallop since 15 October 1996.

The election resulted in the Liberals winning an outright majority for the first time in Western Australia's history. Although Court did not need the support of the Nationals, the coalition was retained. Meanwhile, Labor attracted its lowest share of the primary vote since 1901.

Results

Legislative Assembly

Notes: At the 1993 election, Liberal Party member Phillip Pendal won the South Perth seat, whilst Labor Party member Ernie Bridge won Kimberley. Both members resigned from their parties during the term of parliament, and won their seats as independents in 1996.

Legislative Council

In the Agricultural and South West regions, the Liberals and Nationals ran a joint ticket, and in Mining and Pastoral, they ran separately, with the Liberals attracting 18,635 of the 52,240 formal votes and the Nationals 5,087.

Seats changing hands

Seat Pre-1996 Swing Post-1996 Party Member Margin Margin Member Party Kimberley  Labor Ernie Bridge 15.4 N/A 11.5 Ernie Bridge Independent  Mitchell  Labor David Smith 0.5 +3.7 3.2 Dan Sullivan Liberal  Ningaloo  Labor Kevin Leahy 1.2 +1.9 0.7 Rod Sweetman Liberal  South Perth  Liberal Phillip Pendal 13.2 N/A 14.2 Phillip Pendal Independent  Southern River  Labor Judyth Watson 2.6 +4.1 1.5 Monica Holmes Liberal 

Post-election pendulum

Liberal/National seats (35)MarginalBallajuraRhonda ParkerLIB0.1%NingalooRod SweetmanLIB0.7%Southern RiverMonica HolmesLIB1.5%WannerooIain MacLeanLIB1.6%CarineKatie Hodson-ThomasLIB2.2% v INDAlfred CoveDoug ShaveLIB2.4% v INDMandurahRoger NichollsLIB3.0%YokineKim HamesLIB3.2%MitchellDan SullivanLIB3.2%InnalooGeorge StricklandLIB4.0%BunburyIan OsborneLIB5.3%JoondalupChris BakerLIB5.5%Fairly safeRivertonGraham KierathLIB6.7%GeraldtonBob BloffwitchLIB7.0%RoleystoneFred TubbyLIB7.2%VasseBernie MastersLIB9.2% v NATCollieHilda TurnbullNAT9.3%Swan HillsJune van de KlashorstLIB9.7%HillarysRob JohnsonLIB9.9%DawesvilleArthur MarshallLIB9.9%SafeKingsleyCheryl EdwardesLIB10.2%AlbanyKevin PrinceLIB11.9%RoeRoss AinsworthNAT12.0% v INDMurray-WellingtonJohn BradshawLIB12.0%Darling RangeJohn DayLIB12.9%NedlandsRichard CourtLIB14.9%MurdochMike BoardLIB15.1%AvonMax TrenordenNAT16.8%Warren-BlackwoodPaul OmodeiLIB17.1%CottesloeColin BarnettLIB19.8%GreenoughKevin MinsonLIB22.1%StirlingMonty HouseNAT24.1%MooreBill McNeeLIB27.9%WaginBob WieseNAT28.7%MerredinHendy CowanNAT31.2% Labor seats (19)Marginal ThornlieSheila McHaleALP1.5% BurrupFred RiebelingALP1.7% ArmadaleAlannah MacTiernanALP4.0% MidlandMichelle RobertsALP4.3% KalgoorlieMegan AnwylALP4.4%Fairly safe MaylandsJudy EdwardsALP7.1% BelmontEric RipperALP7.5% RockinghamMark McGowanALP7.5% Victoria ParkGeoff GallopALP7.8% PerthDiana WarnockALP7.9% WillageeAlan CarpenterALP8.8% NollamaraJohn KobelkeALP8.9%Safe CockburnBill ThomasALP10.6% EyreJulian GrillALP11.0% PeelNorm MarlboroughALP11.2% v IND FremantleJim McGintyALP11.3% BassendeanClive BrownALP12.0% GirrawheenTed CunninghamALP12.6% PilbaraLarry GrahamALP15.7%Crossbench seats (3)KimberleyErnie BridgeIND11.5% v LIBSouth PerthPhillip PendalIND14.2% v LIBChurchlandsLiz ConstableIND33.2% v ALP

See also Candidates of the 1996 Western Australian state election Members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, 1993–1996 Members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, 1996–2001 McGinty v Western Australia

References