Elections were held in the Australian state of Queensland on 11 June 1932 to elect the 62 members of the state's Legislative Assembly.
The election saw the first-term Country and Progressive National Party government led by Arthur Edward Moore facing reelection and was held in the midst of the Great Depression. Labor had previously held office from 1915 until 1929.
The election resulted in the defeat of the one-term Moore government by the Labor Party, led by William Forgan Smith.
Key dates Date Event 3 February 1932 The new electoral boundaries under the Electoral Districts Act 1931 were proclaimed. 19 April 1932 The Parliament was dissolved. 20 April 1932 Writs were issued by the Governor to proceed with an election. 28 April 1932 Close of nominations. 11 June 1932 Polling day, between the hours of 8am and 6pm. 18 June 1932 The Moore Ministry resigned and the Forgan Smith Ministry was sworn in. 2 July 1932 Polling day in the seat of Hamilton, delayed due to the death of a candidate. 16 July 1932 The writ was returned and the results formally declared. 15 August 1932 Parliament resumed for business.
Results
The election saw a major swing to Labor from the 1929 election. The election took place on modified boundaries — the Assembly had been reduced by the Electoral Districts Act 1931 from 72 to 62 seats, mainly accomplished by the abolition of sitting Labor members' seats. Despite this, Labor went from a deficit of 16 seats to a surplus of 5 seats.
525,944 electors were enrolled to vote at the election, but 5 seats (8.1% of the total) were uncontested—4 Labor seats (two more than in 1929) representing 27,083 enrolled voters and one Independent seat (held by Arnold Wienholt) representing 6,825 enrolled voters.
Seats changing party representation
There was an extensive redistribution across Queensland prior to this election, decreasing the amount of seats from 72 to 62. The seat changes are as follows.
Abolished seats
Seat Incumbent member PartyBalonneSamuel Brassington LaborBurkeArthur Jones LaborBurnettRobert Boyd CPNPBurrumWilliam Brand CPNPChillagoeErnest Atherton CPNPEachamGeorge Duffy CPNPFlindersJohn Mullan LaborLeichhardtTom Foley LaborLockyerCharles Jamieson IndependentMitchellRichard Bow LaborMount MorganJames Stopford LaborPaddingtonAlfred Jones LaborQueentonVernon Winstanley LaborRosewoodTed Maher CPNPToombulHugh Russell CPNP
Members listed in italics did not run for this election.
New seats
Seat Party Elected memberCarpentaria LaborJohn MullanHamilton CPNPHugh RussellIsis CPNPWilliam BrandThe Tableland LaborHarry BruceWest Moreton CPNPTed Maher
Seats changing hands
Seat Incumbent member Party New member PartyBulimbaIrene Longman CPNPWilliam Copley LaborEnoggeraJim Kerr CPNPGeorge Taylor LaborIpswichJames Walker CPNPDavid Gledson LaborKelvin GroveRichard Hill CPNPFrank Waters LaborKennedyHarry Bruce LaborArthur Fadden CPNPKurilpaJames Fry CPNPKerry Copley LaborMareeGeorge Tedman CPNPWilliam King LaborMaryboroughJohn Blackley* CPNPJames Stopford LaborMerthyrPatrick Kerwin CPNPJames Keogh LaborNormanbyJens Peterson CPNPTom Foley LaborNundahWilliam Kelso CPNPJohn Hayes LaborPort CurtisFrank Butler CPNPTommy Williams LaborRockhamptonThomas Dunlop IndependentJames Larcombe LaborSouth BrisbaneNeil MacGroarty CPNPVince Gair LaborToowoombaJames Annand CPNPEvan Llewelyn Labor
Members listed in italics did not recontest their seats. In addition, Independent MP Arnold Wienholt held the seat of Fassifern, which he had won from the CPNP at the 1930 by-election. The sitting member for Maryborough, John Blackley won this seat from Labor at the 1929 by-election.
Aftermath Forgan Smith went on to be premier for over 10 years, and Labor held power continuously until the party's split in 1957.
See also Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, 1929–1932 Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, 1932–1935 Candidates of the Queensland state election, 1932 Moore Ministry (Queensland) Forgan Smith Ministry
References