The 1944 Queensland state election was held on 15 April 1944 to elect all 62 members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland. The Labor Party, led by premier Frank Cooper, was elected to a fifth term in office, albeit with a reduced majority.

Prior to the election, the electoral system was changed from contingency voting to first-past-the-post. The change was brought about by the state government three weeks after Labor lost the 1942 Cairns by-election, where it had led on primary votes but lost to King O'Malley Labor in the two-candidate-preferred count. First-past-the-post was in place for Queensland state elections until full preferential voting was introduced by the Country−Liberal coalition in 1963.

Background Key dates Date Event 23 February 1944 The Parliament was dissolved. 24 February 1944 Writs were issued by the Governor to proceed with an election. 3 March 1944 Close of nominations. 15 April 1944 Polling day, between the hours of 8am and 6pm. 27 April 1944 The Cooper Ministry was reconstituted. 29 May 1944 The writ was returned and the results formally declared. 1 August 1944 Parliament resumed for business.

Parties and independents Some ructions had developed between some sections of the Labor Party and the party's AWU-dominated executive, resulting in tiny splinter movements which were, however, locally effective. The Hermit Park branch in Townsville, which had dominated the Townsville City Council since 1939, was expelled from the ALP for alleged disloyalty in 1942, possibly due to association with Communists. Tom Aikens won the seat of Mundingburra at the election. Similar forces saw sitting left-wing members George Taylor (Enoggera) and George Marriott (Bulimba) expelled from the party; the former lost his seat to a QPP candidate, while the latter retained his at the 1944 and 1947 elections. Frank Barnes, a colourful identity who supported social credit theories popular since the Great Depression and declared himself opposed to the Labor government, retained his seat of Bundaberg.

Various changes were taking place in conservative politics as well, with the dissolution of the United Australia Party and the formation of the Queensland People's Party (QPP), led by the mayor of Brisbane and member for Hamilton, John Beals Chandler. The two independent conservatives elected in 1941 were both out of parliament by the election — Bruce Pie had resigned to contest the 1943 federal election, whilst William Deacon had died. One of the former United Australia Party members, Louis Luckins (Maree), did not join the QPP originally and retained his seat in 1944 as an independent.

Apart from the above, numerous independent candidates contested with a range of banners, including Democrat, Christian Socialist, Servicemen's Association, People's Party and Independent Country Party, none of them achieving more than a few hundred votes.

Fred Paterson was elected in Bowen, the only member of the Communist Party of Australia to be elected to an Australian parliament.

Candidates

Results

+Legislative Assembly (FPTP) – Turnout: 78.17% Party Primary vote Seats Votes % Swing () Seats Change   Labor 237,042 46.23 –3.51 38 3   People's Party 124,573 24.29 +24.29 7 7  Country 88,608 17.28 –2.93 12 6  Communist 12,467 2.43 +1.43 1 1   King O'Malley Labor 5,790 1.13 +1.13 1 1  Hermit Park Labor 5,521 1.08 +1.08 1 1  Frank Barnes Labor 4,180 0.82 –0.2 1  Democratic 999 0.19 -1.75 0 2  All Services Association of Australia 325 0.06 +0.06 0  Christian Socialist 230 0.04 +0.04 0  Independent 23,680 4.62 +0.55 1 1 Total 512,768 100.00 62 Invalid/blank votes 9,352 1.82 –0.29 colspan=2 Turnout 512,768 78.17 –6.44 colspan=2 Registered voters 655,984 colspan=2 colspan=2

Seats changing hands

This table lists changes in party representation at the 1944 election.

Seat Incumbent member Party New member PartyBowenErnest Riordan LaborFred Paterson CommunistBulimbaGeorge Marriott LaborGeorge Marriott Independent LaborCunninghamWilliam Deacon* Independent CountryMalcolm McIntyre CountryEnoggeraGeorge Taylor Independent LaborKenneth Morris People's PartyKeppelDavid Daniel CountryWalter Ingram LaborLoganJohn Brown LaborThomas Hiley People's PartyMareeLouis Luckins People's PartyLouis Luckins IndependentMundingburraJohn Dash LaborTom Aikens Hermit Park LaborSandgateEric Decker CountryEric Decker People's PartyWindsorHarry Moorhouse Independent DemocratBruce Pie People's PartyWynnumBill Dart IndependentBill Gunn Labor

Members listed in italics did not recontest their seats. The sitting Independent Country member for Cunningham, William Deacon died in 1943. No by-election was held due to the proximity of the state election. In addition, Frank Barnes Labor held the seat of Cairns, which it had won from Labor at the 1942 by-election.

See also Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, 1944–1947 Cooper Ministry

Notes

References