Elections were held in the Australian state of Queensland on 29 April 1950 to elect the 75 members of the state's Legislative Assembly. The Labor government was seeking its seventh continuous term in office since the 1932 election; it would be Premier Ned Hanlon's second election.
The Assembly had been increased in size prior to the election by the Electoral Districts Act 1949 from 62 to 75 seats.
Key dates Date Event 8 December 1949 The new electoral boundaries under the Electoral Districts Act 1949 were proclaimed. 27 March 1950 The Parliament was dissolved. 27 March 1950 Writs were issued by the Governor to proceed with an election. 3 April 1950 Close of nominations. 29 April 1950 Polling day, between the hours of 8am and 6pm. 10 May 1950 The Hanlon Ministry was re-sworn in. 13 May 1950 Polling day in the seat of Gregory. 9 June 1950 The writ was returned and the results formally declared. 1 August 1950 Parliament resumed for business.
Results
+Legislative Assembly (IRV) – Turnout: 91.35% Party Primary vote Seats Votes % Swing () Seats Change Labor 295,138 46.94 +3.94 42 7 Country 121,199 19.28 –1.12 20 6 Liberal 188,331 29.95 +0.57 11 2 North Queensland Labor 7,689 1.22 +0.5 1 Frank Barnes Labor 2,759 0.44 –3.01 0 1 Communist 2,351 0.37 –0.87 0 1 Independent Labor 243 0.04 +0.04 0 Independent 11,952 1.90 –0.90 1 1 Total 628,750 100.00 75 13 Invalid/blank votes 7,088 1.13 –0.27 colspan=2 Turnout 628,750 91.35 +0.6 colspan=2 Registered voters 688,309 colspan=2 colspan=2
718,685 electors were enrolled to vote at the election, but 3 seats held by the Country Party representing 30,376 enrolled voters were unopposed.
Seats changing party representation
There was an extensive redistribution across Queensland prior to this election, increasing the amount of seats from 62 to 75. The seat changes are as follows.
Abolished seats
Seat Incumbent member PartyAlbertTom Plunkett CountryBowenFred Paterson CommunistDalby*vacant East ToowoombaGordon Chalk LiberalEnoggeraKenneth Morris LiberalGympieThomas Dunstan LaborHamiltonHarold Taylor LiberalHerbertStephen Theodore LaborKennedyCecil Jesson LaborLoganThomas Hiley LiberalMaranoaJohn Taylor LaborMareeLouis Luckins LiberalNanangoJoh Bjelke-Petersen CountryNormanbyTom Foley LaborOxleyTom Kerr LiberalStanleyDuncan MacDonald CountryThe TablelandHarry Bruce LaborWest Moreton*vacant Wide BayJames Heading Country
Members listed in italics resigned from politics at this election. The Country Party member for Dalby, Charles Russell resigned from the seat to contest and win the seat of Maranoa at the 1949 federal election. No by-election was held due to the proximity to the state election. The Country Party member for West Moreton, Ted Maher resigned from the seat to contest and win a seat in the Senate at the 1949 federal election. No by-election was held due to the proximity to the state election.
New seats
Seat Party Elected memberBalonne LaborJohn TaylorBarambah CountryJoh Bjelke-PetersenBelyando LaborTom FoleyBurdekin IndependentArthur CoburnCallide CountryVince JonesChermside LiberalAlex DewarClayfield LiberalHarold TaylorCondamine CountryEric AllpassCoorparoo LiberalThomas HileyDarlington CountryTom PlunkettFlinders LaborErnest RiordanHaughton LaborColin McCathieHinchinbrook LaborCecil JessonKedron LiberalBruce PieLandsborough CountryFrank NicklinLockyer LiberalGordon ChalkMackenzie LaborPaddy WhyteMarodian CountryJames HeadingMount Coot-tha LiberalKenneth MorrisMount Gravatt LaborFelix DittmerMourilyan LaborPeter ByrneMulgrave CountryBob WatsonNash LaborThomas DunstanNorman LiberalLouis LuckinsNorth Toowoomba LaborLes WoodRoma CountryWilliam EwanSherwood LiberalTom KerrSomerset CountryDuncan MacDonaldSouthport CountryEric GavenTablelands LaborHarold CollinsWhitsunday CountryLloyd RobertsYeronga LiberalWinston Noble
Seats changing hands
Seat Incumbent member Party New member PartyBulimbaGeorge Marriott Independent LaborBob Gardner LaborBundabergFrank Barnes Frank Barnes LaborTed Walsh LaborCookHarold Collins LaborCarlisle Wordsworth CountryWindsorBruce Pie LiberalTom Rasey Labor
Members listed in italics did not recontest their seats.
See also Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, 1947–1950 Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, 1950–1953 Candidates of the Queensland state election, 1950 Hanlon Ministry
Notes
References