Elections were held in the Australian state of Queensland on 28 May 1960 to elect the 78 members of the state's Legislative Assembly. The election followed the enactment of the Electoral Districts Act 1958, which increased the Assembly from 75 to 78 seats and modified the zonal system first established by Labor ahead of the 1950 election.
The major parties contesting the election were the Country Party led by Premier Frank Nicklin, the Liberal Party led by Kenneth Morris, the Labor Party led by Jack Duggan and the Queensland Labor Party led by Vince Gair. The Country and Liberal parties had formed a coalition.
The Country–Liberal coalition won a second term in office at the election, although the Labor Party recovered five seats and 11% of its vote from the 1957 election. Still, it was the first time since 1912 that a non-Labor government had been re-elected in Queensland.
Key dates Date Event 13 April 1960 The Parliament was dissolved. 19 April 1960 Writs were issued by the governor to proceed with an election. 26 April 1960 Close of nominations. 28 May 1960 Polling day, between the hours of 8am and 6pm. 9 June 1960 The Nicklin Ministry was reconstituted. 8 July 1960 The writ was returned and the results formally declared. 23 August 1960 Parliament resumed for business.
Results
831,398 electors were enrolled to vote at the election, but two Country seats representing 17,814 enrolled voters were unopposed.
Seats changing party representation
There was an extensive redistribution across Queensland prior to this election, increasing the number of seats from 75 to 78. The seat changes were as follows.
Abolished seats
Seat Incumbent member PartyBelyandoTom Foley Queensland LaborBremerJim Donald LaborBurandaKeith Hooper LiberalCarpentariaNorm Smith Queensland LaborCharters TowersArthur Jones Queensland LaborChermsideAlex Dewar LiberalCoorparooThomas Hiley LiberalFitzroyJim Clark LaborFortitude ValleyBob Windsor LiberalHaughtonColin McCathie Queensland LaborIpswichIvor Marsden LaborKelvin GroveDouglas Tooth LiberalKeppelMerv Thackeray LaborMarodianJames Heading CountryMundingburraTom Aikens NQ LaborNashMax Hodges CountryNorth ToowoombaJack Duggan LaborRockhamptonMick Gardner Queensland LaborSouthportEric Gaven CountryToowoombaMervyn Anderson LiberalTownsvilleGeorge Keyatta Labor
Members listed in italics retired at this election.
New seats
Seat Party Elected memberAlbert CountryCec CareyAshgrove LiberalDouglas ToothAspley LiberalFred CampbellBelmont LaborFred NewtonBowen LiberalPeter DelamotheBurke LaborAlec InchBurnett CountryClaude WhartonChatsworth LiberalThomas HileyGreenslopes LiberalKeith HooperGympie CountryMax HodgesHawthorne LaborBill BaxterIpswich East LaborJim DonaldIpswich West LaborIvor MarsdenNudgee LaborJack MelloyRedcliffe IndependentJim HoughtonRockhampton North LaborMerv ThackerayRockhampton South LiberalRex PilbeamSalisbury LaborDoug SherringtonSouth Coast CountryEric GavenToowoomba East LiberalMervyn AndersonToowoomba West LaborJack DugganTownsville North LaborPerc TuckerTownsville South NQ LaborTom AikensWavell LiberalAlex Dewar
Seats changing hands
Seat Incumbent member Party New member PartyAubignyJim Sparkes CountryLes Diplock Queensland LaborBaroonaBill Power Queensland LaborPat Hanlon LaborCondamineLes Diplock Queensland LaborVic Sullivan CountryHinchinbrookCecil Jesson LaborJohn Row CountryIthacaPat Hanlon LaborBob Windsor LiberalSandgateThomas Ahearn LiberalHarry Dean LaborSouth BrisbaneVince Gair Queensland LaborCol Bennett Labor
Members listed in italics did not recontest their seats.
See also Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, 1957–1960 Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, 1960–1963 Candidates of the Queensland state election, 1960 Nicklin Ministry
Notes
References