Special Senate elections were held on 26 November 1966 to elect members to fill casual vacancies in the Australian Senate for the states of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia.
Prior to 29 July 1977, the filing of casual vacancies was complex. While senators were elected for a six-year term, people appointed to a casual vacancy only held office until the earlier of the next election for the House of Representatives or the Senate, at which the vacancy would be filled by the electors of the relevant state.
This was one of the few occasions in which there was a special election for the Senate, as the House of Representatives and Senate elections had got out of synchronisation as a result of Robert Menzies calling an early House-only election in 1963.
Because of the loss of a seat in Western Australia, the Coalition held less than half of the seats in the chamber; the Democratic Labor Party and independent senator Reg Turnbull held the balance of power.
Australia +Senate (STV) — 1966—Turnout 95.05% (CV) — Informal 5.34%PartyVotes %SwingSeats wonSeats heldChange 1,645,31934.21322 1 761,44915.8317Coalition total2,406,76850.040 429 1 1,897,04939.452281 421,9598.77−2 43,7160.91 39,7990.831 Total4,809,291 654
New South Wales
Queensland
Victoria
Western Australia
Changing seats State1963 electionAppointment1966 ElectionParty Member TermParty Member Date MemberParty New South Wales Bill Spooner 1963-1968 Bob Cotton 4 August 1965 Bob Cotton Victoria Charles Sandford 1963-1968 George Poyser 26 October 1966 George Poyser Harrie Wade 1963-1968 James Webster 9 December 1964 James Webster Queensland Bob Sherrington 1963-1968 Bill Heatley 14 April 1966 Bill Heatley Western Australia Sir Shane Paltridge 1963-1968 Reg Withers 17 February 1966 Laurie Wilkinson Seddon Vincent 1963-1968 Peter Sim 26 November 1964 Peter Sim
See also
Candidates of the 1966 Australian federal election Members of the Australian Senate, 1965–1968
References