1980 Western Australian state election

Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 23 February 1980 to elect all 55 members to the Legislative Assembly and 16 members to the 32-seat Legislative Council. The Liberal-National Country coalition government, led by Premier Sir Charles Court, won a third term in office against the Labor Party, led by Opposition Leader Ron Davies.

The election produced very little in terms of the balance of the parties in Parliament—Labor won Kimberley from the Liberals in the Assembly, and a North Province seat in the Council, but lost two Council seats to the Liberals—one each in North Metropolitan and South-East Metropolitan. However, Labor received a substantial swing overall, increasing majorities in seats it already held, and reducing Liberal majorities in western suburban seats and pushing the key seats of Bunbury and Pilbara into marginal status. Despite a vigorous campaign against each other, the National Country and National parties, which had split in August 1978, failed to gain any seats off each other, each retaining three seats in the Assembly, and the former retaining one in the Council.

Results

Legislative Assembly

Notes: 714,724 electors were enrolled to vote at the election, but two seats were uncontested: the seat of Collie, held by Labor's Tom Jones and representing 8,854 electors, and East Melville, won by the Liberals' Anthony Trethowan representing 16,804 electors, which was uncontested due to the Labor candidate's failure to submit their nomination on time. The National Country Party contested seven seats in the 1977 election, winning six of them and attaining 5.28% of the vote. The National Party split from the National Country Party on 10 August 1978, with the former contesting 8 seats and the latter 11.

Legislative Council

Notes: The National Country Party contested four seats in the 1977 election, winning three of them and attaining 5.56% of the vote. The National Party split from the National Country Party on 10 August 1978, with the former contesting 5 seats and the latter 4.

Seats changing hands Seat Pre-1980 Swing Post-1980 Party Member Margin Margin Member Party Kimberley  Liberal Alan Ridge 1.3 -9.3 8.0 Ernie Bridge Labor  Merredin  National Country Hendy Cowan N/A N/A 23.5 Hendy Cowan National  Mount Marshall  National Country Ray McPharlin N/A N/A 10.8 Ray McPharlin National  Stirling  National Country Matt Stephens N/A N/A 11.4 Matt Stephens National 

Post-election pendulum

Liberal/NCP seats (29)MarginalBunburyJohn SibsonLIB1.3%PilbaraBrian SodemanLIB1.6%RoeGeoff GrewarLIB3.3%MundaringTom HerzfeldLIB3.5%MurdochBarry MacKinnonLIB3.8%ClontarfTony WilliamsLIB3.9%CottesloeBill HassellLIB5.2%Fairly safeScarboroughRay YoungLIB6.2%WhitfordMick NanovichLIB8.3%KarrinyupJim ClarkoLIB8.5%Murchison-EyrePeter CoyneLIB9.0%Mount LawleyRay O'ConnorLIB9.2%MurrayRichard ShaldersLIB9.2%WellingtonJune CraigLIB9.2%SafeDarling RangeGeorge SpriggsLIB11.0%RoeGeoff GrewarLIB11.1% v NCPAlbanyLeon WattLIB12.5%GascoyneIan LauranceLIB12.7%South PerthBill GraydenLIB13.0%SubiacoTom DadourLIB13.9%KalamundaIan ThompsonLIB14.4%FloreatAndrew MensarosLIB19.4%NedlandsCharles CourtLIB20.6%VasseBarry BlaikieLIB21.7%MooreBert CraneNCP23.1%NarroginPeter JonesNCP27.0%KatanningDick OldNCP29.3% v NATGreenoughReg TubbyLIB29.4%East MelvilleAnthony TrethowanLIBunopp. Labor seats (23)Fairly safe AvonKen McIverALP6.7% GosnellsBob PearceALP7.4% KimberleyErnie BridgeALP8.0% CanningTom BatemanALP8.5% WelshpoolColin JamiesonALP9.4% SwanJack SkidmoreALP9.6% Mount HawthornRon BertramALP9.7% GeraldtonJeff CarrALP9.8%Safe MaylandsJohn HarmanALP10.2% AscotMal BryceALP12.1% DianellaKeith WilsonALP12.2% WarrenDavid EvansALP12.5% RockinghamMike BarnettALP13.4% KalgoorlieIan TaylorALP14.5% MorleyArthur TonkinALP14.7% Victoria ParkRon DaviesALP14.7% MelvilleBarry HodgeALP15.1% PerthTerry BurkeALP16.2% FremantleDavid ParkerALP17.5% BalcattaBrian BurkeALP18.7% Yilgarn-DundasJulian GrillALP22.8%CockburnAlexander TaylorALP23.1%CollieTom JonesALPunopp.National seats (3)Mount MarshallRay McPharlinNAT10.8% v LIBStirlingMatt StephensNAT11.4% v LIBMerredinHendy CowanNAT23.5% v LIB

See also Members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, 1977–1980 Members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, 1980–1983 Candidates of the 1980 Western Australian state election

References