1904 Victorian state election

The 1904 Victorian state election was held in the Australian state of Victoria on 1 June 1904 to elect 55 of the 67 members of the state's Legislative Assembly.[1] The other 12 seats were uncontested. The election was in one and two member districts, using first past the post (plurality) voting.

1904 Victorian state election

1 June 1904
the 67 seats in the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Leader Thomas Bent Frederick Bromley Party Reform League Australian Labour Party Leader since 1904 1904 Leader's seat Brighton Last election seats 12 seats Seats won 35 seats 17 seats Seat change 5 Percentage 36.14 32.55 Swing 30.86% 14.54%
Premier before election Thomas Bent Reform Elected Premier Thomas Bent Reform

It was the first election to be held since the passing of the Constitution Act 1903[2] (also known as the "Constitution Reform Act"). It's changes included reducing the number of seats in the Legislative Assembly from 95 to 67. In addition to the geographically defined electorates, there was now a single member "public officers and railway officers" electorate in the Legislative Council; and a one member "public officers" and a two member "railway officers" electorate in the Legislative Assembly. Members of the public service had previously not been eligible to stand as candidates without first resigning. Under the changes, they could stand while a state employee, and if successful in winning a seat, would have a leave of absence while an MP.

Background

Ministerialists were a group of members of parliament who supported a government in office but were not bound by tight party discipline. Ministerialists represented loose pre-party groupings who held seats in state parliaments up to 1914. Such members ran for office as independents or under a variety of political labels but saw themselves as linked to other candidates by their support for a particular premier or government.

Thomas Bent was elected on 16 February 1904 leader of the Commonwealth Liberal Party, replacing Premier William Irvine who went into federal politics, and went into the election as the incumbent Premier. At the June 1904 election Bent won a comfortable majority with 35 of the 67 seats, and the Labour Party became the second largest party in the Assembly with 17 seats.

Results

Legislative Assembly

Victorian state election, 1 June 1904[1] Legislative Assembly << 1902–1907 >>
Enrolled voters		277,006
Votes cast		153,377		Turnout	63.38%
Informal votes		1,498		Informal
Summary of votes by party
Party		Primary votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
	Reform League	55,426	36.14	+30.86	35
	Labour	49,922	32.55	+14.54	17
	Opposition	37,422	24.40	+6.31	12
	Independent Ministerialists	7,554	4.93	-8.52	2
	Independent Labor	2,108	1.37	-0.50	1
	Independent	945	0.62	*	0
Total		153,377			67

See also

• Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, 1904–1907

References

1. "Australian Politics and Elections Database: 1 June 1904". University of Western Australia. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
2. "The Constitution Act 1903". AustLII.