1920 Victorian state election

The 1920 Victorian state election was held in the Australian state of Victoria on Thursday 21 October 1920 to elect the 65 members of the state's Legislative Assembly.[1]

1920 Victorian state election

21 October 1920
all 65 seats in the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Leader Harry Lawson George Prendergast John Allan Party Nationalist Labor VFU Leader since May 1918 18 June 1918 Leader's seat Castlemaine and Maldon North Melbourne Rodney Last election 40 seats 18 seats 4 seats Seats won 30 seats 20 seats 13 seats Seat change 10 2 9 Percentage 47.95% 29.28% 14.41% Swing 9.03 3.00 8.28
Premier before election Harry Lawson Nationalist Elected Premier Harry Lawson Nationalist

Background

The Nationalist party had reunited after the 1917 election in which the Nationalist members supporting John Bowser defeated those supporting the former Premier Alexander Peacock over his decision to increase country rail fares, and formed a majority government with 40 members. Bowser resigned as premier in March 1918, having little taste for the office, and was replaced by Peacock supporter Harry Lawson.

Meanwhile, in rural Victoria, the Victorian Farmers' Union had been gathering support and was looking to gain more seats from the Nationalists in these regions. This election would be their debut as a major force in Victorian politics where neither the Nationalists and their successors or Labor could form government without their support (or that of their successors, the Country Party) until 1952.

Results

Legislative Assembly

1920 Victorian state election[1][2] Legislative Assembly << 1917–1921 >>
Enrolled voters		735,054
Votes cast		468,223		Turnout	63.70	+9.49
Informal votes		20,593		Informal	4.40	+1.25
Summary of votes by party
Party		Primary votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
	Nationalist	214,650	47.95	−9.03	30	–10
	Labor	131,083	29.28	–3.00	20	+2
	Victorian Farmers	64,500	14.41	+8.28	13	+9
	Ind. Nationalist	22,448	5.01	*	1	+1
	Independent	14,949	3.34	+0.98	1	+1
Total		447,630			65

Notes:

• Eleven seats were uncontested at this election, and were retained by the incumbent parties:
  • Nationalist (3): Allandale, Gippsland West, Ovens
  • Labor (7): Abbotsford, Carlton, Flemington, Port Fairy, Richmond, Warrenheip, Williamstown
  • VFU (1): Wangaratta

See also

• Candidates of the 1920 Victorian state election
• Members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly, 1920–1921
• 1919 Victorian Legislative Council election

References

1. Colin A Hughes, A Handbook of Australian Government and Politics 1890-1964, Canberra: Australian National University Press, 1968 (ISBN 0708102700).
2. Election held on 21 October 1920, Australian Politics and Elections Database (University of Western Australia).