1908 Victorian state election
29 December 1908 (1908-12-29)
All 65 seats in the Victorian Legislative Assembly
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader George Prendergast John Murray Thomas Bent
Party Labor Liberal United Liberal
Leader since 1904 1908 1907
Leader's seat North Melbourne Warrnambool Brighton
Last election 14 seats Did not exist 49 seats
Seats won 21 seats 18 seats 24 seats
Seat change Increase 7 Increase 18 Decrease 25
Percentage 34.78 33.94 19.98
Swing Increase 1.85% Increase 33.94% Decrease 31.38%
Premier before election

Thomas Bent
United Liberal

 Elected Premier

John Murray
Liberal

The 1908 Victorian state election was held in the Australian state of Victoria on 29 December 1908 to elect 40 of the 65 members of the state's Legislative Assembly.[1] The other 25 seats were uncontested.

The election was in single-member districts, using first-past-the-post voting.

Background

The National Citizens' Reform League, led by Thomas Bent, had disbanded shortly after the 1904 state election, leading to the majority of Liberals and Conservatives sitting separately again for around three years.[2][3]

Bent formed the United Liberal Party in February 1907, two years before the federal Commonwealth Liberal Party was founded.[2]

However, after only a single year, Liberals John Murray and Alexander Peacock successfully moved a no confidence motion against him.[4] This led to the ULP splitting and the Liberal Party forming.[4]

The Labor side of politics was controlled by the Political Labor Council. In 1904, George Prendergast became the first leader of the Parliamentary Labor Party.

Results

Despite winning the highest number of seats, the United Liberal Party was defeated. John Murray would be chosen as Premier on 6 January 1909 following a conference of both Murray's and Bent's supporters.[1]

25 seats were uncontested.[1]

Legislative Assembly (FPTP)[1]
Party Votes  % Swing Seats Change
  Labor 30,605 34.78 +0.38 21 Increase 7
  Liberal 29,866 33.94 +33.94 18 Increase 18
  United Liberal 17,578 19.98 −31.38 24 Decrease 25
  Independent Liberal 5,455 6.20 +6.20 2 Increase 2
  Independent Ministerialist 539 0.61 −8.86 0 Decrease 1
  Victorian Socialist 167 0.19 +0.19 0 Steady
  Independent 3,785 4.30 +1.94 0 Decrease 1
 Formal votes 87,995 99.47
 Informal votes 0.53
 Total 87,995 65
 Registered voters / turnout 263,876 53.64

Aftermath

On 8 January 1909, John Murray successfully moved a motion of no-confidence in Bent's government and succeeded him as Premier.

Four months later, the federal Commonwealth Liberal Party was formed, into which the Liberals merged.[5][6][7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Australian Politics and Elections Database: 29 December 1908". University of Western Australia. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  2. 1 2 "1900-1919: turbulent years". Victorian Electoral Commission.
  3. ↑ "A Union of Farmers". The Advocate. 9 July 1904.
  4. 1 2 "Parliament in Exile: Aspects of the Victorian Parliament at the Exhibition Building, 1901 to 1927" (PDF). Australasian Study of Parliament Group.
  5. ↑ "Federal Fusion. Conference Between Leaders". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 May 1909.
  6. ↑ "Federal Fusion. Negotiations Concluded". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 May 1909.
  7. ↑ "Fusion Fixed. A United Body". The Sydney Morning Herald. 27 May 1909.


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