Australian federal election, 1980

Independent: Brian Harradine

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Issues

The mood in the electorate was moving against the Fraser Government by 1980. The economy had been performing poorly since the 1973 oil shock; unemployment remained obstinately high; and Fraser himself was seen by many people as being cold and aloof. Still, the Coalition went into the election with a very large majority, and was able to absorb a strong swing against it. In addition, Opposition Leader Bill Hayden was not seen as having great electoral prospects [http://australianpolitics.com/elections/1980/] .

ignificance

The Coalition’s majority was cut back badly in 1980, which appeared to scare the Government. It lost some of its discipline, delivering budgets badly in deficit, while Fraser himself was challenged for the Liberal leadership by Andrew Peacock. The Australian Democrats made further gains, winning the balance of power in the Senate. From July 1981 (when those senators elected at the 1980 election took up their positions) no Federal Government in Australia enjoyed a Senate majority until 2004 when John Howard won such a majority.

References

* [http://australianpolitics.com/elections/1980/ AustralianPolitics.com election details]
* [http://elections.uwa.edu.au/ University of WA] election results in Australia since 1890
* [http://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/Australian_Electoral_History/House_of_Representative_1949_Present.htm AEC 2PP vote]
*Prior to 1984 the AEC did not undertake a full distribution of preferences for statistical purposes. The stored ballot papers for the 1983 election were put through this process prior to their destruction. Therefore the figures from 1983 onwards show the actual result based on full distribution of preferences.