Tasmanian state election, 1925

Tasmanian state election, 1925

3 June 1925

All 30 seats to the House of Assembly   First party Second party Third party   Leader Joseph Lyons Edward Hobbs Walter Lee Party Labor Nationalist Liberal (Lee) Leader since November 1916 October 1924 October 1923 Leader's seat Wilmot Darwin Wilmot Last election 12 seats 12 seats 0 seats Seats won 16 seats 7 seats 4 seats Seat change 4 5 4 Percentage 48.47% 29.02% 10.34% Swing 11.73 11.93 10.34

Premier before election Joseph Lyons Labor Elected Premier Joseph Lyons Labor

A general election for the House of Assembly was held in the Australian state of Tasmania on 3 June 1925 (a Wednesday).

Background

The ambiguous result of the 1922 election had seen a coalition form between the Nationalist and Country parties, and John Hayes was appointed Premier of Tasmania. Hayes and his ministry did not last a full term, however – Tasmania had borrowed heavily during World War I, and was in a poor financial state. Calls for Hayes to resign began in mid-1923, and he did so after a meeting of dissident MHAs undermined his support. James Newton was briefly elected Nationalist leader, but after he failed to achieve the required support, Hayes organised for Walter Lee to be voted leader, and he became the next Premier, as Hayes was appointed to the Australian Senate.^[1]

Walter Lee's ministry was also short-lived. In October 1923, a small group of Nationalists revolted against him, and pledged support for Joseph Lyons and the opposition Labor Party. Lyons was sworn in as Premier, and was incumbent by the time of the 1925 election.^[2]

Results

Tasmanian state election, 3 June 1925 House of Assembly << 1922 — 1928 >>
Enrolled voters		114,901
Votes cast		77,281		Turnout	67.26%	+4.16%
Informal votes		1,714		Informal	2.22%	-0.41%
Summary of votes by party
Party		Primary votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
	Labor	36,631	48.47%	+11.73%	16	+ 4
	Nationalist	21,932	29.02%	–11.93%	7	– 5
	Liberal (Lee)	7,815	10.34%	+10.34%	4	+ 4
	Independent Labor	2,604	3.45%	+2.14%	0	± 0
	Independent	6,585	8.71%	+1.70%	3	+ 2
	Others			–13.98%	0	– 5
Total		75,567			30

Distribution of Seats

Electorate Seats won Bass             Darwin             Denison             Franklin             Wilmot

Labor   Nationalist   Liberal (Lee)   Independent

Aftermath

Labor won the election in a landslide – Lyons' economic improvements and diplomacy with the Nationalists made him a popular Premier.^[2]

See also

• Members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly, 1925–1928
• Candidates of the Tasmanian state election, 1925

References

1. Scott Bennett, Hayes, John Blyth (1868 - 1956), Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 9, Melbourne University Press, 1983, pp 239-240.
2. P. R. Hart, C. J. Lloyd, Lyons, Joseph Aloysius (1879 - 1939), Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 10, Melbourne University Press, 1986, pp 184-189.

External links

• Assembly Election Results, 1925, Parliament of Tasmania.
• Report on General Election, 1925, Tasmanian Electoral Commission, 8 December 1925.