1945 Victorian state election

Australian state election April 2022 1945 Victorian state election Victoria 1901 parliamentary Primary no 1943 Victorian state election 1943 1947 Victorian state election 1947 1,019,063 87.98% ( 0.98) All 65 seats in the Victorian Legislative Assemblyuncontested Eleven seats − including eight Labor-held seats (Bendigo, Collingwood, Footscray, Geelong, Melbourne, Moonee Ponds, Northcote, Sunshine) and three Liberal-held seats (Kew, Malvern, Scoresby) − were uncontested and thus retained by the incumbent parties.33 seats needed for a majority yes 1945 11 10 John_Cain_1954.jpg 180 130 170 32 24 center John Cain 18 October 1937 Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch) Northcote 360,079 41.02% 4.89 22 seats 31 9 Albert Dunstan (cropped).jpg 130 130 170 0 0 center Albert Dunstan 14 March 1935 CountryThe Country Party was officially known as the United Country Party (UCP) from September 1930 until March 1947, although it was still commonly referred to as the "Country Party".UNITED COUNTRY PARTY https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/264328677 Sunraysia Daily 11 January 2025 1 30 October 1930Dunstan Albert COUNTRY PARTY https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/245667021 The Herald 6 January 2025 6 7 November 1945LIBERAL−CP POLL TALKS https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/245582236 The Herald 6 January 2025 5 26 March 1947 country Korong 163,940 18.67% 5.64 18 seats 18 TomHollway.jpg 140 130 170 0 10 center Thomas Hollway 3 December 1940 Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division) Ballarat 188,119 20.51% 2.56 13 seats 10 3 IanMacfarlanecropped.png 130 130 170 0 0 center Ian Macfarlan 2 October 1945 Ministerial macfarlan liberals Brighton(lost seat) 29,276 3.33% 3.33 Did not exist 3 3 1945 Victorian state election.svg 345px Results in each electorate Premier Premier after election Ian Macfarlan Ministerial Liberal John Cain Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch) The 1945 Victorian state election was held on 10 November 1945 to elect all 65 members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly.SCHOOLBOYS VOTE IN "STATE ELECTION" https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/245663008 The Herald 7 January 2025 3 9 November 1945VICTORIAN STATE ELECTIONS https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/64174101 Gippsland Times 27 November 2024 1 12 November 1945 The Labor Party, led by John Cain, won 31 seats and formed government with the support of two independents.CAIN ACCEPTS COMMISSION https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/272547383 Daily Mirror 6 January 2025 5 19 November 1945 Labor defeated the Country Party, led by former premier Albert Dunstan, and the Liberal Party, led by Thomas Hollway.MR. JOHN CAIN Labor Premier of Victoria https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/146255769 The Australian Worker 7 January 2025 1 19 December 1945 The incumbent premier at the election was Ian Macfarlan, the deputy leader of the Liberal Party, who became premier on 2 October 1945 after the Dunstan government was defeated on the floor of parliament.Abjorensen Norman Geoff Shaw crisis evokes tumultuous events in Victoria's past https://www.smh.com.au/opinion/geoff-shaw-crisis-evokes-tumultuous-events-in-victorias-past-20140605-zry2h.html Sydney Morning Herald 7 January 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20181123213819/https://www.smh.com.au/opinion/geoff-shaw-crisis-evokes-tumultuous-events-in-victorias-past-20140605-zry2h.html 23 November 2018 5 June 2014 Macfarlan contested the election as a Ministerial Liberal, but lost his seat of Brighton to an endorsed Liberal candidate.Macfarlan Rod Ian Macfarlan, Honest Politician https://vicpol.macfarlan.au/dunstanera.php vicpol.macfarlan.au 7 January 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20230610080201/https://vicpol.macfarlan.au/dunstanera.php 10 June 2023 This marks the only time in Victorian history where the sitting premier did not lead any of the three largest parties at an election.Heads of government in Australasia who sat in the upper house of parliament https://andrebrett.com/2024/12/12/heads-of-government-in-australasia-upper-house-of-parliament/ Dr André Brett 7 January 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250107103730/https://andrebrett.com/2024/12/12/heads-of-government-in-australasia-upper-house-of-parliament/ 7 January 2025 12 December 2024 Background First Cain ministry Second Dunstan ministry Macfarlan ministry The Country Party was returned to power at the 1943 state election, with Albert Dunstan serving as premier.DUNSTAN'S MAJORITY ASSURED https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/272122207 Daily Mirror 6 January 2025 5 14 June 1943DUNSTAN GOVERNMENT RETURNED https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/269297204 Corryong Courier 6 January 2025 3 17 June 1943 The ministry was composed entirely of Country MPs, with the United Australia Party (UAP) giving supply in parliament.Sir Albert Arthur Dunstan (1882–1950) https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/dunstan-sir-albert-arthur-6055 Australian Dictionary of Biography 6 January 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20241103151043/https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/dunstan-sir-albert-arthur-6055 3 November 2024JOINT STATE CABINET MOVE TODAY https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/246280970 The Herald 6 January 2025 3 26 August 1943 On 10 September 1943, the Dunstan government was defeated on the floor of parliament after Labor Party MPs voted for a motion of no confidence brought forward by UAP leader Thomas Hollway on the issue of electoral redistribution.Dunstan Government May Be Replaced By U.A.P. Ministry https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/193048916 Daily Examiner 6 January 2025 4 9 September 1943UAP And Labour Oust Dunstan Government https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/78457571 The Daily News 6 January 2025 14 10 September 1943 Dunstan resigned as premier on 14 September, and Labor leader John Cain was sworn in.DEFEAT OF THE DUNSTAN GOVERNMENT https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/68824110 Advocate 6 January 2025 2 13 September 1943LABOUR MINISTRY FOR VICTORIA https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11783878 The Argus 6 January 2025 1 14 September 1943 Four days later on 18 September 1943, Dunstan was again sworn in as premier after the Country Party formed a coalition government with the UAP.DUNSTAN TO BE PREMIER AGAIN https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/167629126 The Newcastle Sun 6 January 2025 3 15 September 1943Dunstan Again Premier of Victoria https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/193053190 Daily Examiner 6 January 2025 3 17 September 1943 A Victorian division of the Liberal Party of Australia, which had been formed on 13 October 1944, was established between December 1944 and January 1945.THE LIBERAL PARTY'S EXECUTIVE https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205995120 The Age 11 January 2025 3 30 December 1944First Executive Meeting https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/206862808 The Age 11 January 2025 5 5 January 1945 The Victorian UAP branch and its parliamentary members joined the Liberal Party on 5 March 1945, with the state parliamentary UAP becoming the state parliamentary Liberal Party, prior to the national UAP being absorbed into the Liberal Party of Australia in October 1945.STATE UAP AND LIBERAL PARTY https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1093543 The Argus 6 January 2025 4 5 March 1945STATE UAP NOW LIBERAL PARTY https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1101648 The Argus 6 January 2025 5 6 March 1945 On 25 September 1945, the second Dunstan ministry was defeated on the floor of the Legislative Assembly amid dissatisfaction with the premier's leadership.Wright R. Ian Macfarlan (1881–1964) https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/macfarlan-ian-10950 Australian Dictionary of Biography 6 January 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20240614071602/https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/macfarlan-ian-10950 14 June 2024 Five dissident Liberals, two expelled Country MPs (Albert Allnutt and Edwin Mackrell), two independents and one Independent Labor MP voted with Labor to block supply to the government.DUNSTAN MINISTRY DEFEATED https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205650329 The Age 6 January 2025 1 26 September 1945 Instead of resigning, Dunstan persuaded governor Winston Dugan to grant him a dissolution of parliament, on the condition that the budget was passed. When it became clear that the Assembly would not grant supply, Dugan commissioned deputy Liberal leader Ian Macfarlan to serve as premier with written assurances from Labor and other non-Country MPs. Macfarlan formed a government on 2 October 1945 and parliament was dissolved, with Macfarlan serving as premier until 21 November 1945, eleven days after the state election.WHY MR. MACFARLAN FORMED CABINET https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/226558951 Weekly Times 6 January 2025 3 3 October 1945 Candidates Candidates of the 1945 Victorian state election The Labor Party endorsed 56 candidates, the Country Party endorsed 33, the Liberal Party endorsed 31 and the Communist Party of Australia endorsed six.NOMINATIONS TODAY IN STATE ELECTION https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/245669110 The Herald 8 January 2025 7 22 October 1945Three Last-minute Endorsements https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12148644 The Argus 8 January 2025 1 23 October 1945STATE ELECTION NOMINATIONS https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/278631047 The Sun News-Pictorial 8 January 2025 6 23 October 1945 Ministerial Liberals Five Liberal MPs who voted against the Dunstan government and joined the Macfarlan ministry (William Cumming, William Everard, William Haworth, Thomas Maltby and Archie Michaelis) − as well as Macfarlan himself − had their preselection vetoed by the Liberal Party's State Council.SIX LIBERALS VETOED FOR SELECTION https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12145222 The Argus 8 January 2025 5 4 October 1945Liberal Unity Talk With Breakaways https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/245659373 The Herald 8 January 2025 1 6 October 1945 The Liberals endorsed candidates against all so-called "breakaways", although the party still recommended preferencing the breakaways over Labor candidates.LIBERAL PREFERENCES TO SIX BREAKAWAYS https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/245662764 The Herald 8 January 2025 5 23 October 1945ALBERT PARK WILL BE HARD FIGHT https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12149832 The Argus 8 January 2025 6 29 October 1945 The breakaways − along with ministers Edwin Mackrell (Independent Country) and Leslie Hollins (independent), as well as Macfarlan supporter Henry Zwar (Independent Liberal) − contested the election as "Ministerial Liberal" candidates.Attempts to Reunite Liberal Sections https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205655524 The Age 8 January 2025 3 22 October 1945 They were also referred to as "Marfarlan Liberals" or "Government Liberals".164 Candidates Contest 54 Seats https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/268258274 Ovens and Murray Advertiser 8 January 2025 3 24 October 1945Victorian Election Position https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/144984916 Daily Advertiser 8 January 2025 2 12 November 1945 In Toorak, four different Liberal candidates stood without official party endorsement, in what The Argus described as "probably the most complicated and bewildering [contest] in the history of the electorate".BATTLE OF PAMPHLETS IN TOORAK https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12151254 The Argus 8 January 2025 3 5 November 1945 Incumbent Liberal MP Harold Thonemann was endorsed by the local Liberal selection committee, but a number of branch members supported Robert Hamilton as the candidate.PREFERENCES IN TOORAK https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12150412 The Argus 8 January 2025 5 31 October 1945 Neither candidate was officially endorsed by the Liberals, leaving both to stand as "Unendorsed Liberal" candidates, while Charles Kennett stood as an Independent Liberal and Robert Bruce stood as a Ministerial Liberal (also using the "Liberal and Country League" label).VICTORIAN ELECTIONS https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/42465407 Cairns Post 8 January 2025 5 9 November 1945TOORAK UNENDORSED LIBERALS https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12152474 The Argus 8 January 2025 7 10 November 1945 Additionally, Albert Nicholls stood as an Independent Labor candidate and John Smith ran under the "Moderate Labor" label.POSITION IN TOORAK CONFUSED https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12150877 The Argus 8 January 2025 9 3 November 1945LABOUR QUARREL IN TOORAK https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12152111 The Argus 8 January 2025 4 9 November 1945 Campaign Labor announced it would establish a Minister for Employment if elected, with Cain promising a "sane and stable government for the grave years ahead".STATE ELECTION POLL TODAY https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205641969 The Age 8 January 2025 3 10 November 1945 Dunstan said a Country Party government would support the "full utilisation of our vast coal resources" and oppose further electoral redistributions that would "further deprive country people of their parliamentary representation". The Liberals focused its campaign around education, including making education free from pre-school to university, raising the school-leaving age to 16 and extending free bus services to cover primary and secondary schools.ELECTION ISSUES STAYED BY PARTY LEADERS https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/245661901 The Herald 8 January 2025 8 30 October 1945 Although the Ministerial Liberals did not have enough candidates to lead the next government, Macfarlan still campaigned, saying his government had "restored harmony" and "shown its capacity to deal promptly with matters that have long been neglected".Premier Says Government Was Hopeless https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/278631062 The Sun News-Pictorial 8 January 2025 5 23 October 1945 The Communist Party called for the immediate improvement in the wages and working conditions of the public service and the police, proportional representation in the Legislative Assembly, the abolition of the Legislative Council, universal suffrage at the age of 18 in state and local elections, and the nationalisation of the Metropolitan Gas Company.COMMUNIST PARTY POLICY https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/205655521 The Age 8 January 2025 3 22 October 1945 Results Results of the 1945 Victorian state election (Legislative Assembly) +Legislative Assembly (IRV) – (CV)Carr Adam THE THIRTY-SIXTH PARLIAMENT ELECTED 10 NOVEMBER 1945 http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia/states/vic/historic/1945assembly.txt Psephos: Adam Carr's Electoral Archive 7 January 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20230325132137/http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia/states/vic/historic/1945assembly.txt 25 March 2023Election of 10 November 1945 http://elections.uwa.edu.au/elecdetail.lasso?keyvalue=899 https://web.archive.org/web/20230317030132/http://elections.uwa.edu.au/elecdetail.lasso?keyvalue=899 dead 2023-03-17 University of Western Australia 17 March 2023File:1945 Victorian Legislative Assembly.svg Party Votes % Swing Seats Change   Labor 360,079 41.02 +4.89 31 9   Liberal 180,046 20.51 −2.56 10 3   Country 163,940 18.67 +5.64 18   Independents 67,414 7.68 −7.25 2 3   Ministerial 29,276 3.33 +3.33 3 3   Communist 25,083 2.86 −1.65 0   Independent Labor 67,414 2.31 −1.00 1   Independent Liberal 19,278 2.20 +2.20 0   Independent Country 4,404 0.50 −0.37 0  Formal votes 877,872 97.92 +0.51 Informal votes 18,689 2.08 −0.51 Total 896,561 100.0 65uncontested Registered voters / turnout 1,019,063 87.98 +0.98 See also 1946 Victorian Legislative Council election Notes References Victoria Category:Elections in Victoria (state) Victoria