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Candidates of the Australian federal election, 1977

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This article provides information on candidates who stood for the 1977 Australian federal election. The election was held on 10 December 1977.

Contents

Redistributions and seat changes

  • Redistributions occurred in all states except Tasmania.
  • In New South Wales, the Labor-held seats of Darling and Lang and the Liberal-held seat of Evans were abolished. The new notionally Liberal seat of Dundas was created. The Liberal-held seat of Parramatta and the NCP-held seat of Riverina became notionally Labor, while the Labor-held seat of Robertson became notionally Liberal.
  • The member for Darling, John FitzPatrick (Labor), contested Riverina.
  • The member for Grayndler, Tony Whitlam (Labor), contested St George.
  • The member for Lang, Frank Stewart (Labor), contested Grayndler.
  • The member for Mackellar, Bill Wentworth (Independent Liberal), contested the Senate.
  • The member for Parramatta, Philip Ruddock (Liberal), contested Dundas.
  • In Victoria, the NCP-held seat of Wimmera was abolished.
  • The member for Hotham, Don Chipp (Democrats), contested the Senate.
  • The member for Isaacs, David Hamer (Liberal), contested the Senate.
  • In Queensland, the new notionally Liberal seat of Fadden was created.
  • The member for Griffith, Don Cameron (Liberal), contested Fadden.
  • In Western Australia, the Liberal-held seat of Swan became notionally Labor.
  • The member for Tangney, Peter Richardson (Progress), contested the Senate.
  • In South Australia, the Liberal-held seat of Angas was abolished, and the Labor-held seats of Grey and Hawker became notionally Liberal.
  • The member for Angas, Geoffrey Giles (Liberal), contested Wakefield.
  • South Australian Senator Steele Hall (Liberal) resigned from the Senate to contest Hawker.

    • Labor

  • Kim Beazley MP (Fremantle, WA)
  • Jim Cairns MP (Lalor, Vic)
  • Frank Crean MP (Melbourne Ports, Vic)
  • Horrie Garrick MP (Batman, Vic)
  • Senator Don Cameron (SA)
  • Senator Don Devitt (Tas)

    • Liberal

  • John Abel MP (Evans, NSW)
  • Robert Bonnett MP (Herbert, Qld)
  • Bert Kelly MP (Wakefield, WA)
  • Senator Sir Magnus Cormack (Vic)
  • Senator Ian Wood (Qld)
  • Senator Reg Wright (Tas) — quit the Liberal Party shortly before his term concluded in June 1978.

    • National Country

  • Robert King MP (Wimmera, Vic)
  • Senator Tom Drake-Brockman (WA)

    • Democrats

  • Senator Janine Haines (SA)

    • House of Representatives

    Sitting members at the time of the election are shown in bold text. Successful candidates are highlighted in the relevant colour. Where there is possible confusion, an asterisk (*) is also used.

    Senate

    Sitting Senators are shown in bold text. Tickets that elected at least one Senator are highlighted in the relevant colour. Successful candidates are identified by an asterisk (*).

    Australian Capital Territory

    Two seats were up for election. The Labor Party was defending one seat. The Liberal Party was defending one seat.

    New South Wales

    Five seats were up for election. The Labor Party was defending three seats. The Liberal-NCP Coalition was defending two seats. Senators John Carrick (Liberal), Bob Cotton (Liberal), Doug McClelland (Labor), Jim McClelland (Labor) and Douglas Scott (National Country) were not up for re-election.

    Northern Territory

    Two seats were up for election. The Labor Party was defending one seat. The Country Liberal Party was defending one seat.

    Queensland

    Five seats were up for election. The Labor Party was defending two seats. The Liberal-NCP Coalition was defending three seats. Senators Neville Bonner (Liberal), Jim Keeffe (Labor), Ron Maunsell (National Country), Ron McAuliffe (Labor) and Glen Sheil (National Country) were not up for re-election.

    South Australia

    Five seats were up for election. The Labor Party was defending two seats. The Liberal Party was defending two seats. One seat had been held by the Liberal Movement, commonly considered one of the predecessors of the Australian Democrats. Senators Reg Bishop (Labor), Jim Cavanagh (Labor), Gordon Davidson (Liberal), Don Jessop (Liberal) and Condor Laucke (Liberal) were not up for re-election.

    Tasmania

    Five seats were up for election. The Labor Party was defending two seats. The Liberal Party was defending three seats, although retiring Senator Reg Wright had become an independent at the end of his term. Senators Brian Harradine (Independent), Justin O'Byrne (Labor), Peter Rae (Liberal), Michael Townley (Liberal) and Ken Wriedt (Labor) were not up for re-election.

    Victoria

    Five seats were up for election. The Labor Party was defending two seats. The Liberal-NCP Coalition was defending three seats. Senators Ivor Greenwood (Liberal), Margaret Guilfoyle (Liberal), Jean Melzer (Labor), Cyril Primmer (Labor) and James Webster (National Country) were not up for re-election.

    Western Australia

    Five seats were up for election. The Labor Party was defending two seats. The Liberal Party was defending two seats. The National Country Party was defending one seat. Senators Peter Durack (Liberal), Gordon McIntosh (Labor), Peter Sim (Liberal), John Wheeldon (Labor) and Reg Withers (Liberal) were not up for re-election.

    Summary by party

    Beside each party is the number of seats contested by that party in the House of Representatives for each state, as well as an indication of whether the party contested the Senate election in the respective state.

    References

    Candidates of the Australian federal election, 1977 Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA