Premier
parliamentary
Election name1916 Tasmanian state election
CountryTasmania
Ongoingno
Previous election1913 Tasmanian state election
Previous year1913
Next election1919 Tasmanian state election
Next year1919
Seats for electionAll 30 seats to the House of Assembly
Election date25 March 1916
Leader 1Walter Lee
Leader since 1September 1915
Party 1Tasmanian Liberal League
Leaders seat 1Wilmot
Last election 116 seats
Seats 115 seats
Seat change 11
Percentage 148.23%
Swing 14.35
Leader 2John Earle
Leader since 21906
Party 2Australian Labor Party (Tasmanian Branch)
Leaders seat 2Franklin
Last election 214 seats
Seats 214 seats
Seat change 20
Percentage 248.47%
Swing 22.47
PosttitleResulting Premier
Before electionJohn Earle
Before partyAustralian Labor Party (Tasmanian Branch)
After electionWalter Lee
After partyTasmanian Liberal League

The 1916 Tasmanian state election was held on Saturday, 25 March 1916 in the Australian state of Tasmania to elect 30 members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The election used the Hare-Clark proportional representation system[1] — six members were elected from each of five electorates.

Although the Liberals had won the 1913 election, a subsequent by-election had seen both parties holding 15 seats in the House of Assembly and Solomon losing government to Labor's John Earle. Earle's government had been appointed on the expectation that Earle would quickly call for a dissolution of the House of Assembly, which he refused to do, and successfully appealed to the Colonial Office.

At the election, Earle was the incumbent Premier of Tasmania and the Liberal Party was headed by Walter Lee. The Labor Party made no gains at the 1916 election. Joshua Whitsitt won as an Independent. The Liberals had no clear majority, winning 15 seats. Lee became Premier, as leader of the party with the most seats.

Results

Distribution of votes

Primary vote by division

BassDarwinDenisonFranklinWilmot
Labor Party53.2%50.7%49.6%48.2%39.1%
Commonwealth Liberal45.3%38.7%50.4%51.8%54.7%
Other1.5%10.6%––6.2%

Distribution of seats

ElectorateSeats won
Bass      
Darwin      
Denison      
Franklin      
Wilmot      
 Labor
 Liberal
 Independent

See also

References

  1. ^ House of Assembly Elections, Parliament of Tasmania.