1929 Queensland state election explained

Election Name:1929 Queensland state election
Country:Queensland
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1926 Queensland state election
Previous Year:1926
Next Election:1932 Queensland state election
Next Year:1932
Seats For Election:All 72 seats in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland
37 Assembly seats were needed for a majority
Turnout:89.15 (0.42 pp)
Leader1:Arthur Edward Moore
Leader Since1:19 April 1924
Party1:Country and Progressive National Party
Leaders Seat1:Aubigny
Popular Vote1:233,977
Percentage1:54.24%
Swing1: 5.03
Last Election1:28 seats, 48.48%
Seats1:43
Seat Change1: 15
Leader2:William McCormack
Party2:Australian Labor Party (Queensland Branch)
Leaders Seat2:Cairns
Popular Vote2:173,242
Percentage2:40.16%
Swing2: 7.80
Last Election2:43 seats, 47.96%
Seats2:27
Seat Change2: 16
Premier
Before Election:William McCormack
Before Party:Australian Labor Party (Queensland Branch)
After Election:Arthur Edward Moore
After Party:Country and Progressive National Party

Elections were held in the Australian state of Queensland on 11 May 1929 to elect the 72 members of the state's Legislative Assembly. In this election, Irene Longman became the first woman to both stand and be elected into the Queensland Parliament.

The Labor government was seeking its sixth continuous term in office since the 1915 election; it would be Premier William McCormack's second election. His main opponent was the Country and Progressive National Party (CPNP), led by Arthur Edward Moore. The term had not gone well for McCormack's government, including a railway lock-out in 1927 which pitted the Labor Party against the union movement, restrictive financial policies and attempts to sell off state-owned enterprises, as well as suggestions of corruption which later came to be known as the Mungana affair.

The election resulted in the defeat of the McCormack government in a landslide, and the first non-Labor ministry since 1915.

Key dates

DateEvent
11 April 1929The Parliament was dissolved.
12 April 1929Writs were issued by the Governor to proceed with an election.
19 April 1929Close of nominations.
11 May 1929Polling day, between the hours of 8am and 6pm.
21 May 1929The McCormack Ministry resigned and the Moore Ministry was sworn in.
15 June 1929The writ was returned and the results formally declared.
29 June 1929The writ was returned for the seat of Gregory.
20 August 1929Parliament resumed for business.

Results

See also: Results of the Queensland state election, 1929.

The election saw the defeat of the Labor government by the CPNP.

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517,466 electors were enrolled to vote at the election, but 4 seats (5.6% of the total) were uncontested—2 Labor seats (3 less than 1926) representing 9,041 enrolled voters and two CPNP seats (one more than 1926) representing 16,536 enrolled voters.

Seats changing party representation

This table lists changes in party representation at the 1929 election.

Seat Incumbent member Party New member Party
BulimbaHarry Wright LaborIrene Longman CPNP
ChillagoeJohn O'Keefe LaborErnest Atherton CPNP
CookHenry Ryan LaborJames Kenny CPNP
DalbyWilfred Russell IndependentWilfred Russell CPNP
EachamCornelius Ryan LaborGeorge Duffy CPNP
FitzroyHarry Hartley LaborWilliam Carter CPNP
GympieThomas Dunstan LaborVivian Tozer CPNP
IpswichDavid Gledson LaborJames Walker CPNP
Kelvin GroveWilliam Lloyd LaborRichard Hill CPNP
KeppelJames Larcombe LaborOwen Daniel CPNP
LockyerGeorge Logan CPNPCharles Jamieson Independent
MareeWilliam Bertram LaborGeorge Tedman CPNP
MerthyrPeter McLachlan LaborPatrick Kerwin CPNP
Port CurtisGeorge Carter LaborFrank Butler CPNP
RockhamptonGeorge Farrell LaborThomas Dunlop Independent
RosewoodWilliam Cooper LaborTed Maher CPNP
South BrisbaneMyles Ferricks LaborNeil MacGroarty CPNP
ToowoombaEvan Llewelyn LaborJames Annand CPNP

Aftermath

The CPNP found itself in power as the Great Depression took hold. It lost power after one term.

See also