1946 Australian federal election explained

Election Name:	1946 Australian federal election
Country:	Australia
Type:	parliamentary
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	1943 Australian federal election
Previous Year:	1943
Next Election:	1949 Australian federal election
Next Year:	1949
Outgoing Members:	Members of the Australian House of Representatives, 1943–1946
Elected Members:	Members of the Australian House of Representatives, 1946–1949
Registered:	4,739,853
Turnout:	4,453,941 (93.97%) (2.35 pp)
Seats For Election:	All 75 seats of the House of Representatives 38 seats were needed for a majority in the House 19 (of the 36) seats of the Senate
Election Date:	28 September 1946
Image1:	Benchifley.jpg
Leader1:	Ben Chifley
Leader Since1:	13 July 1945
Party1:	Australian Labor Party
Leaders Seat1:	Macquarie (NSW)
Last Election1:	49 seats
Seats1:	43 seats
Seat Change1:	6
Popular Vote1:	2,159,953
Percentage1:	49.71%
Swing1:	0.22
1Data1:	54.10%
2Data1:	4.10
Leader2:	Robert Menzies
Leader Since2:	23 September 1943
Party2:	Liberal/Country coalition
Leaders Seat2:	Kooyong (Vic.)
Last Election2:	19 seats
Seats2:	29 seats
Seat Change2:	10
Popular Vote2:	1,896,349
Percentage2:	43.65%
Swing2:	13.20
1Data2:	45.90%
2Data2:	4.10
Image4:	JackLang.jpg
Colour4:	E2725B
Leader4:	Jack Lang
Party4:	Labor (Non-Communist)
Leaders Seat4:	Reid (NSW) (won seat)
Last Election4:	0 seats
Seats4:	1 seat
Seat Change4:	1
Popular Vote4:	69,138
Percentage4:	1.59%
Swing4:	0.87
Leader5:	N/A
Leader Since5:	N/A
Party5:	Independents
Leaders Seat5:	N/A
Popular Vote5:	79,040
Percentage5:	1.82%
Swing5:	−10.34
Last Election5:	3 seats
Seats5:	2 seats
Seat Change5:	1
1Blank:	TPP
2Blank:	TPP swing
Prime Minister
Before Election:	Ben Chifley
Before Party:	Australian Labor Party
Posttitle:	Subsequent Prime Minister
After Election:	Ben Chifley
After Party:	Australian Labor Party

The 1946 Australian federal election was held in Australia on 28 September 1946. All 74 seats in the House of Representatives and 19 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election. The incumbent Labor Party led by Prime Minister Ben Chifley defeated the opposition Liberal–Country coalition, led by Robert Menzies. It was the Liberal Party's first federal election since its creation. This was the first time the Labor party had won a second consecutive election. This was also the last time the Labor party would win a federal election until the 1972 election.

The election was held in conjunction with three referendum questions, one of which was carried.

Results

House of Representatives

See main article: Results of the 1946 Australian federal election (House of Representatives).

Party! style="width:70px"

Votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
		Labor		2,159,953	49.71	−0.22	43	−6
	Liberal–Country coalition		1,896,349	43.65	+13.20	29	+6
			Liberal	1,431,682	32.95	+11.05	18	+4
			Country	464,667	10.70	+2.16	11	+2
		Labor (Non-Communist)		69,138	1.59	+0.87	1	+1
		Communist		64,811	1.49	+1.49	0	0
		Services		55,140	1.27	+1.27	0	0
		Protestant People's		20,111	0.46	+0.46	0	0
		Independents		79,040	1.82	−10.34	2	-1
	Total		4,344,542			75
		Labor		Win	54.10	−4.10	43	−6
		Liberal–Country coalition			45.90	+4.10	29	+6

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Notes

Independent: Doris Blackburn (Bourke, Vic.)
In South Australia, the Liberal Party was known as the Liberal and Country League.

Senate

Party! style="width:70px"
Votes	%	Swing	Seats won	Seats held	Change
		Labor		2,133,272	52.06	−3.02	16	33	+11
	Liberal–Country coalition		1,775,022	43.33	+5.18	3	3	–11
		Liberal–Country joint ticket	1,561,718	38.12	N/A	3	N/A	N/A
			Liberal	213,304	5.21	N/A	0	2	–10
			Country	N/A	N/A	N/A	0	1	–1
		Protestant People's		123,541	3.02	+3.02	0	0	0
		Services		37,724	0.92	+0.92	0	0	0
		Independents		27,767	0.68	–3.83	0	0	0
	Total		4,097,326			19	36