The Labor Party, under Neville Wran and, since 1986, Barrie Unsworth, had been in office for 12 years. A number of corruption scandals had tarnished Labor's image. Among these was the jailing of Labor's Minister for Corrective Services Rex Jackson in 1987 for accepting bribes for the early release of prisoners.
Even before then, two by-elections in 1986 indicated that NSW voters were about to call time on the three-term Labor government. When Unsworth, then a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council, ran for the previously safe Labor Assembly seat of Rockdale in 1986, he only won it by 54 votes after losing more than 17 percent of Labor's primary vote from 1981. Additionally, Labor suffered a 22-percent primary vote swing in Wran's old seat of Bass Hill, allowing the Liberals to take it on a 103-vote margin.[1] However, by-elections in Heathcote and Bankstown in 1987 saw only small swings against the government.
The Liberals' campaign slogan was "A change for the better". Greiner campaigned on a promise to clean up state government, foreshadowing the establishment of the Independent Commission Against Corruption, as well as promising to freeze government expenditure, create 16,000 new employment and training positions, and pay more attention to law enforcement.
In rural electorates, Labor's positions on gun laws and conservation alienated many voters. Health care was also a campaign issue.
Future Liberal Prime Minister Tony Abbott admitted in 2005 that he voted Labor at this election saying that Unsworth "was the best deal premier that New South Wales had ever had" and knew that it would not damage Greiner's prospects at this election.[2]
Key dates
Date
Event
22 February 1988
The Legislative Assembly was dissolved, and writs were issued by the Governor to proceed with an election.[3]
26 February 1988
Nominations for candidates for the election closed at noon.
The result was a landslide for the Coalition parties. Election analyst Antony Green later noted that "the 1988 result was startling, the worst Labor performance, and best Coalition result, since the Lang era of the 1930s".[4] Labor lost heartland seats including Balmain, Newcastle and Swansea for the first time since the turn of the century.
Seven non-aligned Independents were elected to the Legislative Assembly.
Members listed in italics did not recontest their seats.
Ballina was a new seat created from much of the area of the old district of Lismore, which was held by Independent member Bruce Duncan, who retired from politics at this election.
The sitting Labor member for Gosford, Brian McGowan instead contested the new seat of The Entrance and lost.
The sitting Labor member for Heathcote, Ian McManus instead contested the new seat of Burragorang and won.
^ abGreen, Antony (October 1998). "Changing Boundaries Changing Fortunes: an analysis of the NSW Elections of 1988 and 1991" (PDF). Occasional Paper No 7. NSW Parliamentary Library Research Service. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
January 08, 2023
1988, south, wales, state, election, elections, 49th, parliament, south, wales, were, held, saturday, march, 1988, seats, legislative, assembly, third, seats, legislative, council, were, election, labor, government, premier, barrie, unsworth, defeated, liberal. Elections to the 49th Parliament of New South Wales were held on Saturday 19 March 1988 All seats in the Legislative Assembly and a third of the seats in the Legislative Council were up for election The Labor government of Premier Barrie Unsworth was defeated by the Liberal National Coalition led by Opposition Leader Nick Greiner 1988 New South Wales state election 1984 19 March 1988 1988 03 19 1991 All 109 seats in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and 15 of the 45 seats in the New South Wales Legislative Council55 Assembly seats were needed for a majority First party Second party Leader Nick Greiner Barrie UnsworthParty Liberal National coalition LaborLeader s seat Ku ring gai RockdaleLast election 37 seats 58 seatsSeats won 59 43Seat change 22 15Percentage 56 0 44 0 Swing 8 4 8 4Legislative Assembly after the electionPremier before electionBarrie UnsworthLabor Elected Premier Nick GreinerLiberal National coalitionThe election took place following a redistribution of seats which resulted in the Assembly growing from 99 to 109 seats Contents 1 Issues 2 Key dates 3 Results 3 1 Legislative Assembly 3 2 Legislative Council 4 Seats changing hands 4 1 Redistribution affected seats 5 Post election pendulum 6 See also 7 ReferencesIssues EditThe Labor Party under Neville Wran and since 1986 Barrie Unsworth had been in office for 12 years A number of corruption scandals had tarnished Labor s image Among these was the jailing of Labor s Minister for Corrective Services Rex Jackson in 1987 for accepting bribes for the early release of prisoners Even before then two by elections in 1986 indicated that NSW voters were about to call time on the three term Labor government When Unsworth then a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council ran for the previously safe Labor Assembly seat of Rockdale in 1986 he only won it by 54 votes after losing more than 17 percent of Labor s primary vote from 1981 Additionally Labor suffered a 22 percent primary vote swing in Wran s old seat of Bass Hill allowing the Liberals to take it on a 103 vote margin 1 However by elections in Heathcote and Bankstown in 1987 saw only small swings against the government The Liberals campaign slogan was A change for the better Greiner campaigned on a promise to clean up state government foreshadowing the establishment of the Independent Commission Against Corruption as well as promising to freeze government expenditure create 16 000 new employment and training positions and pay more attention to law enforcement In rural electorates Labor s positions on gun laws and conservation alienated many voters Health care was also a campaign issue Future Liberal Prime Minister Tony Abbott admitted in 2005 that he voted Labor at this election saying that Unsworth was the best deal premier that New South Wales had ever had and knew that it would not damage Greiner s prospects at this election 2 Key dates EditDate Event22 February 1988 The Legislative Assembly was dissolved and writs were issued by the Governor to proceed with an election 3 26 February 1988 Nominations for candidates for the election closed at noon 19 March 1988 Polling day between the hours of 8am and 6pm 25 March 1988 The Unsworth ministry resigned and the Greiner Murray ministry was sworn in 22 April 1988 The writ was returned and the results formally declared 27 April 1988 Parliament resumed for business Results EditLegislative Assembly Edit See also Results of the 1988 New South Wales state election Legislative Assembly The result was a landslide for the Coalition parties Election analyst Antony Green later noted that the 1988 result was startling the worst Labor performance and best Coalition result since the Lang era of the 1930s 4 Labor lost heartland seats including Balmain Newcastle and Swansea for the first time since the turn of the century Seven non aligned Independents were elected to the Legislative Assembly New South Wales state election 19 March 1988 3 Legislative Assembly lt lt 1984 1991 gt gt Enrolled voters 3 541 447Votes cast 3 314 229 Turnout 93 58 1 07 Informal votes 63 870 Informal 3 07 0 84 Summary of votes by partyParty Primary votes Swing Seats Change Liberal 1 147 613 35 80 3 62 39 17 Labor 1 233 612 38 48 10 27 43 15 National 440 482 13 74 2 90 20 5 Democrats 58 163 1 81 1 03 0 0 Independent EFF 39 194 1 22 1 22 0 0 Call to Australia 14 205 0 44 0 37 0 0 Illawarra Workers Party 6 755 0 21 0 21 0 0 Socialist 2 717 0 08 0 05 0 0 Nuclear Disarmament 1 064 0 03 0 03 0 0 Independent 261 719 8 16 3 08 7 3Total 3 205 524 109 Two party preferred Liberal National 1 725 936 55 96 8 4 Labor 1 358 049 44 04 8 4Popular voteLabor 38 48 Liberal 35 80 National 13 74 Independents 8 16 Democrats 1 81 Independent EFF 1 22 Others 0 77 Two party preferred voteCoalition 55 96 Labor 44 04 Parliamentary seatsLabor 43Liberal 39National 20Independents 7Legislative Council Edit Main article Results of the 1988 New South Wales state election Legislative Council New South Wales state election 19 March 1988 4 Legislative Council lt lt 1984 1991 gt gt Enrolled voters 3 541 447Votes cast 3 307 855 Turnout 91 92 0 60Informal votes 267 113 Informal 8 01 1 42Summary of votes by partyParty Primary votes Swing Seatswon Seatsheld Liberal National Coalition 1 403 300 46 15 3 54 7 19 Labor 1 140 634 37 51 9 37 6 21 Call to Australia 174 553 5 74 0 35 1 3 Democrats 90 634 2 73 0 42 1 2 Independent EFF 72 965 2 40 2 40 0 0 Community Independents 52 992 1 74 1 74 0 0 Environment Group 48 536 1 60 1 60 0 0 Nuclear Disarmament 28 161 0 93 0 93 0 0 Aboriginal Team 13 363 0 44 0 44 0 0 Humanist Party 11 895 0 39 0 39 0 0 Defence Ex Service Team 6 970 0 23 0 23 0 0 Marijuana 2 713 0 09 0 09 0 0 Independent 3 396 0 11 0 31 0 0Total 3 040 742 15 Seats changing hands EditSeat Pre 1988 Swing Post 1988Party Member Margin Margin Member PartyAlbury Labor Harold Mair 2 1 13 8 11 7 Ian Glachan Liberal Ballina Independent new seat N A N A 18 0 Don Page National Balmain Labor Peter Crawford 19 3 21 0 1 7 Dawn Fraser Independent Bass Hill Liberal Michael Owen 18 4 ALP 14 1 4 3 Bill Lovelee Labor Bathurst Labor Mick Clough 7 6 9 8 2 2 David Berry Liberal Bligh Liberal Michael Yabsley 0 2 0 8 0 6 Clover Moore Independent Blue Mountains Labor Bob Debus 4 6 4 9 0 3 Barry Morris Liberal Burrinjuck Labor Terry Sheahan 4 9 8 6 3 7 Alby Schultz Liberal Cessnock Labor Stan Neilly 8 9 9 4 0 5 Bob Roberts Liberal Earlwood Labor Ken Gabb 5 9 7 2 1 3 Phil White Liberal Georges River Labor Frank Walker 5 9 8 0 2 1 Terry Griffiths Liberal Gladesville Labor Rodney Cavalier 5 3 8 3 3 0 Ivan Petch Liberal Gosford Labor Brian McGowan 0 9 8 7 7 8 Chris Hartcher Liberal Heathcote Labor Ian McManus 5 1 6 9 1 8 Allan Andrews Liberal Lismore Independent Bruce Duncan N A N A 19 9 Bill Rixon National Minchinbury Labor new seat 10 4 12 9 2 5 Anne Cohen Liberal Monaro Labor John Akister 8 0 11 9 3 9 Peter Cochran National Newcastle Labor Arthur Wade 14 5 19 8 5 3 George Keegan Independent Parramatta Labor Barry Wilde 5 4 5 9 0 5 John Books Liberal Penrith Labor Peter Anderson 8 1 10 3 2 2 Guy Matheson Liberal Ryde Labor Garry McIlwaine 5 1 5 3 0 2 Michael Photios Liberal Sutherland Labor Maurie Keane 5 1 7 6 2 5 Chris Downy Liberal Swansea Labor Don Bowman 18 7 27 1 8 4 Ivan Welsh Independent The Entrance Labor new seat 7 9 9 9 2 0 Bob Graham Liberal Members listed in italics did not recontest their seats Ballina was a new seat created from much of the area of the old district of Lismore which was held by Independent member Bruce Duncan who retired from politics at this election The sitting Labor member for Gosford Brian McGowan instead contested the new seat of The Entrance and lost The sitting Labor member for Heathcote Ian McManus instead contested the new seat of Burragorang and won In addition the National party held the seat of Northern Tablelands which it had won from Labor in the 1987 by election Bass Hill was won by the Liberal party in the 1986 by election It was regained by Labor in this election Redistribution affected seats Edit Seat 1984 election 1986 redistribution Swing 1988 electionParty Member Margin Party Member Margin Margin Member PartyCamden Liberal John Fahey 5 2 Labor Notional 5 8 5 7 0 1 Peter Primrose Labor Wollongong Independent Frank Arkell 4 2 Labor Notional 4 7 10 2 5 5 Frank Arkell Independent Post election pendulum EditLiberal National seats 59 MarginalRyde Michael Photios LIB 0 2 Blue Mountains Barry Morris LIB 0 3 Parramatta John Books LIB 0 5 Cessnock Bob Roberts LIB 0 5 Earlwood Phil White LIB 1 3 Heathcote Allan Andrews LIB 1 8 The Entrance Bob Graham LIB 2 0 Georges River Terry Griffiths LIB 2 1 Penrith Guy Matheson LIB 2 2 Bathurst David Berry LIB 2 2 Sutherland Chris Downy LIB 2 5 Minchinbury Anne Cohen LIB 2 5 Gladesville Ivan Petch LIB 3 0 Burrinjuck Alby Schultz LIB 3 7 Monaro Peter Cochran NAT 3 9 Fairly safeHurstville Guy Yeomans LIB 6 4 Wakehurst John Booth LIB 7 5 Gosford Chris Hartcher LIB 7 8 SafeMurwillumbah Don Beck NAT 10 1 Pittwater Jim Longley LIB 10 1 v INDMiranda Ron Phillips LIB 11 5 Cronulla Malcolm Kerr LIB 11 6 Albury Ian Glachan LIB 11 7 Manly David Hay LIB 12 2 Strathfield Paul Zammit LIB 12 8 Davidson Terry Metherell LIB 14 0 v INDHornsby Neil Pickard LIB 14 7 Clarence Ian Causley NAT 15 0 Southern Highlands John Fahey LIB 16 8 Eastwood Andrew Tink LIB 17 6 Upper Hunter George Souris NAT 17 8 Ballina Don Page NAT 18 0 Carlingford Wayne Merton LIB 18 2 Murrumbidgee Adrian Cruickshank NAT 18 4 Bega Russell Smith LIB 18 7 Northern Tablelands Ray Chappell NAT 19 0 Goulburn Robert Webster NAT 19 3 Port Macquarie Bruce Jeffery NAT 19 4 Myall Lakes John Turner NAT 19 9 Lismore Bill Rixon NAT 19 9 Middle Harbour Peter Collins LIB 21 2 Dubbo Gerry Peacocke NAT 21 3 Coffs Harbour Matt Singleton NAT 21 4 Castlereagh Roger Wotton NAT 21 9 Hawkesbury Kevin Rozzoli LIB 22 1 Orange Garry West NAT 22 5 Wagga Wagga Joe Schipp LIB 22 6 Lane Cove John Dowd LIB 22 6 Lachlan Ian Armstrong NAT 23 6 Mosman Phillip Smiles LIB 23 9 Manning Wendy Machin NAT 23 9 Barwon Wal Murray NAT 24 3 Tamworth Noel Park NAT 25 4 The Hills Fred Caterson LIB 25 9 Northcott Bruce Baird LIB 26 0 Murray Jim Small NAT 27 0 Vaucluse Ray Aston LIB 27 2 Ku ring gai Nick Greiner LIB 29 7 Gordon Tim Moore LIB 32 9 Labor seats 43 MarginalCamden Peter Primrose ALP 0 1 Charlestown Richard Face ALP 0 1 Port Stephens Bob Martin ALP 0 2 Waverley Ernie Page ALP 0 5 Keira Col Markham ALP 0 8 Maitland Allan Walsh ALP 0 8 Ashfield Paul Whelan ALP 1 2 Coogee Michael Cleary ALP 1 2 Broken Hill Bill Beckroge ALP 2 0 Drummoyne John Murray ALP 2 1 Kogarah Brian Langton ALP 2 2 Lakemba Wes Davoren ALP 2 6 Londonderry Paul Gibson ALP 3 0 Canterbury Kevin Moss ALP 3 4 v EFFFairfield Geoff Irwin ALP 3 9 Wentworthville Pam Allan ALP 3 9 Bass Hill Bill Lovelee ALP 4 3 Illawarra Terry Rumble ALP 4 4 Wyong Harry Moore ALP 4 5 Macquarie Fields Stan Knowles ALP 4 9 Seven Hills Bob Christie ALP 5 0 Mulgoa Tony Aquilina ALP 5 5 Campbelltown Michael Knight ALP 5 7 Fairly safeLake Macquarie Merv Hunter ALP 6 4 Burragorang Ian McManus ALP 6 6 Cabramatta John Newman ALP 6 6 McKell Sandra Nori ALP 6 6 v INDRockdale Barrie Unsworth ALP 7 0Riverstone Richard Amery ALP 7 2East Hills Pat Rogan ALP 7 4Peats Tony Doyle ALP 7 5Bankstown Doug Shedden ALP 9 2Blacktown John Aquilina ALP 9 2Heffron Laurie Brereton ALP 9 2Wallsend Ken Booth ALP 9 4SafeMaroubra Bob Carr ALP 10 4 Auburn Peter Nagle ALP 10 7 Smithfield Janice Crosio ALP 10 8 Granville Laurie Ferguson ALP 10 9 Kiama Bob Harrison ALP 11 4 Waratah John Price ALP 11 4 Liverpool George Paciullo ALP 14 1 Marrickville Andrew Refshauge ALP 15 5 Crossbench seats 7 Bligh Clover Moore IND 0 6 v LIBBalmain Dawn Fraser IND 1 7 v ALPNewcastle George Keegan IND 5 3 v ALPWollongong Frank Arkell IND 5 5 v ALPSwansea Ivan Welsh IND 8 4 v ALPNorth Shore Ted Mack IND 9 9 v LIBSouth Coast John Hatton IND 14 7 v LIBSee also EditCandidates of the 1988 New South Wales state electionReferences Edit Bowe William 27 November 2005 By election bloodbaths Crikey Archived from the original on 5 October 2011 Retrieved 13 June 2010 I voted Labor says Abbott The Sunday Morning Herald 12 June 2005 Archived from the original on 14 June 2005 Retrieved 27 March 2022 a b Green Antony 1988 election totals New South Wales Election Results 1856 2007 Parliament of New South Wales Retrieved 14 August 2019 a b Green Antony October 1998 Changing Boundaries Changing Fortunes an analysis of the NSW Elections of 1988 and 1991 PDF Occasional Paper No 7 NSW Parliamentary Library Research Service Retrieved 14 August 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1988 New South Wales state election amp oldid 1130217176, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
