1902 South Australian state election

1902 South Australian state election
← 1899 3 May 1902 (1902-05-03) 1905 →
All 42 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly
22 seats were needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader John Darling Jr. John Jenkins Thomas Price
Party Conservative Liberal United Labor
Leader since 1902 1901 1899
Leader's seat Torrens Torrens Torrens
Last election 28 seats 14 seats 11 seats
Seats won 19 12 5
Seat change Decrease 9 Decrease 2 Decrease 6
Percentage 27.25 24.26 19.09
Swing Decrease 6.45% Increase 2.28% Decrease 6.35%
Premier before election

John Jenkins
Liberal

Elected Premier

John Jenkins
Liberal

The 1902 South Australian state election was held on 3 May 1902 following the dissolution of both houses. All 42 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly were up for election, and all 18 seats in the Legislative Council. The House had a reduction of 12 seats compared to the previous election. The Council was reduced from 6 members in each of four districts to 6 members from Central District and four from each of North-Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts.[1] The incumbent liberal government led by Premier of South Australia John Jenkins in an informal coalition with the conservatives defeated the United Labor Party (ULP) led by Thomas Price. Each of the 13 districts elected multiple members, with voters casting multiple votes.

Background

Following the 1899 election, Charles Kingston tried again for franchise reform. The Assembly voted against the measure and Kingston resigned his ministry. He was replaced by Vaiben Louis Solomon for a brief period of seven days, until Frederick Holder formed a government which, for the first time, included a ULP member, Lee Batchelor.

The parliament was transformed by the impact of federation. Seven leading members of the Assembly resigned and were elected to the Parliament of Australia. As a result, there were 11 by-elections in this period. The Assembly was reduced in numbers, from 54 to 42. A redistribution was carried out following these changes, to produce a chamber elected from 13 districts - one 5-member, two four-member, nine 3-member and one 2-member electorates. The election was a "new start" for the parliament.

There was no "Liberal" or "Kingston" party, but there was a relatively cohesive Kingston group among both independent members and candidates. The Liberal and Democratic Union would not be formed until the 1906 election.

Results

House of Assembly (FPTP) (Non-CV)[2]
Party Votes % Swing Seats Change
  Conservative 69,275 27.25 −6.45 19 Decrease 9
  Liberal 61,664 24.26 +2.28 12 Decrease 2
  United Labor 48,515 19.09 −6.35 5 Decrease 6
  Independent Liberal 33,275 13.09 +13.09 4 Increase 4
  Independent 10,542 4.15 +0.79 2 Increase 1
  Other 30,928 12.17 −3.37 0 Steady
 Formal votes 254,199
 Informal votes 1,118
 Total 255,317 42
 Registered voters / turnout 149,177 60.34

See also

References

  1. ^ Jaensch, Dean (1 March 2007). "History of South Australian elections 1857-2006, volume 2". State Electoral Office of South Australia. Archived from the original on 29 October 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  2. ^ "Election of 3 May 1902". The University of Western Australia.