1959 Tasmanian state election

1959 Tasmanian state election
← 1956 2 May 1959 1964 →
All 35 seats to the House of Assembly
  First party Second party
 
Leader Eric Reece Tim Jackson
Party Labor Liberal
Leader since 26 August 1958 26 June 1956
Leader's seat Braddon Franklin
Last election 15 seats 15 seats
Seats won 17 seats 16 seats
Seat change Increase2 Increase1
Percentage 44.5% 41.05%
Swing Decrease5.77 Decrease2.54
Results of the election
Premier before election

Eric Reece
Labor

Resulting Premier

Eric Reece
Labor

The 1959 Tasmanian state election was held on 2 May 1959 in the Australian state of Tasmania to elect 35 members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The number of members were increased from this election from 30 to 35. The election used the Hare-Clark proportional representation system[1] — seven members were elected from each of five electorates.

The two previous elections had resulted in a parliamentary deadlock due to an even number of seats (30) in the House of Assembly. Prior to the 1959 election, the number of seats was increased to 35.[2]

Robert Cosgrove had retired as Premier of Tasmania, and had been replaced by Eric Reece on 26 August 1958.

  1. ^ House of Assembly Elections, Parliament of Tasmania.
  2. ^ Curtin, Jennifer: The 1998 Tasmanian Election: Women and Proportional Representation Archived 2008-09-10 at the Wayback Machine, Parliament of Australia, 10 November 1998.