1989 Australian Capital Territory general election

1989 Australian Capital Territory general election

← 1982 (House) 4 March 1989 (1989-03-04) 1992 →

All 17 seats of the unicameral Legislative Assembly
9 seats needed for a majority
Turnout88.8%
  First party Second party Third party
 
NSGP
Leader Rosemary Follett Trevor Kaine Craig Duby
Party Labor Liberal No Self Govt
Leader since 4 March 1989 4 March 1989 1989
Seats won 5 4 3
Seat change Increase 5 Increase 4 Increase 3
Popular vote 32,370 21,088 13,647
Percentage 22.8% 14.9% 11.5%

  Fourth party Fifth party
 
ASGC
Leader Bernard Collaery Dennis Stevenson
Party Residents Rally Abolish Self Govt
Leader since 1989 1989
Seats won 4 1
Seat change Increase 4 Increase 1
Popular vote 16,274 10,641
Percentage 9.6% 7.5%

Resulting Chief Minister

Rosemary Follett
Labor

The 1989 Australian Capital Territory general election was held on 4 March 1989 to elect the 1st Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. This was the first direct election by voters in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) for their power legislative body.

The Labor Party, led by Rosemary Follett, and the Liberal Party, led by Trevor Kaine, were the main challengers. Candidates were elected to fill seats using modified d'Hondt electoral system[1] for a multi-member single (at-large) constituency.

The result was a hung parliament. However, Labor, with the largest representation in the 17-member unicameral Assembly, formed Government with the support of various non-aligned minor parties. Follett was elected the first Chief Minister at the first sitting of the first Assembly on 11 May 1989.[2]

  1. ^ Australian Capital Territory Electoral Commission, Modified d'Hondt Electoral System
  2. ^ "Legislative Assembly for the ACT – Week 1" (PDF). ACT Hansard. ACT Legislative Assembly. 11 May 1989. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2010.