1974 Australian federal election

1974 Australian federal election

← 1972 18 May 1974 1975 →

All 127 seats of the House of Representatives
64 seats were needed for a majority in the House
All 60 seats of the Senate
Registered7,897,506 Increase 11.64%
Turnout7,535,768 (95.42%)
(Increase0.04 pp)
  First party Second party
 
Leader Gough Whitlam Billy Snedden
Party Labor Liberal/Country coalition
Leader since 8 February 1967 5 December 1972
Leader's seat Werriwa (NSW) Bruce (Vic.)
Last election 67 seats 58 seats
Seats won 66 seats 61 seats
Seat change Decrease1 Increase3
Popular vote 3,644,110 3,379,545
Percentage 49.30% 45.73%
Swing Decrease0.29 Increase4.25
TPP 51.70% 48.30%
TPP swing Decrease1.00 Increase1.00

Results by division for the House of Representatives, shaded by winning party's margin of victory.

Prime Minister before election

Gough Whitlam
Labor

Subsequent Prime Minister

Gough Whitlam
Labor

The 1974 Australian federal election was held in Australia on 18 May 1974. All 127 seats in the House of Representatives and all 60 seats in the Senate were up for election, due to a double dissolution. The incumbent Labor Party led by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam defeated the opposition Liberal–Country coalition led by Billy Snedden. This marked the first time that a Labor leader won two consecutive elections.

Prior to the election the voting age had been reduced from 21 to 18 years. The election was held in conjunction with four referendum questions, none of which were carried.

Future Prime Minister John Howard entered parliament at this election. Snedden became the first Liberal Leader not to serve as prime minister.


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