Aust, parties see gains in polls

Press, 11 February 1986, Page 10

Aust, parties see gains in polls

NZPA-AAP Canberra The Australian Prime Minister, Mr Bob Hawke, and the Federal Opposition Leader, Mr John Howard, have each seen gains for their parties in the two State elections and the Scullin by-election at the week-end. The election results showed the Liberal Party was “on the nose” with the Australian public, Mr Hawke said. He conceded that there was concern in the rural community based on the improved vote by the National Party in Western Australia.

Mr Howard interpreted the results as very bad for the Labour Party and “very encouraging” for the Federal Opposition.

The results were a “kick in the shin” for the Hawke Government and its economic policies, he said. In Western Australia, the Labour Government of the Premier, Mr Brian Burke, seemed to have retained its seven-seat Lower House majority in spite of a swing against it in rural areas. The Liberals conceded three seats to the National Party and one to Labour. The state of the parties in the new Parliament will be A.L.P. 32, Liberal 19 and N.P.A. six. The re-elected Tasmanian Government goes back to Parliament next month with a new team of members after sweeping back into office yesterday. But, Tasmanian electors turned on their sitting M.P.S in an unprecedented purge to axe at least 10 sitting members including two, possibly

three ministers. The ministers will need preferences from other candidates to hold their seats. The Liberal Government of the Premier, Mr Robin Gray, was returned to office with a 5.4 per cent swing in its favour to 53.9 per cent of the vote which could increase its majority in the 35-mem-ber House of Assembly to 20 or even 21 seats. Labour will hold 13 seats and there will be one or two independents. Electors gave Parliament one of its biggest shake-ups in 20 years with at least 10 and possibly as many as 12 sitting members certain to lose their seats when polls are declared. Mr Hawke said it was clear from the National Party vote in Western Australia that there was concern in the bush, but he emphasised that the W.A. rural sector had repudiated the Liberal Party. Mr Hawke said things could only get better in Tasmania, where the Liberals were re-elected with an increased majority. “If you’ve got no seats in the House of Representatives, you’ve got nothing but room for improvement I think we can do that,” he said. Mr Howard headed off comments that the Liberals’ poor showing in certain areas was a reflection on his style of leadership. In Melbourne, there was a swing of 5 per cent to the Liberals in the Scullin by-election but the seat is one of Labour’s safest and they held it comfortably.