Liberals Win And Lose In Australia

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32312, 2 June 1970, Page 15

Liberals Win And Lose In Australia

(N Z. Press Association—Copyright)

MELBOURNE, June 1

The late counting of votes is expected to cause few changes in the results of two state elections held in Australia this week-end.

In Victoria, Sir Henry Bolte’s Liberal Government was returned with a reduced, but still comfortable, majority for its sixth consecutive term.

In South Australia, Mr Don Dunstan’s Labour Party has beaten the Liberal Government of Mr Steele Hall which had governed with the support of the only Independent who has retired, in an evenly-divided Parliament. With the result of four seats still to come, Sir Henry Bolte now has an over-all majority of nine in the 73seat House. The Australian Labour - Party has gained five seats, with a 4 per cent increase in voting support mainly at the expense of the Democratic Labour Party and Country Party. The state of the new Legislative Assembly is: Liberal Party, 39 (previously 43); A. L. P„ 22 (17); Country

Party, 7 (12): D.L.P., ml (1); Independent Labour 1, (nil). For the first time since it won office in 1955, the Liberal Party has the chance of a working majority in the Victorian Legislative Council (Upper House). With three seats still doubtful, the Liberals have 16, the A.L.P. nine, and the Country Party eight. Mr Dunstan hopes to name his new South Australian Cabinet today, and to take over as Premier on Wednesday. The A.L.P. seems likely to hold its seven-seat majority with 27 seats, compared with Mr Hall’s 20. At present, Labour has won 26, and the Liberals, 18. Mr Dunstan, who is 41, held office for a short term in 1967 when he was the state’s “with-it” Premier, arriving at his office on warm days in shorts and coloured shirts.