Tasmanian state election, 1972

Tasmanian state election, 1972

← 1969 22 April 1972 1976 →
All 35 seats to the House of Assembly
First party Second party   Leader Eric Reece Angus Bethune Party Labor Liberal Leader since 26 August 1958 19 March 1960 Leader's seat Braddon Wilmot Last election 17 seats 17 seats Seats won 21 seats 14 seats Seat change 4 3 Percentage 54.93% 38.37% Swing 7.25 5.61
Premier before election Angus Bethune Liberal Elected Premier Eric Reece Labor

Angus Bethune
Liberal

Eric Reece
Labor

The Tasmanian state election, 1972 was held on 22 April 1972 in the Australian state of Tasmania to elect 35 members of the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The election used the Hare-Clark proportional representation system — seven members were elected from each of five electorates.

The one-term Liberal government of Premier Angus Bethune had collapsed following the withdrawal of support by Kevin Lyons. The opposition Labor Party, led by Eric Reece, gained a clear majority and won the election.

The 1969 election had resulted in a hung parliament, with the deadlock broken when Kevin Lyons of the Centre Party formed a coalition government with Angus Bethune's Liberal Party. On 15 March 1972, Lyons resigned as Deputy Premier and effectively dissolved the Liberal-Centre coalition. The resulting instability triggered an election.

The 1972 election was also notable due to the emergence and candidacy of the United Tasmania Group, the world's first Green party, formed to campaign against the proposed damming of Lake Pedder.

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