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1993 Federal Election

March 13, 1993

The 1993 election win for the ALP was described by Prime Minister Paul Keating as “the sweetest victory of all”. The Labor Government had now won 5 elections in a row and the party’s faith in Keating following his coup against Bob Hawke on December 19, 1991 had been rewarded.

The Opposition was led by Dr. John Hewson, an economic conservative who had entered Parliament in 1987. Hewson had campaigned strongly in the 1990 election and had succeeded Peacock following the coalition loss.

Hewson launched Fightback!, a radical prescription of tough, economically “dry” measures, including a radical overhaul of Medicare and Industrial Relations. But the contentious 15% Goods and Services Tax was the centrepiece of the campaign. Hewson was forced by pressure group activity and public opinion to exempt food from the proposed GST, but this was not enough against the formidable campaigning skills of Paul Keating.

The election saw a substantial lift in the ALP primary vote and an increased majority for the Labor Government which now entered its eleventh year in office.

State of the Parties

House of Representatives Elections 1993
ALP LIB NPA IND Total
NSW
33
8
8
1
50
VIC
17
17
3
1
38
QLD
13
7
5
25
WA
6
8
14
SA
4
8
12
TAS
4
1
5
ACT
2
2
NT
1
1
Total
80
49
16
2
147

 

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Malcolm Farnsworth
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