House of Representatives Members – 27th Parliament 1969-1972

This is the full list of members of the House of Representatives (27th Parliament) elected on October 25, 1969.

The 1969 election was the ninth consecutive victory for the coalition since 1949 and the second without its founding leader, Sir Robert Menzies. It was the last victory before Gough Whitlam led the ALP back into government in 1972.

The election was held after a period of turmoil for the coalition. Following the death of Harold Holt in 1967, the Liberal Party turned to its Senate leader, John Gorton. By 1969, there was criticism of Gorton’s personal and administrative style, as well as disquiet in the Liberal Party about his policy direction. Under Whitlam, the Opposition had become ascendant in parliament and Whitlam’s success in a number of by-elections had established his reputation as an electoral winner.

In a 125-seat House of Representatives, the Liberal Party won 46 seats (-15) and the Country Party 20 (-1), for a coalition total of 66 (-16). The ALP won 59 seats (+18). The government’s majority was reduced from 40 seats to 7.

The Liberal Party won 34.77% of the primary vote (-5.37%), the Country Party 8.56% (-1.28%) and the ALP 46.95% (+6.97%). The two-party-preferred vote for the coalition was 49.80%, with the ALP on 50.20%, a swing to the ALP of 7.10%, the largest swing before or since to an Opposition.

The Democratic Labor Party polled 6.02% of the primary vote (-1.29%), its preferences again contributing to the Coalition’s win, especially in Victoria. In the Senate, the DLP now held four seats.

There was no Senate election in 1969. Separate half-Senate elections were held in 1964, 1967 and 1970.

By-Elections

There were three by-elections during the life of the 27th Parliament.

Following the death of the ALP’s Jim Fraser in the Australian Capital Territory electorate, Kep Enderby, a future minister in the Whitlam government, won the by-election.

Following the death of the Liberal Party’s Wilfrid Kent Hughes, one of the original “forty-niners”, Tony Staley became the member for Chisholm. Staley would become one of the key members campaigning for Malcolm Fraser to become leader of the Liberal Party.

Sir John McEwen, the long-time leader of the Country Party, retired in February 1971. A month later, his ideological arch-rival, William McMahon, became prime minister. McEwen was replaced by Bruce Lloyd in the electorate of Murray.

The table below shows 128 members, reflecting all who served in the parliament.

There are 8 surviving members of the 26th Parliament: 2 ALP, 3 Liberal Party and 3 Country Party.

The oldest surviving member of the 27th Parliament is the Country Party’s Peter Nixon, 96, whilst Ian Sinclair is 95. The oldest surviving Liberal is Don Cameron, 84. The oldest surviving ALP member is Richie Gun, 88.

The youngest surviving member of the 27th Parliament is the ALP’s Paul Keating, 80. The future prime minister entered the parliament at the 1969 election.

The most recent deaths of members of the 26th Parliament were:
– 2024: Manfred Cross, Robert Solomon, Tom Hughes
– 2023: John Kerin, Tony Staley, Bill Hayden
– 2022: Vic Garland, Moss Cass, Tony Street
– 2021: Andrew Peacock
– 2020: Chris Hurford, Doug Anthony
– 2019: Dr Jim Forbes
– 2018: Joe Berinson, Gordon Scholes
– 2017: Barry Cohen, Doug Everingham, John Bourchier and Ian Robinson
– 2016: Rex Patterson
– 2015: Tom Uren, Malcolm Fraser, Les Johnson and Kep Enderby
– 2014: Gough Whitlam
– 2013: Bill Morrison

The table below lists members by their party affiliation, seat, term and age.

• Links to other Parliamentary Lists