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The NSW Labor government has been defeated in a massive swing at today’s election, after 16 years in office.
The widely-expected defeat has seen a two-party-preferred swing against the ALP of around 16%. The Liberal-Nationals have around 64% of the two-party vote. [Read more…]
Peter Beattie’s resignation as Queensland Premier will elevate South Australia’s Mike Rann to the position of longest-serving state premier. Rann was elected in March 2002.
The Northern Territory Chief Minister, Clare Martin, will become the longest-serving state or territory head of government, having been elected in August 2001. She just eclipses the ACT’s Jon Stanhope, elected in November 2001.
The retirements of Bob Carr (elected 1995), Steve Bracks (1999) and Beattie (1998) have resulted in the Labor governments which dominate the Australian states and territories moving to a second-generation of leaders.
Western Australian Premier Geoff Gallop (elected February 2001) resigned due to ill-health in January 2006. Tasmanian Premier Jim Bacon (elected September 1998) also resigned due to ill-health in February 2004.
Rann remains the last-elected and only original member of the clutch of Labor Premiers elected between 1995 and 2002.
John Howard remains the longest-serving head of government, having been Prime Minister since March 11, 1996.
The NSW Opposition Leader, John Brogden, has announced his resignation at a press conference in Sydney this morning.
Brogden has been under intense political pressure since yesterday’s revelations of his behaviour at a function some weeks ago at which he referred to former Premier Bob Carr’s wife, Helena, as a “mail order bride” and made advances to female journalists.
It is most likely that Brogden will be replaced by his deputy, Barry O’Farrell. The Liberal Party will meet on Wednesday to choose a replacement. In announcing his resignation, Brogden attacked the President of the Young Liberals for promoting a campaign against him. [Read more…]
The ALP easily won the 2003 New South Wales state election.
The ALP won 55 seats, the same number it had won in 1999. The Liberal Party retained the 20 seats it had won in 1999, whilst the National Party won 12 seats, a loss of one.
It was the ALP’s third consecutive victory (1995,1999 & 2003) under Bob Carr. Carr retired in 2005.
These are the speeches by Premier Bob Carr and Opposition Leader John Brogden on election night. [Read more…]