The Queensland state election was held on June 13, 1998.
At the previous election in 1995, Wayne Goss’s Labor government was re-elected to a third term with a one-seat majority. In February 1996, a by-election was held in the electorate of Mundingburra, as a result of a decision of the Court of Disputed Returns. The Liberal Party won the seat and Rob Borbidge became leader of a National-Liberal coalition government with the support of the independent member for Gladstone, Liz Cunningham.
The 1998 election saw the defeat of the Borbidge government and the narrow election of a Labor government led by Peter Beattie.
The election was the high point for the new Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party. It won 22.67% of the primary vote and 11 seats. One Nation won six seats from the ALP and five from the Nationals. The Nationals lost another seat to an independent.
However, the ALP won six seats from the Liberal Party in Brisbane. Voter reaction to the Liberal decision to preference One Nation was seen as the reason for the Liberal losses.
Peter Beattie was able to form a minority government with the support of an independent, Peter Wellington. Following a by-election a few months later, caused by the resignation of the One Nation member for Mulgrave, the ALP had a one-seat majority.
| 1998 Queensland State Election – Primary Votes |
| Party |
Abbr |
Formal Votes |
Percentage |
| A.L.P |
ALP |
751,794 |
38.87% |
| Pauline Hanson’s One Nation |
ONP |
438,580 |
22.67% |
| Liberal Party |
LIB |
311,247 |
16.09% |
| Queensland Nationals |
NPA |
293,357 |
15.17% |
| The Greens |
GRN |
45,663 |
2.36% |
| The Democrats |
DEM |
31,118 |
1.61% |
| Australia First (Qld) |
AFP |
9,568 |
0.49% |
| ARP |
ARP |
7,653 |
0.40% |
| C.D.P (Qld.) |
CDP |
2,098 |
0.11% |
| Shooters Party |
TSP |
1,051 |
0.05% |
| AWP |
AWP |
299 |
0.02% |
| Other Candidates |
|
41,942 |
2.17% |
| 1998 Queensland State Election |
| Total Formal Votes |
1,934,370 |
| Total Informal Votes |
28,416 |
| Percentage Informal |
1.45% |
| Total Votes Counted |
1,962,786 |
| Percentage of Total Electors |
92.76% |
| Total Electors Enrolled |
2,115,977 |
Queensland Parliament
(Note: The Queensland Legislative Council was abolished in 1922) |
| Party |
Legislative Assembly
1995 Election |
Legislative Assembly
1998 Election |
| ALP |
44 |
44 |
| Liberal |
15 |
9 |
| National |
29 |
23 |
| Independent |
1 |
2 |
| One Nation |
– |
11 |
| Total |
89 |
89 |
ALP Government, sworn in 26 June 1998
Premier: Peter Beattie |
The election has reduced the Opposition parties to rumps. The Liberal Party is only assured of two seats and the National Party ten.