1976 New South Wales state election


A general election for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly was held in the state of New South Wales, Australia, on Saturday 1 May 1976. The result was a narrow win for the Labor Party under Neville Wran—the party's first in the state in more than a decade.

Issues

The incumbent Liberal-Country Party coalition had lost its longtime leader, Sir Robert Askin, at the end of 1974. His successor, Tom Lewis, didn't last a year as premier before his colleagues dumped him in favour of Eric Willis.
Wran successfully emerged from the shadow of the defeated Whitlam Labor government at a federal level. Labor's campaign focussed largely on the leader himself, what Australians call a "Presidential" style campaign. The state party had undergone a long process of renewal, and emerged with strong moderate credentials. Labor also offered an alternative to a long-serving government widely perceived as corrupt.
Wran's campaign slogan, "Let's put the state in better shape," delivered by the leader and key spokesmen Peter Cox and Syd Einfeld, resonated with voters.

Key dates

Results

The election was in doubt for several days. Ultimately, the seats of Gosford and Hurstville fell to Labor by only 74 and 44 votes respectively. Had the Coalition retained these seats, it would have stayed in power with a one-seat majority. As it turned out, the loss of Gosford and Hurstville gave Wran a one-seat majority.

Seats changing hands

  • Members in italics did not recontest their seats.
  • In addition, Labor retained the seat of Coogee, which it had won from the Liberals at the 1974 by-election.

    Post-election pendulum

LABOR SEATS ---
Marginal---
GosfordBrian McGowanALP0.1%
HurstvilleKevin RyanALP0.1%
Blue MountainsMick CloughALP0.5% v IND
MonaroJohn AkisterALP1.5%
CasinoDon DayALP1.6%
CastlereaghJack RenshawALP2.3%
Georges RiverFrank WalkerALP2.8%
CoogeeMichael ClearyALP3.7%
MurrumbidgeeLin GordonALP3.7%
AshfieldPaul WhelanALP5.1%
Fairly Safe---
KogarahBill CrabtreeALP6.1%
WaverleySyd EinfeldALP7.0%
ParramattaBarry WildeALP7.2%
DrummoyneMichael MaherALP7.3%
WoronoraMaurie KeaneALP8.1%
PeatsKeith O'ConnellALP8.7%
BurrinjuckTerry SheahanALP8.8%
CampbelltownCliff MallamALP8.9%
Safe---
WentworthvilleErnie QuinnALP10.7%
CharlestownRichard FaceALP11.7%
CorrimalLaurie KellyALP13.1%
HeathcoteRex JacksonALP13.2%
PenrithRon MulockALP13.9%
MaroubraBill HaighALP14.0%
CanterburyKevin StewartALP14.3%
Lake MacquarieMerv HunterALP14.4%
Bass HillNeville WranALP14.6%
BlacktownGordon BarnierALP14.7%
LakembaVince DurickALP14.7%
East HillsPat RoganALP14.8%
MerrylandsJack FergusonALP15.1%
AuburnPeter CoxALP15.3%
BankstownNick KearnsALP15.5%
WollongongEric RamsayALP16.0%
RockdaleBrian BannonALP16.5%
Mount DruittTony JohnsonALP17.4%
WaratahSam JonesALP17.4%
NewcastleArthur WadeALP17.7%
MunmorahHarry JensenALP18.5%
IllawarraGeorge PetersenALP18.6% v IND
GranvillePat FlahertyALP18.8%
FairfieldEric BedfordALP19.2%
WallsendKen BoothALP19.3%
LiverpoolGeorge PaciulloALP19.6%
HeffronLaurie BreretonALP19.8%
BalmainRoger DegenALP24.2%
MarrickvilleTom CahillALP24.3%
PhillipPat HillsALP26.0%
CessnockGeorge NeillyALP27.0%
Broken HillLew JohnstoneALPunopp.