1946 Australian federal election

The 1946 Australian federal election was held in Australia on 28 September 1946. All 74 seats in the House of Representatives and 19 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election. The incumbent Labor Party led by Prime Minister Ben Chifley defeated the opposition Liberal–Country coalition, led by Robert Menzies. It was the Liberal Party's first federal election since its creation. This was the first time the Labor party had won a second consecutive election. This was also the last time the Labor party would win a federal election until the 1972 election.

The election was held in conjunction with three referendum questions, one of which was carried.

Results

House of Representatives

Notes

Independent: Doris Blackburn (Bourke, Vic.)
In South Australia, the Liberal Party was known as the Liberal and Country League.

Senate

Notes

Of the three senators elected on Liberal–Country joint tickets, two were Liberal Party members and one was a Country Party member.

Seats changing hands

Members listed in italics did not contest their seat at this election.

Notes

^ The Northern Territory had one seat, but members for the territories did not have full voting rights until 1966 and did not count toward government formation.
^ Including Northern Territory

References

University of WA Archived 18 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine election results in Australia since 1890
Two-party-preferred vote since 1937