1928 Australian Federal Election

All 75 seats in the House of Representatives and 19 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election. The incumbent Nationalist–Country coalition, led by Prime Minister Stanley Bruce won a record fifth consecutive election defeating the opposition Labor Party led by James Scullin.

1928 Australian federal election

← 1925 17 November 1928 (1928-11-17) 1929 →
← outgoing members elected members →
All 76 seats in the House of Representatives 38 seats were needed for a majority in the House 19 (of the 36) seats in the Senate
Registered	3,444,769 4.32%
Turnout	2,728,815(93.64%) (2.25 pp)
First party Second party   Leader Stanley Bruce James Scullin Party Nationalist/Country coalition Labor Leader since 9 February 1923 26 April 1928 Leader's seat Flinders (Vic.) Yarra (Vic.) Last election 51 seats 23 seats Seats won 42 31 + NT Seat change 9 8 Percentage 51.60% 48.40% Swing 2.20% 2.20
Results by division for the House of Representatives, shaded by winning party's margin of victory.
Prime Minister before election Stanley Bruce Nationalist/Country coalition Subsequent Prime Minister Stanley Bruce Nationalist/Country coalition

The election was held in conjunction with a referendum on Commonwealth–State relations, which was carried.

Future Prime Ministers John Curtin and Ben Chifley both entered parliament at this election. Both then lost their seats in the 1931 election and did not re-enter parliament until 1934 and 1940 respectively.

 

House of Representatives

House of Reps (IRV) — 1928–29—Turnout 93.64% (CV) — Informal 4.90%

 

Party			Votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
	Nationalist–Country coalition		1,286,208	49.56	–3.64	42	–8
		Nationalist	1,014,522	39.09	–3.37	29	–8
		Country	271,686	10.47	–0.27	13	0
	Labor		1,158,505	44.64	–0.40	32	+8
	Country Progressive		41,713	1.61	+1.61	1	+1
	Protestant Labor		20,212	0.78	+0.78	0	0
	Independents		88,447	3.41	+1.65	1	–1
	Total		2,595,085			76
Two-party-preferred (estimated)
	Nationalist–Country coalition		Win	51.60	−2.20	42	–8
	Labor			48.40	+2.20	31	+8

Notes

• Independent: William McWilliams (Franklin, Tas.).
• Twelve members were elected unopposed – three Labor, five Nationalist, and four Country.

Senate

Senate (P BV) — 1928–31—Turnout 93.61% (CV) — Informal 9.88%

 

Party			Votes	%	Swing	Seats won	Seats held	Change
	Nationalist–Country coalition		1,466,323	50.46	–4.35	12	29	+1
		Nationalist	1,141,405	39.28	–6.07	10	24	0
		Country	324,918	11.18	+1.73	2	5	+1
	Labor		1,422,418	48.95	+3.93	7	7	–1
	Independents		17,092	0.59	+0.42	0	0	0
	Total		2,905,833			19	36

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

In the Division of Indi, the sitting candidate Robert Cook lost his seat after forgetting to file nomination papers, resulting in Labor candidate Paul Jones winning the seat unopposed.

• Candidates of the 1928 Australian federal election
• Members of the Australian House of Representatives, 1928–1929
• Members of the Australian Senate, 1929–1932