1949 Australian Federal Election

The incumbent Labor Party, led by Prime Minister Ben Chifley, was defeated by the opposition Liberal–Country coalition under Robert Menzies in a landslide. Menzies became prime minister for a second time, his first period having ended in 1941. This election marked the end of the 8-year Curtin-Chifley Labor government that had been in power since 1941 and started the 23-year Liberal/Country Coalition government. This was the first time the Liberal party won government at the federal level.

1949 Australian federal election

← 1946 10 December 1949 1951 →
← outgoing members elected members →
All 123 seats of the House of Representatives 61 seats were needed for a majority in the House 42 (of the 60) seats of the Senate
Opinion polls
Registered	4,895,227 3.28%
Turnout	4,697,800 (95.97%) (2.00 pp)
First party Second party   Leader Robert Menzies Ben Chifley Party Liberal (Coalition) Labor Leader since 21 February 1945 13 July 1945 Leader's seat Kooyong (Vic.) Macquarie (NSW) Last election 26 seats 43 seats Seats won 74 47 + NT Seat change 48 4 Popular vote 2,314,143 2,117,088 Percentage 50.26% 45.98% Swing 6.61 3.73 TPP 51.00% 49.00% TPP swing 5.10 5.10
Results by division for the House of Representatives, shaded by winning party's margin of victory.
Prime Minister before election Ben Chifley Labor Subsequent Prime Minister Robert Menzies Liberal/Country coalition

The number of MPs in both houses had been increased at the election, and single transferable vote under a proportional voting system had been introduced in the Senate. Though Labor lost government, Labor retained a Senate majority at the election. However, this ended at the 1951 election. With the Senate changes in place, Labor has not held a Senate majority since.

Future Prime Ministers William McMahon and John Gorton both entered parliament at this election.

The election hinged on the policies of the Federal Labor government, especially bank nationalisation. Prime Minister Chifley intended to bring all of the banks under Government control, a socialist policy which the Coalition argued was not in the country's interest. The Coalition promised to end unpopular wartime rationing. The election took place against the background of the 1949 Australian coal strike, the developing Cold War and growing fears of communism.

Robert Menzies broke new ground in using the radio as his primary method of reaching voters.

As of this election, single transferable vote with proportional representation became the method for electing the Senate. This was to try to prevent the Senate from being dominated by one party, which had often occurred previously. For example, coming into this election the ALP held 33 of the 36 Senate seats, whilst the Nationalist Party at the 1919 election held 35 of the 36 Senate seats. In addition, the House of Representatives was enlarged from 74 to 121 seats and the Senate from 36 to 60 members. All 121 lower house seats, and 42 of the 60 upper house seats, were up for election.

House of Representatives

 

House of Reps (IRV) — 1949–51—Turnout 95.97% (CV) — Informal 1.99%

 

Party			Votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
	Liberal–Country coalition		2,314,143	50.26	+6.61	74	+45
		Liberal	1,813,794	39.39	+6.44	55	+37
		Country	500,349	10.87	+0.17	19	+8
	Labor		2,117,088	45.98	–3.73	48	+4
	Communist		40,941	0.89	–0.60	0	0
	Lang Labor		32,870	0.71	–0.88	0	–1
	Independents		99,368	2.16	+0.34	1	–1
	Total		4,604,410			123	+48
Two-party-preferred (estimated)
	Liberal–Country coalition		Win	51.00	+5.10	74	+45
	Labor			49.00	−5.10	47	+4

Senate

Senate (STV) — 1949–51—Turnout 95.97% (CV) — Informal 10.76%

 

Party			Votes	%	Swing	Seats won	Seats held	Change
	Liberal–Country coalition		2,113,447	50.41	+7.08	23	26	+23
		Liberal–Country joint ticket	1,871,849	44.65	+6.53	16	N/A	N/A
		Liberal	241,598	5.76	+0.55	7	21	+19
		Country	N/A	N/A	N/A	0	5	+4
	Labor		1,881,956	44.89	–7.17	19	34	+1
	Communist		87,958	2.10	+2.10	0	0	0
	Protestant People's		37,441	0.89	–2.13	0	0	0
	Independents / ungrouped		71,723	1.71	+1.03	0	0	0
	Total		4,192,525			42	60	+24

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

The Chifley government was defeated, ending the, then, longest period of Labor Federal Government in Australian history up to that date (1941–49). Labor would not return to office until 1972. Robert Menzies became Prime Minister for the second time, and the Liberal Party of Australia won government federally for the first time.

• Candidates of the Australian federal election, 1949
• Members of the Australian House of Representatives, 1949–1951
• Members of the Australian Senate, 1950–1951