1898 New South Wales colonial election

1898 New South Wales colonial election

27 July 1898 (1898-07-27)
All 125 seats in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly 63 Assembly seats were needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader William Lyne George Reid James McGowen Party National Federal Free Trade Labor Electoral League Leader since 1895 September 1891 August 1894 Leader's seat Hume Sydney-King Redfern Last election 42 seats 58 seats 18 seats Seats won 52 seats 45 seats 19 seats Seat change 10 13 1 Percentage 43.03% 32.89 12.18% Swing 9.60 4.26 1.02
Legislative Assembly after the election
Premier before election George Reid Free Trade Elected Premier George Reid Free Trade

The 1898 New South Wales colonial election was held on 27 July 1898 for all of the 125 seats in the 18th New South Wales Legislative Assembly and it was conducted in single-member constituencies with a first past the post voting system. Section 23 (1) of the Parliamentary Electorates and Elections Act of 1893 conferred a right to vote on 'every male person, being a natural born [British] subject, who shall have resided or had his principal place of abode in New South Wales for a continuous period of one year'. The 18th parliament of New South Wales was dissolved on 8 July 1898 by the Governor, Lord Hampden, on the advice of the Premier, George Reid.

The Protectionist Party, the main Opposition, contested this election under the name "National Federal Party", reflecting the party's focus on Federation as an issue at the election.

Key dates

Date	Event
8 July 1898	The Legislative Assembly was dissolved, and writs were issued by the Governor to proceed with an election.
18 – 22 July 1898	Nominations for candidates for the election closed at noon.
27 July 1898	Polling day.
16 August 1898	Opening of 18th Parliament.

Results

New South Wales colonial election, 27 July 1898  Legislative Assembly << 1895–1901 >>
Enrolled voters		301,989
Votes cast		176,998		Turnout	58.61	−1.31
Informal votes		1,638		Informal	0.92	+0.04
Summary of votes by party
Party		Primary votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
	National Federal	76,161	43.03	+9.60	52	+10
	Free Trade	58,214	32.89	−4.26	45	−13
	Labour	21,556	12.18	−1.02	19	+1
	Independent Federalist	12,443	7.03	+2.71	4	+2
	Independent	5,290	2.99	−0.38	4	+4
	Ind. Free Trade	3,325	1.88	−5.44	1	−3
	Independent Labour	9	0.01	−1.21	0	−1
Total		176,998			125

References

• "Former members of the New South Wales Parliament, 1856-2006". New South Wales Parliament. Retrieved 8 July 2012.

See also

• Candidates of the 1898 New South Wales colonial election
• Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, 1898–1901