1938 New South Wales state election

The 1938 New South Wales state election was held on 26 March 1938. This election was for all of the 90 seats in the 32nd New South Wales Legislative Assembly and was conducted in single member constituencies with compulsory preferential voting.

Quick facts All 90 seats in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly 46 Assembly seats were needed for a majority, First party ...

1938 New South Wales state election

← 1935 26 March 1938 (1938-03-26) 1941 â†’
All 90 seats in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly 46 Assembly seats were needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader Bertram Stevens Jack Lang Michael Bruxner Party United Australia Labor Country Leader since 5 April 1932 31 July 1923 27 April 1932 Leader's seat Croydon Auburn Tenterfield Last election 38 seats 29 seats 23 seats Seats won 37 28 22 Seat change 1 1 1 Popular vote 424,275 412,063 164,045 Percentage 35.86% 34.82% 13.86% Swing 2.76 7.60 0.94%
Results by division for the Legislative Assembly, shaded by winning party's margin of victory.
Premier before election Bertram Stevens UAP/Country coalition Elected Premier Bertram Stevens UAP/Country coalition

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The result of the election was:

• United Australia Party 37 seats
• Country Party 22 seats
• Australian Labor Party 28 seats
• Industrial Labor Party 2 seats
• Independent 1 seat.

The UAP/Country Party coalition of Bertram Stevens and Michael Bruxner had a majority of 28 (down 2). Stevens continued as Premier until 5 August 1939 when he resigned after being censured by the Legislative Assembly, with 10 United Australia members crossing the floor. He was replaced as Premier by Alexander Mair.

Lang Labor reconciled with Labor in February 1936,^[1] however Labor's primary vote continued to decline.^[2] Labor's continued poor showing in this election was seen as evidence of Jack Lang's inability to appeal to the middle ground of the electorate. As a result, moves to dispose Lang intensified.^{[citation needed]} The Industrial Labor Party led by Lang rival Bob Heffron was re-absorbed into the Labor on 26 August 1939 and Lang was replaced as party leader by William McKell on 5 September 1939.^[1]

During this parliament Labor and Industrial Labor each won 2 by-elections from the United Australia Party.^[3] This reduced the Government's majority to 20 when the parliament was dissolved.