Opposition in South Australia

Clement Macintyre, John Williams, Rob Manwaring

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

The behaviour of parliamentary oppositions is inevitably shaped by the overarching institutional characteristics that define Westminster-style parliaments. At the same time, to a large degree, it is also shaped by the circumstances that are found in the various parliamentary practices and cultures that are specific to each parliament. In South Australia, one of the most notable political features is that the election outcomes regularly produce governments with small majorities that have sometimes included, or minority governments that have had to include, independent members of parliament. In six of the 16 state elections from 1970 - 2022, the party winning office has not achieved a majority of seats. This is partly because the South Australian Parliament is relatively small by Australian standards (with only the Tasmanian Parliament and the two unicameral Territories having fewer members). It is also because, after the passing of the Referendum (Electoral Redistribution) Act 1990 (SA), until its repeal in 2018, there was a constitutional requirement which stipulated that electoral districts were redistributed after each election to ensure that any party securing more than 50 per cent of the valid two-party preferred vote should expect to win a majority of seats in the House of Assembly. Reflecting the distinctive electoral demography of South Australia, this led to frequent election results where the numbers in the South Australian House of Assembly were fairly evenly divided.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Art of Opposition
EditorsScott Prasser, David Clune
Place of PublicationRedland Bay, Queensland
PublisherConnor Court Publishing
Chapter12
Pages290-314
Number of pages25
ISBN (Print)9781922815903
Publication statusPublished - 2024

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