1947 South Australian state election

State elections were held in South Australia on 8 March 1947. All 39 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly were up for election. The incumbent Liberal and Country League government led by Premier of South Australia Thomas Playford IV defeated the opposition Australian Labor Party led by Leader of the Opposition Robert Richards.

1947 South Australian state election

← 1944 8 March 1947 (1947-03-08) 1950 →
All 39 seats in the South Australian House of Assembly 20 seats were needed for a majority
First party Second party   Leader Thomas Playford Robert Richards Party Liberal and Country League Labor Leader since 5 November 1938 1 April 1938 Leader's seat Gumeracha Wallaroo Last election 20 seats 16 seats Seats won 23 seats 13 seats Seat change 3 3 Percentage 52.0% 48.0% Swing 5.3 5.3
Premier before election Thomas Playford Liberal and Country League Elected Premier Thomas Playford Liberal and Country League

Background

The LCL won three seats—metropolitan Norwood, Prospect and Torrens—from Labor. The LCL won back rural Victoria after losing it to Labor at a by-election in 1945.

Results

South Australian state election, 8 March 1947 House of Assembly << 1944–1950 >>
Enrolled voters		306,059
Votes cast		285,765		Turnout	93.37%	+4.84%
Informal votes		10,366		Informal	3.63%	+0.41%
Summary of votes by party
Party		Primary votes	%	Swing	Seats	Change
	Labor	133,959	48.64%	+6.12%	13	– 3
	Liberal and Country	111,216	40.38%	–5.46%	23	+ 3
	Communist	8,178	2.97%	+0.90%	0	± 0
	Independent	17,083	6.20%	–0.43%	3	± 0
	Independent Labor	4,963	1.80%	–0.45%	0	± 0
Total		275,399			39
Two-party-preferred
	Liberal and Country		52.00%	+5.30%
	Labor		48.00%	–5.30%

• The primary vote figures were from contested seats, while the state-wide two-party-preferred vote figures were estimated from all seats.

See also

• Results of the South Australian state election, 1947 (House of Assembly)
• Candidates of the 1947 South Australian state election
• Members of the South Australian House of Assembly, 1947-1950
• Members of the South Australian Legislative Council, 1947-1950
• Playmander