1984 New South Wales state election


Elections were held in the state of New South Wales, Australia, on Saturday 24 March 1984. The Labor government led by Neville Wran won a fourth term in office, though with a reduced majority and a 7% swing against it.
As the two previous elections each saw the sitting Opposition Leader lose the election and failing to be elected to Parliament, the 1984 election saw Nick Greiner becoming the first Opposition Leader to lose an election and retain his seat since Pat Hills in 1974.
Independents Ted Mack and John Hatton retained their seats of North Shore and South Coast respectively. They were joined on the cross benches by a third independent and Bruce Duncan.
Duncan, a former National Country Party member, withdrew from the party in protest at their change to the National Party name. He ran on an "Independent Country Party" ticket and won his seat of Lismore.
At a 1981 referendum, voters had approved an increase in the maximum parliamentary term from three years to four.

Key dates

Results

Legislative Assembly

Legislative Council

Seats changing hands

  • Members in italics did not recontest their seats.

    Post-election pendulum

LABOR SEATS ---
Marginal---
Northern TablelandsBill McCarthyALP1.6%
AlburyHarold MairALP1.9%
GosfordBrian McGowanALP1.9%
WoronoraMaurie KeaneALP3.3%
Blue MountainsBob DebusALP3.5%
WaverleyErnie PageALP3.7%
BurrinjuckTerry SheahanALP4.3%
WentworthvilleErnie QuinnALP4.6%
RydeGarry McIlwaineALP4.9%
Georges RiverFrank WalkerALP5.0%
EarlwoodKen GabbALP5.2%
BathurstMick CloughALP5.3%
ParramattaBarry WildeALP5.3%
GladesvilleRodney CavalierALP5.5%
MonaroJohn AkisterALP5.9%
Fairly safe---
KogarahBrian LangtonALP6.3%
CoogeeMichael ClearyALP6.8%
CampbelltownMichael KnightALP8.7% v IND
KiamaBill KnottALP8.7%
MaitlandAllan WalshALP8.9%
CharlestownRichard FaceALP9.0%
DrummoyneJohn MurrayALP9.0%
AshfieldPaul WhelanALP9.9%
Safe---
Seven HillsBob ChristieALP10.1%
HeathcoteRex JacksonALP11.1%
LakembaWes DavorenALP11.8%
TuggerahHarry MooreALP11.8%
Lake MacquarieMerv HunterALP12.2%
IngleburnStan KnowlesALP13.0%
MaroubraBob CarrALP13.2%
PeatsPaul LandaALP13.2%
WaratahJohn PriceALP13.2%
PenrithPeter AndersonALP14.3%
WallsendKen BoothALP14.3%
NewcastleArthur WadeALP14.4%
BankstownRic MochalskiALP14.5%
RockdaleBrian BannonALP14.6%
RiverstoneRichard AmeryALP14.9%
CabramattaEric BedfordALP15.1%
HeffronLaurie BreretonALP15.6%
East HillsPat RoganALP16.0%
BlacktownJohn AquilinaALP16.6%
AuburnPeter CoxALP16.8%
Bass HillNeville WranALP17.3%
MerrylandsGeoff IrwinALP17.4%
CanterburyKevin StewartALP17.9%
CorrimalLaurie KellyALP18.9%
GranvilleLaurie FergusonALP18.9%
BalmainPeter CrawfordALP19.0%
St MarysRon MulockALP19.0%
IllawarraGeorge PetersenALP19.6%
Broken HillBill BeckrogeALP20.1%
FairfieldJanice CrosioALP21.8%
ElizabethPat HillsALP22.2%
LiverpoolGeorge PaciulloALP22.2%
SwanseaDon BowmanALP22.2%
MarrickvilleAndrew RefshaugeALP23.4%
CessnockStan NeillyALP26.2%