Liberal Party of Australia (A.C.T. Division)


The Liberal Party of Australia , commonly known as Canberra Liberals, is the division of the Liberal Party of Australia in the Australian Capital Territory. The party has been in opposition in the ACT Legislative Assembly for much of its existence, but held power with the support of minor parties and independents between 1989 and 1991 and again between 1995 and 2001.

History

The first Liberal branch in Canberra was formed in order to field a candidate in the newly created Division of Australian Capital Territory at the 1949 federal election. The first meeting of the branch was held at the Albert Hall on 27 January 1949. The inaugural meeting of the Canberra women's branch was held on 29 June 1949. By 1961, there were three branches of the Liberal Party in the ACT, and a branch of the Young Liberals was created around the same time.
The party held a number of seats in the Australian Capital Territory House of Assembly throughout its existence. In the first election under self-government in 1989 the Liberal Party won four seats. The Liberals were led in the Assembly by Trevor Kaine, initially in opposition but in December 1989 the party formed a coalition known as the Alliance with the Residents Rally that lasted from December 1989 until June 1991 when a dispute over school closures broke up the coalition and returned the parties to opposition. Kaine was briefly replaced as leader by Gary Humphries, but regained the position a month later. Two years later he was replaced by Kate Carnell.
At the 1995 election the Liberals won 7 seats and Carnell formed a minority government with the support of independent members Michael Moore and Paul Osborne who would both subsequently serve as ministers. Carnell served as Chief Minister until October 2000 when she resigned in advance of a no confidence motion over the increased costs of the Canberra Stadium. She was succeeded by Humphries but the party lost power in the 2001 election. It has been in opposition since.

Leaders

LeaderDate startedDate finishedChief Minister
Trevor Kaine11 May 198921 June 19911989–1991
Gary Humphries21 June 199122 July 1991
Trevor Kaine22 July 199121 April 1993
Kate Carnell21 April 199317 October 20001995–2000
Gary Humphries17 October 200025 November 20022000–2001
Brendan Smyth25 November 200216 May 2006
Bill Stefaniak16 May 200613 December 2007
Zed Seselja13 December 200711 January 2013
Jeremy Hanson11 February 201325 October 2016
Alistair Coe25 October 2016present

Election results