This article provides information on candidates who stood for the 1970 Australian Senate election. The election was held on 21 November 1970.
Retiring Senators
Labor Senator Felix Dittmer (Qld) Senator Bert Hendrickson (Vic) Senator Pat Kennelly (Vic) Senator James Ormonde (NSW) Senator Clem Ridley (SA) Senator Jim Toohey (SA)
Liberal Senator George Branson (WA) Senator Sir Alister McMullin (NSW) Senator Malcolm Scott (WA) Senator Dame Ivy Wedgwood (Vic)
Country Senator Douglas Scott (NSW)
Senate Sitting Senators are shown in bold text. Tickets that elected at least one Senator are highlighted in the relevant colour. Successful candidates are identified by an asterisk (*).
New South Wales Six seats were up for election. One of these was a short-term vacancy caused by Country Party Senator Colin McKellar's death; this was held in the interim by Douglas Scott. The Labor Party was defending two seats. The Liberal-Country Coalition was defending four seats. Senators Bob Cotton (Liberal), Joe Fitzgerald (Labor), Doug McClelland (Labor) and Lionel Murphy (Labor) were not up for re-election.
Labor candidatesCoalition candidatesDLP candidatesAustralia candidatesDemocratic candidatesNSP candidates Tony Mulvihill* Jim McClelland* Arthur Gietzelt*Sir Kenneth Anderson* (Lib) John Carrick* (Lib) Tom Bull (CP)Jack Kane* Peter Keogh Jan Van Der RijtDiana Ward Gordon Barton George BlackDick Bourke George MatchettJohn Stewart Michael McCormickPPA candidatesUngrouped candidates Sidney Sheedy Wendy ReedBrian Kilby
Queensland
Five seats were up for election. The Labor Party was defending two seats. The Liberal-Country Coalition was defending two seats. The Democratic Labor Party was defending one seat. Senators Condon Byrne (Democratic Labor), George Georges (Labor), Ron Maunsell (Country), Bertie Milliner (Labor) and Dame Annabelle Rankin (Liberal) were not up for re-election.
Labor candidatesCoalition candidatesDLP candidatesNSP candidatesPPA candidatesUngrouped candidates Jim Keeffe* Ron McAuliffe* Mal ColstonIan Wood* (Lib) Ellis Lawrie* (CP) Neville Bonner (Lib)Vince Gair* Jack Williams Brian O'BrienKen Gibbett Kevin ThompsonHarold Asmith Gary Cowburn Arthur MarshallJean Reville
South Australia
Five seats were up for election. The Labor Party was defending four seats. The Liberal Party was defending one seat. Senators Reg Bishop (Labor), Nancy Buttfield (Liberal), Jim Cavanagh (Labor), Condor Laucke (Liberal) and Harold Young (Liberal) were not up for re-election.
Labor candidatesLiberal candidatesDLP candidatesAustralia candidatesBEC candidates Arnold Drury* Don Cameron* Geoff McLaren*Gordon Davidson* Don Jessop* Martin CameronMark Posa George BasisovsColin Lawton Patrick Gethin Carl NilssonBob Harris Laures Chester
Tasmania
Five seats were up for election. The Labor Party was defending three seats. The Liberal Party was defending two seats. Senators Bob Poke (Labor), Peter Rae (Liberal), Reg Turnbull (Independent), Ken Wriedt (Labor) and Reg Wright (Liberal) were not up for re-election.
Labor candidatesLiberal candidatesDLP candidatesUngrouped candidates Justin O'Byrne* Don Devitt* Bert LaceyJohn Marriott* Elliot Lillico* David GunnMichael Delaney Dudley McNamaraBrian Broadby Thomas McDonald Charles Matysek Michael Townley* Peter Wood Walter Crispin
Victoria
Six seats were up for election. One of these was a short-term vacancy caused by Labor Senator Sam Cohen's death; this had been filled in the interim by Bill Brown. The Labor Party was defending three seats. The Liberal Party was defending two seats. The Democratic Labor Party was defending one seat. Senators Sir Magnus Cormack (Liberal), Jack Little (Democratic Labor), George Poyser (Labor) and James Webster (Country) were not up for re-election.
Labor candidatesLiberal candidatesDLP candidatesAustralia candidatesDOGS candidatesNSP candidates Bill Brown* Cyril Primmer* Cyril SudholzIvor Greenwood* Margaret Guilfoyle* George Hannan*Frank McManus* Frank Dowling Jim MarmionTed Hamilton Dorothy Buchanan Frederick WykeRay Nilsen Lance Hutchinson Jeffrey DavisCass Young Katrina YoungGroup B candidatesUngrouped candidates Linden Cameron Robert McCoshGeorge Samargis Joe Schillani Morris Revelman Fred Farrall Walter Wilson Edward Birley
Western Australia
Five seats were up for election. The Labor Party was defending two seats. The Liberal Party was defending two seats. The Country Party was defending one seat. Senators Edgar Prowse (Country), Peter Sim (Liberal), Don Willesee (Labor), Laurie Wilkinson (Labor) and Reg Withers (Liberal) were not up for re-election.
Labor candidatesLiberal candidatesCountry candidatesDLP candidatesCIM candidatesGroup C candidates John Wheeldon* Harry Cant* Mal BrycePeter Durack* Jim Samson Margaret McAleerTom Drake-Brockman* June Bunce Terry McDonnellJohn Martyr George GauntDavid Smith Eric LanghornSyd Negus* Olga Negus
Summary by party
Beside each party is an indication of whether the party contested the Senate election in each state.
Party NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas TotalAustralian Labor Party * * * * * * 6Liberal Party of Australia * * * * * * 6Australian Country Party * * * 3Democratic Labor Party * * * * * * 6Australia Party * * * 3National Socialist Party of Australia * * * 3Pensioner Power Association of Australia * * 2Democratic Party of Australia * 1Defence of Government Schools * 1Conservative Immigration Movement * 1Better Education Committee * 1
See also 1970 Australian Senate election Members of the Australian Senate, 1968–1971 Members of the Australian Senate, 1971–1974 List of political parties in Australia
References Adam Carr's Election Archive - Senate 1970