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Bass — Australian Federal Election Results

Compiled by EveryElectionResult.com's data team · Last updated 2026-08-30

Bass was won by Bridget Archer (Liberal) at the 2019 federal election, with a margin of 563 votes over Ross Hart after preferences. This page covers every federal election in Bass from 1903 to 2019.

Australia uses instant-runoff (preferential) voting: voters rank candidates in order of preference, and if no one has a majority of first-preference votes, the lowest-placed candidate is eliminated and their votes redistributed to voters' next preference, repeating until one candidate has a majority. The "Winner" and "Margin" below reflect the final result after preferences (equivalent to the AEC's own two-candidate-preferred figure) — not simply whoever led on first preferences, which can occasionally be a different candidate.

Full Election History (After Preferences), 1903–2019

Election Winner Party Final Votes Final Share Runner-up Margin
1903 David Storrer Prot 4,092 56.7% William Hartnoll (FT) 968 (13.4 pts)
1906 David Storrer Prot 5,826 62.3% William Oldham (AS) 2,304 (24.6 pts)
1910 Jens Jensen Labor 6,612 56.8% David Storrer (Independent) 1,590 (13.7 pts)
1913 Jens Jensen Labor 7,945 52.4% Stephen Margetts (Liberal) 733 (4.8 pts)
1914 Jens Jensen Labor 9,731 56.0% Alexander Marshall (Liberal) 2,093 (12.1 pts)
1917 Jens Jensen National 9,669 59.9% James Mooney (Labor) 3,203 (19.9 pts)
1919 David Jackson National 6,779 55.8% Alfred Higgins (Labor) 1,402 (11.5 pts)
1922 David Jackson National 4,819 58.9% Alfred Higgins (Labor) 1,460 (17.9 pts)
1925 David Jackson National 10,929 65.9% Harold Holmes (Labor) 5,275 (31.8 pts)
1928 David Jackson National 10,736 53.1% Thomas Wilson (Labor) 1,254 (6.2 pts)
1929 Allan Guy Labor 13,318 60.4% David Jackson (National) 4,577 (20.7 pts)
1931 Allan Guy United Australia Party 14,247 64.5% Claude Barnard (Labor) 6,406 (29.0 pts)
1934 Claude Barnard Labor 11,984 50.3% Allan Guy (United Australia Party) 166 (0.7 pts)
1937 Claude Barnard Labor 12,583 56.3% Allan Guy (United Australia Party) 2,823 (12.6 pts)
1940 Claude Barnard Labor 12,597 67.8% Algernon Findlay (United Australia Party) 6,621 (35.6 pts)
1943 Claude Barnard Labor 13,136 65.0% Desmond Oldham (United Australia Party) 6,051 (29.9 pts)
1946 Claude Barnard Labor 15,387 57.0% Henry Spotswood (Liberal) 3,779 (14.0 pts)
1949 Bruce Kekwick Liberal 15,686 50.6% Claude Barnard (Labor) 374 (1.2 pts)
1951 Bruce Kekwick Liberal 16,469 53.4% Colman O'byrne (Labor) 2,123 (6.9 pts)
1954 Lance Barnard Labor 16,623 51.0% Bruce Kekwick (Liberal) 677 (2.1 pts)
1955 Lance Barnard Labor 18,197 60.2% Frederick White (Liberal) 6,188 (20.5 pts)
1958 Lance Barnard Labor 18,800 60.3% Maxwell Bushby (Liberal) 6,406 (20.5 pts)
1961 Lance Barnard Labor 21,601 65.6% Frederick Marriott (Liberal) 10,275 (31.2 pts)
1963 Lance Barnard Labor 21,182 61.8% James Wardlaw (Liberal) 8,104 (23.7 pts)
1966 Lance Barnard Labor 21,262 60.7% Timothy Barrenger (Liberal) 7,523 (21.5 pts)
1969 Lance Barnard Labor 20,214 55.9% Neil Pitt (Liberal) 4,259 (11.8 pts)
1972 Lance Barnard Labor 23,439 61.5% Richard Beswick (Liberal) 8,778 (23.0 pts)
1974 Lance Barnard Labor 23,677 54.0% Richard Beswick (Liberal) 3,540 (8.1 pts)
1975 Kevin Newman Liberal 28,382 64.6% Michael Mclaughlin (Labor) 12,808 (29.1 pts)
1977 Kevin Newman Liberal 28,022 60.3% Mary Willey (Labor) 9,575 (20.6 pts)
1980 Kevin Newman Liberal 27,586 54.3% Patti Warn (Labor) 4,387 (8.6 pts)
1983 Kevin Newman Liberal 28,448 59.2% John Mcdonald (Labor) 8,858 (18.4 pts)
1984 Warwick Smith Liberal 28,514 54.4% Vicki Buchanan (Labor) 4,636 (8.8 pts)
1987 Warwick Smith Liberal 29,173 53.7% Richard Taylor (Labor) 3,979 (7.3 pts)
1990 Warwick Smith Liberal 30,896 54.3% Silvia Smith (Labor) 4,891 (8.6 pts)
1993 Silvia Smith Labor 30,850 50.0% Warwick Smith (Liberal) 40 (0.1 pts)
1996 Warwick Smith Liberal 33,861 54.6% Silvia Smith (Labor) 5,671 (9.1 pts)
1998 Michelle O'byrne Labor 30,612 50.1% Warwick Smith (Liberal) 78 (0.1 pts)
2001 Michelle O'byrne Labor 31,598 52.1% Tony Benneworth (Liberal) 2,505 (4.1 pts)
2004 Michael Ferguson Liberal 32,860 52.6% Michelle O'byrne (Labor) 3,281 (5.3 pts)
2007 Jodie Campbell Labor 32,553 51.0% Michael Ferguson (Liberal) 1,271 (2.0 pts)
2010 Geoff Lyons Labor 37,165 56.7% Steve Titmus (Liberal) 8,828 (13.5 pts)
2013 Andrew Nikolic Liberal 35,310 54.0% Geoff Lyons (Labor) 5,276 (8.1 pts)
2016 Ross Hart Labor 37,119 56.1% Andrew Nikolic (Liberal) 8,063 (12.2 pts)
2019 Bridget Archer Liberal 34,648 50.4% Ross Hart (Labor) 563 (0.8 pts)

First-Preference Result by Election

Every candidate's first-preference votes, before any preference redistribution.

1903

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
David StorrerProt4,09256.7%
William HartnollFT3,12443.3%

1906

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
David StorrerProt5,82662.3%
William OldhamAS3,52237.7%

1910

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Jens JensenLabor6,61256.8%
David StorrerIndependent5,02243.2%

1913

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Jens JensenLabor7,94552.4%
Stephen MargettsLiberal7,21247.6%

1914

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Jens JensenLabor9,73156.0%
Alexander MarshallLiberal7,63844.0%

1917

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Jens JensenNational9,66959.9%
James MooneyLabor6,46640.1%

1919

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Alfred HigginsLabor4,29235.3%
David JacksonNational3,12725.7%
Stephen MargettsNational2,55321.0%
Jens JensenIndependent1,68913.9%
Timothy EarleyIndependent3282.7%
Luke BryantIndependent1671.4%

1922

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
David JacksonNational4,81950.2%
Alfred HigginsLabor3,35935.0%
King O'malleyIndependent1,08511.3%
John HegartyIndependent3373.5%

1925

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
David JacksonNational10,92957.0%
Harold HolmesLabor5,65429.5%
John SwainLabor2,58213.5%

1928

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Thomas WilsonLabor8,62142.6%
David JacksonNational5,99129.6%
William JuddNational5,60627.7%

1929

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Allan GuyLabor13,31860.4%
David JacksonNational8,74139.6%

1931

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Allan GuyUnited Australia Party10,29346.6%
Claude BarnardLabor6,76330.6%
Harold SolomonIndependent5,03222.8%

1934

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Allan GuyUnited Australia Party9,88041.5%
Claude BarnardLabor6,57227.6%
George McelweeIndependent4,74019.9%
John WatsonIndependent2,61011.0%

1937

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Claude BarnardLabor12,58350.4%
Allan GuyUnited Australia Party9,76039.1%
John WatsonIndependent2,62110.5%

1940

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Claude BarnardLabor12,00949.4%
Algernon FindlayUnited Australia Party5,63423.2%
Desmond OldhamUnited Australia Party5,21521.5%
John WatsonIndependent1,4526.0%

1943

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Claude BarnardLabor13,13651.2%
Desmond OldhamUnited Australia Party7,08527.6%
John OrchardIndependent4,50917.6%
John WatsonIndependent4691.8%
Harold HarwardIndependent4401.7%

1946

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Claude BarnardLabor13,49550.0%
Henry SpotswoodLiberal8,21930.4%
John OrchardIndependent5,28119.6%

1949

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Bruce KekwickLiberal15,68650.6%
Claude BarnardLabor15,31249.4%

1951

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Bruce KekwickLiberal16,46953.4%
Colman O'byrneLabor14,34646.6%

1954

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Lance BarnardLabor16,62351.0%
Bruce KekwickLiberal15,94649.0%

1955

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Lance BarnardLabor18,19755.5%
Frederick WhiteLiberal12,00936.6%
Leslie DukeLabor (Anti-Communist)2,5897.9%

1958

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Lance BarnardLabor18,80055.6%
Maxwell BushbyLiberal12,39436.7%
Leslie ArnoldDemocratic Labor Party2,6107.7%

1961

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Lance BarnardLabor21,60162.7%
Frederick MarriottLiberal11,32632.9%
Francis BolandDemocratic Labor Party1,5324.4%

1963

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Lance BarnardLabor21,18258.3%
James WardlawLiberal13,07836.0%
Frederick KayeDemocratic Labor Party2,0555.7%

1966

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Lance BarnardLabor21,26257.2%
Timothy BarrengerLiberal13,73936.9%
Richard DelanyDemocratic Labor Party2,1835.9%

1969

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Lance BarnardLabor20,21452.2%
Neil PittLiberal15,95541.2%
Peter FerrallDemocratic Labor Party1,0942.8%
John KentAP1,0692.8%
Geoffrey BattenIndependent3981.0%

1972

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Lance BarnardLabor23,43958.8%
Richard BeswickLiberal14,66136.8%
Jindrich NermutDemocratic Labor Party1,7834.5%

1974

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Lance BarnardLabor23,67754.0%
Richard BeswickLiberal20,13746.0%

1975

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Kevin NewmanLiberal28,38263.1%
Michael MclaughlinLabor15,57434.6%
Kevin ChaffeyIndependent1,0012.2%

1977

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Kevin NewmanLiberal28,02255.7%
Mary WilleyLabor18,44736.7%
Dennis CartledgeAustralian Democrats3,7957.6%

1980

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Kevin NewmanLiberal27,58653.0%
Patti WarnLabor23,19944.5%
Olga ScullyIndependent1,3102.5%

1983

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Kevin NewmanLiberal28,44853.5%
John McdonaldLabor19,59036.8%
Nick GoldieAustralian Democrats3,2916.2%
Richard HutchisonIndependent1,8843.5%

1984

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Warwick SmithLiberal27,22652.0%
Vicki BuchananLabor22,54443.0%
Michael PreeceAustralian Democrats2,6245.0%

1987

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Warwick SmithLiberal28,14951.8%
Richard TaylorLabor23,31142.9%
Michael PreeceAustralian Democrats2,9105.4%

1990

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Warwick SmithLiberal28,44149.9%
Silvia SmithLabor21,61937.9%
Rae SaxonAustralian Democrats4,4497.8%
John ChesterIndependent2,4794.4%

1993

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Warwick SmithLiberal29,18747.3%
Silvia SmithLabor27,01443.8%
David HunnerupGreens3,9076.3%
Brian AustenAustralian Democrats1,5722.5%

1996

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Warwick SmithLiberal31,87551.2%
Silvia SmithLabor25,03440.2%
Kristina NicklasonGreens3,0935.0%
Debbie ButlerAustralian Democrats2,2143.6%

1998

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Warwick SmithLiberal27,97445.7%
Michelle O'byrneLabor25,86442.3%
Stuart BairdGreens2,5954.2%
Allan LockhartOne Nation2,0573.4%
Brian MuirAustralian Democrats1,4912.4%
Harvey SmithIndependent1,1651.9%

2001

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Michelle O'byrneLabor25,98742.8%
Tony BenneworthLiberal25,15641.4%
Kim BoothGreens3,7886.2%
Sancia ColgraveAustralian Democrats2,1783.6%
Denis CollinsOne Nation1,8363.0%
Margy DockrayLFF9661.6%
Ian HardmanIndependent6211.0%
Caroline LarnerIndependent1590.3%

2004

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Michael FergusonLiberal30,67849.1%
Michelle O'byrneLabor24,49139.2%
Jeremy BallGreens5,0598.1%
Christine BergmanFFP1,1451.8%
Caroline LarnerCEC8471.4%
Meredith De LandellesSocialist Alliance2190.4%

2007

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Michael FergusonLiberal27,76943.5%
Jodie CampbellLabor23,76437.2%
Tom MillenGreens9,74515.3%
Sven WienerIndependent1,1231.8%
Ixa De HaanFamily First9301.5%
Shem BennettIndependent2850.4%
Adrian WattsIndependent2190.3%

2010

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Geoff LyonsLabor28,44843.4%
Steve TitmusLiberal26,01039.7%
Sancia ColgraveGreens10,20615.6%
Adrian WattsIndependent8381.3%

2013

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Andrew NikolicLiberal31,26747.8%
Geoff LyonsLabor22,64334.7%
Lucy Landon-LaneGreens5,1607.9%
Christopher DobsonPalmer United Party3,5205.4%
Christine BergmanFamily First1,4072.2%
Ray KroezeIndependent9631.5%
Jin-Oh ChoiIndependent3840.6%

2016

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Ross HartLabor26,80340.5%
Andrew NikolicLiberal25,60938.7%
Terrill Riley-GibsonGreens7,15410.8%
Mark TapsellARFP3,2314.9%
Malcolm BeattieChristian Democratic Party1,7652.7%
Roy RamageThe Republicans1,6132.4%

2019

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Bridget ArcherLiberal29,09442.3%
Ross HartLabor23,87834.7%
Tom HallGreens7,20210.5%
Allan RoarkUnited Australia Party3,3424.9%
Todd LambertIndependent2,6073.8%
Susan WoodburyAJP1,6672.4%
Carl CooperNational9431.4%

Margin Over Time

Final (after-preferences) winning margin, percentage points, coloured by the winning party.

1903: Prot margin 13.4 pts 1906: Prot margin 24.6 pts 1910: Labor margin 13.7 pts 1913: Labor margin 4.8 pts 1914: Labor margin 12.1 pts 1917: National margin 19.9 pts 1919: National margin 11.5 pts 1922: National margin 17.9 pts 1925: National margin 31.8 pts 1928: National margin 6.2 pts 1929: Labor margin 20.7 pts 1931: United Australia Party margin 29.0 pts 1934: Labor margin 0.7 pts 1937: Labor margin 12.6 pts 1940: Labor margin 35.6 pts 1943: Labor margin 29.9 pts 1946: Labor margin 14.0 pts 1949: Liberal margin 1.2 pts 1951: Liberal margin 6.9 pts 1954: Labor margin 2.1 pts 1955: Labor margin 20.5 pts 1958: Labor margin 20.5 pts 1961: Labor margin 31.2 pts 1963: Labor margin 23.7 pts 1966: Labor margin 21.5 pts 1969: Labor margin 11.8 pts 1972: Labor margin 23.0 pts 1974: Labor margin 8.1 pts 1975: Liberal margin 29.1 pts 1977: Liberal margin 20.6 pts 1980: Liberal margin 8.6 pts 1983: Liberal margin 18.4 pts 1984: Liberal margin 8.8 pts 1987: Liberal margin 7.3 pts 1990: Liberal margin 8.6 pts 1993: Labor margin 0.1 pts 1996: Liberal margin 9.1 pts 1998: Labor margin 0.1 pts 2001: Labor margin 4.1 pts 2004: Liberal margin 5.3 pts 2007: Labor margin 2.0 pts 2010: Labor margin 13.5 pts 2013: Liberal margin 8.1 pts 2016: Labor margin 12.2 pts 2019: Liberal margin 0.8 pts 1903 1906 1910 1913 1914 1917 1919 1922 1925 1928 1929 1931 1934 1937 1940 1943 1946 1949 1951 1954 1955 1958 1961 1963 1966 1969 1972 1974 1975 1977 1980 1983 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016 2019

Trend

Bass has been contested at 45 federal elections on record since 1903. Winning parties over that span: Prot, Labor, National, United Australia Party, Liberal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won Bass in the 2019 federal election?

Bridget Archer (Liberal) won Bass in 2019 after preferences, with 34,648 votes (50.4%) to Ross Hart's 34,085.

Which parties have won Bass since 1903?

Since 1903, Bass has been won by: Labor, Liberal, National, Prot, United Australia Party.

What was the closest result in Bass?

The closest result on record for Bass was 1993, when Silvia Smith (Labor) beat Warwick Smith by 40 votes (0.1 percentage points) after preferences.

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