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Lowe — Australian Federal Election Results

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

Lowe was won by John Murphy (Labor) at the 2007 federal election, with a margin of 11,598 votes over Jim Tsolakis after preferences. This page covers every federal election in Lowe from 1949 to 2007.

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), 1949–2007

Election Winner Party Final Votes Final Share Runner-up Margin
1949 William Mcmahon Liberal 20,489 56.3% Hector Mcdonald (Labor) 4,581 (12.6 pts)
1951 William Mcmahon Liberal 22,276 57.8% John Burton (Labor) 6,026 (15.6 pts)
1954 William Mcmahon Liberal 21,380 57.8% William Webster (Labor) 5,778 (15.6 pts)
1955 William Mcmahon Liberal 25,080 60.3% Edward Davies (Labor) 8,572 (20.6 pts)
1958 William Mcmahon Liberal 22,239 61.2% Joseph Sloss (Labor) 8,153 (22.4 pts)
1961 William Mcmahon Liberal 19,660 50.9% John Holland (Labor) 681 (1.8 pts)
1963 William Mcmahon Liberal 21,714 58.5% John Holland (Labor) 6,288 (16.9 pts)
1966 William Mcmahon Liberal 21,595 63.0% Peter Dunn (Labor) 8,908 (26.0 pts)
1969 William Mcmahon Liberal 26,379 54.8% Peter Young (Labor) 4,656 (9.7 pts)
1972 William Mcmahon Liberal 27,356 53.6% William Fisher (Labor) 3,676 (7.2 pts)
1974 William Mcmahon Liberal 29,110 54.1% Douglas Sutherland (Labor) 4,413 (8.2 pts)
1975 William Mcmahon Liberal 32,908 59.6% Robert Hyde (Labor) 10,609 (19.2 pts)
1977 William Mcmahon Liberal 35,044 57.4% Richard Hall (Labor) 8,992 (14.7 pts)
1980 William Mcmahon Liberal 33,416 51.1% Janice Burnswoods (Labor) 1,407 (2.2 pts)
1983 Michael Maher Labor 33,619 54.9% Philip Taylor (Liberal) 5,986 (9.8 pts)
1984 Michael Maher Labor 32,215 52.2% Geoffrey Howe (Liberal) 2,743 (4.4 pts)
1987 Bob Woods Liberal 32,520 51.6% Michael Maher (Labor) 2,066 (3.3 pts)
1990 Bob Woods Liberal 31,794 50.6% Mary Easson (Labor) 781 (1.2 pts)
1993 Mary Easson Labor 39,868 55.0% Bob Woods (Liberal) 7,258 (10.0 pts)
1996 Paul Zammit Liberal 37,978 52.5% Mary Easson (Labor) 3,573 (4.9 pts)
1998 John Murphy Labor 40,527 54.6% Robert Lee (Liberal) 6,865 (9.3 pts)
2004 John Murphy Labor 40,727 53.3% John Sidoti (Liberal) 5,039 (6.6 pts)
2007 John Murphy Labor 45,136 57.4% Jim Tsolakis (Liberal) 11,598 (14.7 pts)

First-Preference Result by Election

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

1949

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
William McmahonLiberal20,48952.7%
Hector McdonaldLabor15,90840.9%
Edith ShortlandIndependent2,4706.4%

1951

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
William McmahonLiberal22,27657.8%
John BurtonLabor16,25042.2%

1954

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
William McmahonLiberal21,38057.8%
William WebsterLabor15,60242.2%

1955

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
William McmahonLiberal25,08060.3%
Edward DaviesLabor16,50839.7%

1958

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
William McmahonLiberal22,23955.6%
Joseph SlossLabor14,08635.2%
Mollie DolanDemocratic Labor Party3,6699.2%

1961

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
William McmahonLiberal18,47247.8%
John HollandLabor18,28547.3%
Denis KleinDemocratic Labor Party1,4863.8%
Daniel SmithIndependent3961.0%

1963

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
William McmahonLiberal21,71455.6%
John HollandLabor15,42639.5%
Reginald LawsonDemocratic Labor Party1,9104.9%

1966

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
William McmahonLiberal21,59558.5%
Peter DunnLabor12,68734.4%
Francis JamesLRG1,4854.0%
Anthony RooneyDemocratic Labor Party1,1473.1%

1969

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
William McmahonLiberal25,31748.2%
Peter YoungLabor21,58641.1%
Patricia BaileyIndependent2,4174.6%
Bernard MacmahonIndependent1,7003.2%
Agnes BannonDemocratic Labor Party1,4902.8%

1972

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
William McmahonLiberal25,97148.7%
William FisherLabor22,87942.9%
John SteeleAP1,8923.5%
Agnes BannonDemocratic Labor Party1,3782.6%
Kathleen TaylorIndependent5451.0%
Marcus Aussie-StoneIndependent3120.6%
David WiddupIndependent2070.4%
John MorganIndependent870.2%
Sandor TorzsokIndependent330.1%

1974

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
William McmahonLiberal29,11051.5%
Douglas SutherlandLabor24,69743.7%
Bronte DouglasIndependent1,5782.8%
Bent PoulsonAP1,0881.9%

1975

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
William McmahonLiberal32,90857.3%
Robert HydeLabor22,29938.8%
Clifford BrosAP1,0391.8%
Andris KichnoIndependent6261.1%
Benjamin DoigIndependent3620.6%
Bent PoulsenIndependent1680.3%

1977

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
William McmahonLiberal35,04452.8%
Richard HallLabor26,05239.2%
Frederick TrossAustralian Democrats3,7645.7%
Charles BingleIndependent1,5532.3%

1980

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
William McmahonLiberal31,89248.7%
Janice BurnswoodsLabor30,37946.4%
Bradley MulliganAustralian Democrats1,9873.0%
Anthony ReashaIndependent1,1671.8%

1983

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Michael MaherLabor33,61951.8%
Philip TaylorLiberal27,63342.6%
Ralph RogersAustralian Democrats2,0303.1%
Helen JarvisIndependent1,5722.4%

1984

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Michael MaherLabor30,48349.4%
Geoffrey HoweLiberal26,81243.5%
Kent BuncombeAustralian Democrats4,4007.1%

1987

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Bob WoodsLiberal29,72447.2%
Michael MaherLabor29,64447.1%
George TurnerIndependent2,1973.5%
Tony FarrellIndependent1,4322.3%

1990

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Bob WoodsLiberal28,89245.9%
Mary EassonLabor23,76437.8%
Andrew MignotAustralian Democrats4,6127.3%
Bruce ThrelfoGreens3,1935.1%
Corrado GalimbertiIndependent1,6522.6%
Peter PetersonCommunist Party8281.3%

1993

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Mary EassonLabor34,46347.5%
Bob WoodsLiberal30,15141.6%
Bruce ThrelfoGreens1,8272.5%
Peter WoodsIndependent1,7512.4%
Anthony PanzarinoIndependent1,3951.9%
Jeff MeikleAustralian Democrats1,0921.5%
Erika JonesIndependent7171.0%
Peter PetersonCommunist Party4900.7%
Kate CummingsIndependent4100.6%
Richard EagerIndependent1550.2%
Erik LowryIndependent910.1%

1996

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Paul ZammitLiberal33,96646.7%
Mary EassonLabor28,44739.1%
Noel PlumbAustralian Democrats3,1434.3%
Peter WoodsIndependent2,2793.1%
Michelle CalvertNAN2,1372.9%
Doug HineGreens1,3671.9%
Katie WoodCommunist Party7821.1%
Dave AllenIndependent2710.4%
Bob HughesIndependent2040.3%
Max LaneIndependent1670.2%

1998

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
John MurphyLabor26,73036.0%
Robert LeeLiberal24,61733.2%
Paul ZammitIndependent11,70015.8%
Chris WongUnity2,8133.8%
John WrightOne Nation2,7683.7%
Jeff MeikleAustralian Democrats1,7142.3%
Vince SicariIndependent1,6032.2%
Natasha VercoGreens1,3001.8%
Owen DaviesChristian Democratic Party5970.8%
Giancarlo MaisanoIndependent2670.4%
Gary WilkisonIndependent800.1%

2004

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
John MurphyLabor32,77742.9%
John SidotiLiberal32,65442.7%
Shireen MurphyGreens7,0579.2%
Peter RahmeChristian Democratic Party1,5192.0%
Biannca PaceAustralian Democrats1,0131.3%
Timothy AveryIndependent7170.9%
John MasonOne Nation6780.9%

2007

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
John MurphyLabor38,76649.3%
Jim TsolakisLiberal31,51840.1%
Marc RerceretnamGreens6,7748.6%
Bill ShailerChristian Democratic Party1,6162.1%

Margin Over Time

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

1949: Liberal margin 12.6 pts 1951: Liberal margin 15.6 pts 1954: Liberal margin 15.6 pts 1955: Liberal margin 20.6 pts 1958: Liberal margin 22.4 pts 1961: Liberal margin 1.8 pts 1963: Liberal margin 16.9 pts 1966: Liberal margin 26.0 pts 1969: Liberal margin 9.7 pts 1972: Liberal margin 7.2 pts 1974: Liberal margin 8.2 pts 1975: Liberal margin 19.2 pts 1977: Liberal margin 14.7 pts 1980: Liberal margin 2.2 pts 1983: Labor margin 9.8 pts 1984: Labor margin 4.4 pts 1987: Liberal margin 3.3 pts 1990: Liberal margin 1.2 pts 1993: Labor margin 10.0 pts 1996: Liberal margin 4.9 pts 1998: Labor margin 9.3 pts 2004: Labor margin 6.6 pts 2007: Labor margin 14.7 pts 1949 1951 1954 1955 1958 1961 1963 1966 1969 1972 1974 1975 1977 1980 1983 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1998 2004 2007

Trend

Lowe has been contested at 23 federal elections on record since 1949. Winning parties over that span: Liberal, Labor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won Lowe in the 2007 federal election?

John Murphy (Labor) won Lowe in 2007 after preferences, with 45,136 votes (57.4%) to Jim Tsolakis's 33,538.

Which parties have won Lowe since 1949?

Since 1949, Lowe has been won by: Labor, Liberal.

What was the closest result in Lowe?

The closest result on record for Lowe was 1990, when Bob Woods (Liberal) beat Mary Easson by 781 votes (1.2 percentage points) after preferences.

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