# Electoral results for the district of Cairns

This is a list of electoral results for the electoral district of Cairns in Queensland state elections.

## Members for Cairns

| Member | Party | Term |
| Frederick Wimble | Liberal | 1888–1890 |
| Frederick Wimble | Opposition | 1890–1893 |
| Thomas Joseph Byrnes | Ministerial | 1893–1896 |
| Isidor Lissner | Ministerial | 1896–1899 |
| Thomas Givens | Labor | 1899–1902 |
| James Lyons | Conservative | 1902–1904 |
| John Mann | Labor | 1904–1907 |
| John Mann | Kidstonites | 1907–1909 |
| John Mann | Independent Opposition | 1909–1912 |
| William McCormack | Labor | 1912–1930 |
| John O'Keefe | Labor | 1930–1942 |
| Lou Barnes | Independent Labor | 1942–1947 |
| Thomas Crowley | Labor | 1947–1956 |
| Watty Wallace | Labor | 1956–1964 |
| Ray Jones | Labor | 1965–1983 |
| Keith De Lacy | Labor | 1983–1998 |
| Desley Boyle | Labor | 1998–2012 |
| Gavin King | Liberal National | 2012–2015 |
| Rob Pyne | Labor | 2015–2016 |
| Rob Pyne | Independent | 2016–2017 |
| Michael Healy | Labor | 2017–present |

## Election results
### Elections in the 2020s

2024 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Michael Healy | 10,419 | 36.1 | −8.1 |
| | Liberal National | Yolonde Entsch | 9,422 | 32.6 | −3.9 |
| | One Nation | Geena Court | 4,896 | 16.9 | 11.0 |
| | Greens | Josh Holt | 3,182 | 11.0 | 1.2 |
| | Independent | Shane Cuthbert | 972 | 3.4 | 3.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 28,891 | 96.0 | −0.46 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,209 | 4.0 | 0.46 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,100 | | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Michael Healy | 15,037 | 52.0 | −3.5 |
| | Liberal National | Yolonde Entsch | 13,845 | 48.0 | 3.5 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | -3.5 | |
2020 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Michael Healy | 12,727 | 44.20 | +13.75 |
| | Liberal National | Sam Marino | 10,505 | 36.48 | +8.78 |
| | Greens | Daniel Dench | 2,829 | 9.82 | +1.76 |
| | One Nation | Darrin Griffith | 1,707 | 5.93 | −8.71 |
| | Informed Medical Options | Sarah Baxter | 724 | 2.51 | +2.51 |
| | United Australia | David Wright | 302 | 1.05 | +1.05 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 28,794 | 96.46 | +0.53 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,056 | 3.54 | −0.53 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,850 | 81.14 | +0.16 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Michael Healy | 16,006 | 55.59 | +2.20 |
| | Liberal National | Sam Marino | 12,788 | 44.41 | −2.20 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +2.20 | |

### Elections in the 2010s

2017 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Michael Healy | 8,649 | 30.4 | −14.0 |
| | Liberal National | Sam Marino | 7,871 | 27.7 | −9.7 |
| | Independent | Rob Pyne | 5,440 | 19.2 | +19.2 |
| | One Nation | Ian Hodge | 4,157 | 14.6 | +14.6 |
| | Greens | Aaron McDonald | 2,290 | 8.1 | +0.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 28,407 | 95.9 | −1.7 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,206 | 4.1 | +1.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 29,613 | 81.0 | −0.4 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Michael Healy | 15,167 | 53.4 | −4.1 |
| | Liberal National | Sam Marino | 13,240 | 46.6 | +4.1 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | −4.1 | |
2015 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Rob Pyne | 13,770 | 45.60 | +18.12 |
| | Liberal National | Gavin King | 10,960 | 36.30 | −6.21 |
| | Palmer United | Jeanette Sackley | 2,902 | 9.61 | +9.61 |
| | Greens | Myra Gold | 2,010 | 6.66 | −0.45 |
| | Independent | Bernice Kelly | 553 | 1.83 | +1.83 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 30,195 | 97.61 | −0.07 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 739 | 2.39 | +0.07 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 30,934 | 85.24 | −2.59 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Rob Pyne | 16,563 | 58.45 | +17.32 |
| | Liberal National | Gavin King | 11,774 | 41.55 | −17.32 |
| | Labor gain from Liberal National | Labor gain from Liberal National | Swing | +17.32 | |
2012 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal National | Gavin King | 11,632 | 42.51 | +2.76 |
| | Labor | Kirsten Lesina | 7,520 | 27.48 | −18.30 |
| | Katter's Australian | Darren Hunt | 5,125 | 18.73 | +18.73 |
| | Greens | Geoff Holland | 1,946 | 7.11 | −3.85 |
| | Independent | John Piva | 1,141 | 4.17 | +4.17 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 27,364 | 97.68 | +0.09 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 663 | 2.32 | −0.09 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 28,015 | 87.83 | +0.99 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal National | Gavin King | 13,573 | 58.87 | +13.02 |
| | Labor | Kirsten Lesina | 9,481 | 41.13 | −13.02 |
| | Liberal National gain from Labor | Liberal National gain from Labor | Swing | +13.02 | |

### Elections in the 2000s

2009 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Desley Boyle | 12,309 | 45.8 | −3.5 |
| | Liberal National | Joel Harrop | 10,689 | 39.8 | +5.5 |
| | Greens | Steve Brech | 2,947 | 11.0 | +2.8 |
| | Family First | Janice Skipp | 943 | 3.5 | +3.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 26,888 | 97.4 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 663 | 2.6 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 27,551 | 86.8 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Desley Boyle | 13,641 | 54.2 | −3.8 |
| | Liberal National | Joel Harrop | 11,548 | 45.8 | +3.8 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | −3.8 | |
2006 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Desley Boyle | 10,598 | 49.2 | +3.5 |
| | Liberal | Wendy Richardson | 7,260 | 33.7 | −5.1 |
| | Independent | Michael Mansfield | 1,753 | 8.1 | +8.1 |
| | Greens | Steven Nowakowski | 1,747 | 8.1 | +0.4 |
| | Independent | Peter Sandercock | 180 | 0.8 | +0.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 21,538 | 97.4 | −0.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 567 | 2.6 | +0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,105 | 85.9 | −1.0 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Desley Boyle | 11,724 | 58.1 | +4.2 |
| | Liberal | Wendy Richardson | 8,465 | 41.9 | −4.2 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +4.2 | |
2004 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Desley Boyle | 9,962 | 45.7 | −5.8 |
| | Liberal | Bob Manning | 8,453 | 38.8 | +38.8 |
| | One Nation | Ian Noon | 1,701 | 7.8 | −12.5 |
| | Greens | Meredyth Woodward | 1,672 | 7.7 | +1.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 21,788 | 97.9 | −0.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 460 | 2.1 | +0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,248 | 86.9 | −1.9 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Desley Boyle | 10,949 | 53.9 | −10.9 |
| | Liberal | Bob Manning | 9,363 | 46.1 | +46.1 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | −10.9 | |
2001 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Desley Boyle | 11,170 | 51.5 | +12.9 |
| | National | Naomi Wilson | 4,819 | 22.2 | +15.1 |
| | One Nation | Peter Gargan | 4,394 | 20.3 | −8.1 |
| | Greens | Alistair Hart | 1,297 | 6.0 | +2.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 21,680 | 98.1 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 419 | 1.9 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,099 | 88.8 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Desley Boyle | 12,400 | 64.8 | +11.3 |
| | National | Naomi Wilson | 6,730 | 35.2 | −11.3 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +11.3 | |

### Elections in the 1990s

1998 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Desley Boyle | 7,186 | 39.1 | −7.8 |
| | One Nation | Peter Boniface | 5,067 | 27.5 | +27.5 |
| | Liberal | Myles Thompson | 4,318 | 23.5 | −18.3 |
| | Independent | Nev Bates | 994 | 5.4 | +5.4 |
| | Greens | Jonathan Metcalfe | 835 | 4.5 | −2.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 18,400 | 98.7 | +0.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 250 | 1.3 | −0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,650 | 88.5 | +4.2 |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Desley Boyle | 9,035 | 52.3 | +0.0 |
| | One Nation | Peter Boniface | 8,253 | 47.7 | +47.7 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +0.0 | |
1995 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Keith De Lacy | 8,186 | 46.8 | −6.2 |
| | Liberal | Myles Thompson | 7,312 | 41.8 | +17.6 |
| | Greens | Pat Daly | 1,296 | 7.4 | −1.0 |
| | Democrats | Raymond Broomhall | 695 | 4.0 | +4.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 17,489 | 98.4 | +0.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 291 | 1.6 | −0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,780 | 84.3 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Keith De Lacy | 8,891 | 52.3 | −8.8 |
| | Liberal | Myles Thompson | 8,094 | 47.7 | +8.8 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | −8.8 | |
1992 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Keith De Lacy | 9,273 | 53.0 | −8.4 |
| | Liberal | Kel Ryan | 4,246 | 24.3 | +22.4 |
| | National | Ron Balodis | 2,511 | 14.3 | −22.4 |
| | Greens | Jonathan Metcalfe | 1,476 | 8.4 | +8.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 17,506 | 97.8 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 388 | 2.2 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 17,894 | 84.8 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Keith De Lacy | 10,062 | 61.1 | −0.6 |
| | Liberal | Kel Ryan | 6,395 | 38.9 | +38.9 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | −0.6 | |

### Elections in the 1980s

1989 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Keith De Lacy | 9,937 | 62.9 | +6.7 |
| | National | Wally Scholtens | 5,855 | 37.1 | −6.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 15,792 | 94.4 | −1.9 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 929 | 5.6 | +1.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,721 | 85.2 | −2.4 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +6.7 | |
1986 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Keith De Lacy | 8,340 | 56.2 | +5.6 |
| | National | Terry Adair | 6,492 | 43.8 | +1.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 14,832 | 96.7 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 500 | 3.3 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,332 | 87.6 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +3.3 | |
1983 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Keith De Lacy | 9,253 | 50.6 | −8.1 |
| | National | Christian Bolton | 7,686 | 42.0 | +17.7 |
| | Liberal | Lionel Van Dorssen | 1,359 | 7.4 | −7.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 18,298 | 97.9 | −0.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 389 | 2.1 | +0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,687 | 89.2 | +3.4 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Keith De Lacy | 9,557 | 52.2 | −11.7 |
| | National | Christian Bolton | 8,741 | 47.8 | +11.7 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | −11.7 | |
1980 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Ray Jones | 9,471 | 58.7 | +1.6 |
| | National | Nigel Ette | 3,928 | 24.3 | −5.4 |
| | Liberal | Francis Hoyal | 2,359 | 14.6 | +8.0 |
| | Independent | Melvin Stewart | 290 | 1.8 | +1.8 |
| | Independent | John Stamp | 90 | 0.6 | +0.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 16,138 | 98.3 | 0.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 274 | 1.7 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 16,412 | 85.8 | −3.0 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Ray Jones | 10,310 | 63.9 | +2.5 |
| | National | Nigel Ette | 5,828 | 36.1 | −2.5 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +2.5 | |

### Elections in the 1970s

1977 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Ray Jones | 8,704 | 57.1 | +6.3 |
| | National | Victor Piccone | 4,533 | 29.7 | −4.2 |
| | Democrats | Neville Modystack | 1,012 | 6.6 | +6.6 |
| | Liberal | Charles Bellairs | 1,003 | 6.6 | +6.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 15,252 | 98.3 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 259 | 1.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 15,511 | 88.8 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Ray Jones | 9,370 | 61.4 | +4.2 |
| | National | Victor Piccone | 5,882 | 38.6 | −4.2 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +4.2 | |
1974 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Ray Jones | 6,810 | 50.8 | −15.7 |
| | National | Robert Duncan | 4,555 | 33.9 | +15.7 |
| | Independent | William Whelan | 1,783 | 13.3 | +13.3 |
| | Australia | Robert Ellwood | 268 | 2.0 | +2.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 13,416 | 98.0 | −0.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 268 | 2.0 | +0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,684 | 89.1 | −1.2 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Ray Jones | 7,684 | 57.3 | −11.5 |
| | National | Robert Duncan | 5,732 | 42.7 | +11.5 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | −11.5 | |
1972 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Ray Jones | 8,160 | 66.5 | +6.4 |
| | Country | Arthur Kalman | 2,230 | 18.2 | +1.5 |
| | Liberal | David Palmer | 1,003 | 8.2 | −5.9 |
| | Queensland Labor | Bernard Marsh | 887 | 7.2 | +3.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 12,280 | 98.3 | |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 208 | 1.7 | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,488 | 90.3 | |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Ray Jones | 8,450 | 68.8 | +4.1 |
| | Country | Arthur Kalman | 3,830 | 31.2 | −4.1 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +4.1 | |

### Elections in the 1960s

1969 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Ray Jones | 7,905 | 60.1 | +8.8 |
| | Country | Victor Piccone | 2,194 | 16.7 | +4.2 |
| | Liberal | David De Jarlais | 1,853 | 14.1 | −3.9 |
| | Independent | Phyllis Penridge | 717 | 5.5 | +5.5 |
| | Queensland Labor | Edward Svendsen | 493 | 3.7 | +2.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 13,162 | 97.9 | +1.9 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 288 | 2.1 | −1.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 13,450 | 91.8 | −1.6 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Ray Jones | 8,615 | 65.5 | +3.9 |
| | Country | Victor Piccone | 4,547 | 34.5 | −3.9 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +3.9 | |
1966 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Ray Jones | 6,343 | 51.3 | −13.5 |
| | Liberal | David De Jarlais | 2,224 | 18.0 | +18.0 |
| | Independent | Colin Penridge | 2,036 | 16.5 | +16.5 |
| | Country | John Franzmann | 1,550 | 12.5 | −16.8 |
| | Queensland Labor | Arthur Trembath | 203 | 1.6 | −4.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 12,356 | 96.0 | −1.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 519 | 4.0 | +1.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,875 | 93.4 | +0.6 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Ray Jones | 7,616 | 61.6 | −4.3 |
| | Liberal | David De Jarlais | 4,740 | 38.4 | +4.3 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | −4.3 | |
1963 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | George Wallace | 8,093 | 64.8 | +8.3 |
| | Country | Charles Joy | 3,654 | 29.3 | −0.6 |
| | Queensland Labor | Arthur Trembath | 738 | 5.9 | −7.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 12,485 | 97.8 | −1.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 275 | 2.2 | +1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,760 | 92.8 | +2.0 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | George Wallace | 8,230 | 65.9 | |
| | Country | Charles Joy | 4,255 | 34.1 | |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | N/A | |
1960 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | George Wallace | 7,057 | 56.5 |
| | Country | Albert Baggott | 3,736 | 29.9 |
| | Queensland Labor | William Allendorf | 1,704 | 13.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 12,497 | 99.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 131 | 1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 12,628 | 90.8 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1950s

1957 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | George Wallace | 3,211 | 38.4 | −20.5 |
| | Queensland Labor | James Bidner | 2,687 | 32.2 | +32.2 |
| | Country | Clement Cummings | 2,455 | 29.4 | +1.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 8,353 | 99.0 | +0.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 83 | 1.0 | −0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,436 | 93.2 | +3.0 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | −13.4 | |
1956 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | George Wallace | 4,688 | 58.9 | −0.7 |
| | Country | Harold Mulry | 2,258 | 28.4 | −2.9 |
| | Independent | Henry Smallwood | 1,008 | 12.7 | +12.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 7,954 | 98.9 | +0.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 88 | 1.1 | −0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,042 | 90.2 | −0.4 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +2.9 | |
1953 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Thomas Crowley | 4,546 | 59.6 | +0.5 |
| | Country | Arthur Keller | 2,389 | 31.3 | −9.6 |
| | Protestant Labor | Charles Crawley | 406 | 5.5 | +5.5 |
| | Communist | Cedric Dyer | 292 | 3.6 | +3.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 7,633 | 98.6 | −0.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 108 | 1.4 | +0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,741 | 90.6 | +3.2 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +6.5 | |
1950 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | Thomas Crowley | 4,275 | 59.1 |
| | Country | Arthur Farr | 2,964 | 40.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 7,239 | 98.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 88 | 1.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,327 | 87.4 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1940s

1947 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Thomas Crowley | 4,246 | 40.0 | +5.6 |
| | Country | Ian MacKinnon | 3,307 | 31.2 | +31.2 |
| | Frank Barnes Labor | Lou Barnes | 3,061 | 28.8 | −36.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 10,614 | 99.1 | +0.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 100 | 0.9 | −0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 10,714 | 82.5 | +2.9 |
| | Labor gain from Frank Barnes Labor | Labor gain from Frank Barnes Labor | Swing | N/A | |
1944 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Frank Barnes Labor | Lou Barnes | 5,790 | 65.6 | +65.6 |
| | Labor | Daniel Crowley | 3,029 | 34.4 | −21.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 8,819 | 98.8 | +0.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 109 | 1.2 | −0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,928 | 79.6 | −7.4 |
| | Frank Barnes Labor gain from Labor | Frank Barnes Labor gain from Labor | Swing | N/A | |
1941 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | John O'Keefe | 5,003 | 55.4 | −0.9 |
| | Country | William Griffen | 3,193 | 35.3 | +12.9 |
| | Independent | Alan Tucker | 835 | 9.3 | +9.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 9,031 | 98.5 | −0.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 135 | 1.5 | +0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,166 | 87.0 | −3.6 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | −10.5 | |
* Preferences were not distributed.

### Elections in the 1930s

1938 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | John O'Keefe | 4,597 | 56.3 | −13.0 |
| | Country | William Chapman | 1,830 | 22.4 | +22.4 |
| | Protestant Labor | Robert Smith | 1,740 | 21.3 | +21.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 8,167 | 98.8 | +0.7 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 99 | 1.2 | −0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,266 | 90.6 | +0.4 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Preferences were not distributed.
1935 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | John O'Keefe | 5,285 | 69.3 |
| | Social Credit | John Clayton | 1,910 | 25.1 |
| | Independent | Alan Tucker | 429 | 5.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 7,624 | 98.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 147 | 1.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,771 | 90.2 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |
* Preferences were not distributed.
1932 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | John O'Keefe | 5,354 | 65.3 |
| | CPNP | James McDonald | 2,850 | 34.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 8,204 | 99.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 60 | 0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 8,264 | 94.1 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |

### Elections in the 1920s

1929 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | William McCormack | 4,182 | 56.6 | −9.8 |
| | CPNP | Ronald Muir | 3,210 | 43.4 | +9.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 7,392 | 99.1 | 0.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 67 | 0.9 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 7,459 | 89.8 | +1.3 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | −9.8 | |
1926 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | William McCormack | 4,544 | 66.4 | +7.6 |
| | CPNP | Thomas Boylan | 2,302 | 33.6 | −7.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 6,846 | 99.1 | +0.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 60 | 0.9 | −0.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 6,906 | 88.5 | +6.0 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +7.6 | |
1923 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | William McCormack | 3,106 | 58.8 | +4.1 |
| | United | William Griffin | 2,173 | 41.2 | +41.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 5,279 | 98.3 | −0.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 89 | 1.7 | +0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,368 | 82.5 | +3.7 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +4.1 | |
1920 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | William McCormack | 3,198 | 54.7 | −6.7 |
| | Northern Country | Charles Hives | 2,650 | 45.3 | +45.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 5,848 | 98.8 | +0.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 73 | 1.2 | −0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,921 | 78.8 | +2.6 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | −6.7 | |

### Elections in the 1910s

1918 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | William McCormack | 3,296 | 61.4 | −9.0 |
| | National | William Griffin | 2,075 | 38.6 | +9.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 5,371 | 98.4 | −0.9 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 88 | 1.6 | +0.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 5,459 | 76.2 | −11.6 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | −9.0 | |
1915 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | William McCormack | 2,797 | 70.4 | +19.1 |
| | Liberal | Neal Macrossan | 1,177 | 29.6 | +29.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 3,974 | 99.3 | +0.6 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 28 | 0.7 | −0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 4,002 | 87.8 | +26.2 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | N/A | |
1912 Queensland state election: Cairns :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Labor | William McCormack | 1,411 | 51.3 |
| | Independent | John Mann | 1,341 | 48.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 2,752 | 98.7 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 37 | 1.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,241 | 77.9 |
| | Labor gain from Independent | Labor gain from Independent | Swing | |