# 1992 Australian Capital Territory election

Elections to the 1992 Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly was held on Saturday, 15 February, alongside a referendum on an electoral system for future elections. The incumbent Labor Party, led by Rosemary Follett, was challenged by the Liberal Party, led by Trevor Kaine. Candidates were elected to fill seats using the modified d'Hondt electoral system for a multi-member single constituency. The result was another hung parliament. However, Labor, with the largest representation in the 17-member unicameral Assembly, formed Government with the support of Michael Moore and Helen Szuty. Follett was elected Chief Minister at the first sitting of the second Assembly on 27 March 1992.

## Key dates

* Close of party registration: 9 January 1992
* Pre-election period commenced/nominations opened: 10 January 1992
* Rolls closed: 17 January 1992
* Nominations closed: 24 January 1992
* Polling day: 15 February 1992
* Poll declared: 20 March 1992

## Results

| | Labor | 62,155 | 39.92 | 17.10 | 8 | 3 |
| | Liberal | 45,203 | 29.03 | 14.16 | 6 | 2 |
| | Abolish Self Government Coalition | 10,998 | 7.06 | 0.44 | 1 | 0 |
| | Moore Independents | 8,724 | 5.60 | New | 2 | New |
| | Residents Rally | 7,104 | 4.56 | 5.06 | 0 | 4 |
| | Democrats | 6,960 | 4.47 | 2.81 | 0 | 0 |
| | The Better Management An Independent Team | 5,021 | 3.22 | New | 0 | New |
| | Hare-Clark Independence Party | 3,336 | 2.14 | New | 0 | 0 |
| | Independents | 2,271 | 1.46 | 10.07 | 0 | 0 |
| | New Conservative Group | 1,869 | 1.20 | New | 0 | New |
| | Canberra Unity Party | 1,482 | 0.95 | New | 0 | New |
| | Canberra Party | 580 | 0.37 | New | 0 | New |
| Total | Total | 155,703 | 100.00 | – | 17 | – |
| Valid votes | Valid votes | 155,703 | 93.53 | | | |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 10,764 | 6.47 | 0.8 | | |
| Total votes | Total votes | 166,467 | 100.00 | – | | |
| Registered voters/turnout | Registered voters/turnout | 184,405 | 90.27 | 1.5 | | |

## Candidates

Sitting members at the time of the election are listed in bold. Tickets that elected at least one MLA are highlighted in the relevant colour. Successful candidates are indicated by an asterisk (*).

### Retiring members

* Hector Kinloch (Residents Rally)
* Carmel Maher (Independents Group)
* David Prowse (Liberal)

### Candidates

| Labor candidates | Liberal candidates | Moore candidates | Residents Rally candidates |
| Rosemary Follett* Wayne Berry* Bill Wood* Roberta McRae* Terry Connolly* Annette Ellis* David Lamont* Ellnor Grassby* David Wedgwood Marion Reilly Anne Higgins | Trevor Kaine* Tony De Domenico* Greg Cornwell* Kate Carnell* Gary Humphries* Lou Westende* Kaarina Sutinen Bill Stefaniak Roger Dace Lyn Johnson | Michael Moore* Helen Szuty* Tina Van Raay Stephen Mugford | Bernard Collaery Norm Jensen Chris Donohue David Evans Lisa Middlebrook Jack Kershaw Silva Cengic Noel Haberecht |
| Democrats candidates | Hare-Clark candidates | ASGC candidates | Canberra Party candidates |
| Julie McCarron-Benson Graeme Evans Domenic Mico Heinrich Stefanik Jim Coates Ian Buchanan Tony Coles | Craig Duby Fiona Patten Barry Williams Sitthiphone Saysitthideth Nigel Grime | Dennis Stevenson* Graeme Orchiston Angela Brown Mike Trevethan Ute Ernst Andy Stodulka Geoff Doepel Patricia Colquhoun Fred Corlett | Jim Weston Peter Burrows Glen Smith Tony Urbancik Lee Judd Bernie Clough |
| Canberra Unity candidates | Better Mgmt Team candidates | New Conservative candidates | Ungrouped candidates |
| Marion Le Barry Reid Don Allan Debbie Ellis Ross Stuart | Harold Hird Bev Cains Alan Fitzgerald Jim O'Neill Iain Calman Christine McGibbon Ken Ewan Marc Sadil | Robyn Nolan Fran James Wendy Carlton Rita Cameron | Emile Brunoro (Ind) Tony Scott (Ind) Tony Spagnolo (Ind) Ron Hamilton (Ind) Lara Pullin (Ind) Derek Rosborough (Ind) |

## Opinion polling
### Voting intention

| Date | Firm | Interview mode | Sample size | Primary vote | Primary vote | Primary vote | Primary vote | Primary vote | Primary vote | Primary vote | Primary vote | Primary vote |
| Date | Firm | Interview mode | Sample size | ALP | LIB | ASG | RR | DEM | IND | OTH | UND | INF |
| 15 February 1992 | 1992 election | — | 166,467 | 39.9% | 29.0% | 7.1% | 4.6% | 4.5% | 1.5% | 13.5% | — | 6.5% |
| 14 February 1992 | Michael Moore Independent Group | Telephone | 275 | 28% | 21% | — | — | — | — | | 39% | 8% |
| 6−11 February 1992 | Canberra Times/Datacol | Telephone | 1333 | 36% | 27% | 3% | 4% | 4% | 5% | 9% | 15% | — |
| 29 January 1992 | Internal Labor poll | | | 7 seats | 6 seats | — | — | — | 4 seats | 4 seats | 13% | — |
| 15−20 December 1991 | Canberra Times/Datacol | Telephone | 915 | 38.7% | 20.7% | — | 0.8% | 2.2% | 10.6% | 2.1% | 19.2% | 2.8% |
| 29 November 1991 | Internal Liberal poll | | | 24% | 19% | — | — | — | — | — | 24% | — |
| 25 November 1991 | Internal Labor poll (Morris Guest) | | | 38% | 19% | — | <1% | — | — | — | 14% | — |
| 17 November 1991 | Internal Canberra Party poll | Telephone | 521 | 22.20% | 15.06% | — | — | — | 10.23% | — | — | — |
| 6 June 1991 | Labor leader Rosemary Follett returns as chief minister | Labor leader Rosemary Follett returns as chief minister | Labor leader Rosemary Follett returns as chief minister | Labor leader Rosemary Follett returns as chief minister | Labor leader Rosemary Follett returns as chief minister | Labor leader Rosemary Follett returns as chief minister | Labor leader Rosemary Follett returns as chief minister | Labor leader Rosemary Follett returns as chief minister | Labor leader Rosemary Follett returns as chief minister | Labor leader Rosemary Follett returns as chief minister | Labor leader Rosemary Follett returns as chief minister | Labor leader Rosemary Follett returns as chief minister |
| 30 April−16 May 1991 | Canberra Times/Datacol | Telephone | 808 | 52% | 30% | 2% | 4% | 3% | 6% | 4% | — | — |
| 18−24 August 1990 | Canberra Times/Datacol | Telephone | 601 | 38.4% | 18.1% | 0.7% | 1.0% | 2.7% | 7.5% | 11.4% | 17.6% | 7.4% |
| 5 December 1989 | Liberal leader Trevor Kaine becomes chief minister and the Alliance government is formed | Liberal leader Trevor Kaine becomes chief minister and the Alliance government is formed | Liberal leader Trevor Kaine becomes chief minister and the Alliance government is formed | Liberal leader Trevor Kaine becomes chief minister and the Alliance government is formed | Liberal leader Trevor Kaine becomes chief minister and the Alliance government is formed | Liberal leader Trevor Kaine becomes chief minister and the Alliance government is formed | Liberal leader Trevor Kaine becomes chief minister and the Alliance government is formed | Liberal leader Trevor Kaine becomes chief minister and the Alliance government is formed | Liberal leader Trevor Kaine becomes chief minister and the Alliance government is formed | Liberal leader Trevor Kaine becomes chief minister and the Alliance government is formed | Liberal leader Trevor Kaine becomes chief minister and the Alliance government is formed | Liberal leader Trevor Kaine becomes chief minister and the Alliance government is formed |
| 13−23 November 1989 | Canberra Times/Datacol | Telephone | 625 | 34% | 21% | 1% | 5% | — | — | 14% | 14% | 10% |
| 10−16 August 1989 | Canberra Times/Datacol | Telephone | 651 | 34% | 19% | 8% | 8% | — | 7% | 5% | 14% | 6% |
| 4 March 1989 | 1989 election | — | 150,421 | 22.8% | 14.9% | 7.5% | 9.6% | 1.7% | 11.5% | 20.5% | — | 5.7% |

### Leadership approval ratings
#### Rosemary Follett (Labor)

| Date | Firm | Interview mode | Sample size | Approval rating | Approval rating | Performance rating | Performance rating | Performance rating | Performance rating | Performance rating |
| Date | Firm | Interview mode | Sample size | Approve | Disapprove | VB | B | M | G | VG |
| 17 November 1991 | Internal Canberra Party poll | Telephone | 521 | 55.56% | | — | — | — | — | — |
| 30 April−16 May 1991 | Canberra Times/Datacol | Telephone | 808 | — | — | 10% | 20% | 40% | 23% | 7% |
| 18−24 August 1990 | Canberra Times/Datacol | Telephone | 601 | 73% | | | | | 28% | 8% |
| 13−23 November 1989 | Canberra Times/Datacol | Telephone | 625 | | | 13% | 18% | 37% | 25% | 7% |
| 10−16 August 1989 | Canberra Times/Datacol | Telephone | 651 | | | 10% | 13% | 39% | 31% | 7% |

#### Trevor Kaine (Liberal)

| Date | Firm | Interview mode | Sample size | Approval rating | Approval rating | Performance rating | Performance rating | Performance rating | Performance rating | Performance rating |
| Date | Firm | Interview mode | Sample size | Approve | Disapprove | VB | B | M | G | VG |
| 30 April−16 May 1991 | Canberra Times/Datacol | Telephone | 808 | — | — | 32% | 29% | 26% | 11% | 2% |
| 18−24 August 1990 | Canberra Times/Datacol | Telephone | 601 | 47% | | | | | 12% | 3% |
| 13−23 November 1989 | Canberra Times/Datacol | Telephone | 625 | | | 23% | 32% | 34% | 9% | 1% |
| 10−16 August 1989 | Canberra Times/Datacol | Telephone | 651 | | | 16% | 28% | 43% | 11% | 2% |

#### Bernard Collaery (Rally)

| Date | Firm | Interview mode | Sample size | Approval rating | Approval rating | Performance rating | Performance rating | Performance rating | Performance rating | Performance rating |
| Date | Firm | Interview mode | Sample size | Approve | Disapprove | VB | B | M | G | VG |
| 30 April−16 May 1991 | Canberra Times/Datacol | Telephone | 808 | — | — | 38% | 30% | 23% | 7% | 2% |
| 18−24 August 1990 | Canberra Times/Datacol | Telephone | 601 | 32% | | | | | | 1% |
| 13−23 November 1989 | Canberra Times/Datacol | Telephone | 625 | | | 46% | 27% | 20% | 6% | 1% |
| 10−16 August 1989 | Canberra Times/Datacol | Telephone | 651 | | | 29% | 27% | 28% | 13% | 3% |

#### Craig Duby (NSG/IG/HCIP)

| Date | Firm | Interview mode | Sample size | Approval rating | Approval rating | Performance rating | Performance rating | Performance rating | Performance rating | Performance rating |
| Date | Firm | Interview mode | Sample size | Approve | Disapprove | VB | B | M | G | VG |
| 30 April−16 May 1991 | Canberra Times/Datacol | Telephone | 808 | — | — | 57% | 26% | 14% | 3% | 0% |
| 18−24 August 1990 | Canberra Times/Datacol | Telephone | 601 | | | 59% | | | | |
| 13−23 November 1989 | Canberra Times/Datacol | Telephone | 625 | | | 66% | 19% | 12% | 3% | 0% |
| 10−16 August 1989 | Canberra Times/Datacol | Telephone | 651 | | | 40% | 30% | 25% | 4% | 1% |

#### Dennis Stevenson (ASGC)

| Date | Firm | Interview mode | Sample size | Approval rating | Approval rating | Performance rating | Performance rating | Performance rating | Performance rating | Performance rating |
| Date | Firm | Interview mode | Sample size | Approve | Disapprove | VB | B | M | G | VG |
| 30 April−16 May 1991 | Canberra Times/Datacol | Telephone | 808 | — | — | 70% | 15% | 11% | 3% | 1% |
| 13−23 November 1989 | Canberra Times/Datacol | Telephone | 625 | | | 69% | 15% | 11% | 4% | 1% |
| 18−24 August 1990 | Canberra Times/Datacol | Telephone | 601 | | | 63% | | | | |