# 1987 Australian Senate election

The following tables show state-by-state results in the Australian Senate at the 1987 federal election. This election was a Double dissolution, which means that all 12 senators from each state were up for election. Senators total 29 coalition (27 Liberal, one coalition National, one CLP), 32 Labor, one Jo Vallentine Peace Group, four non-coalition National, seven Democrats, one Nuclear Disarmament and one Independent. Territory Senators served until the next federal election. State Senator terms were nominally three or six years, backdated from 1 July 1987. The Senate used the order-elected method to allocate three- and six-year seats, despite provisions for the AEC to conduct a special recount.

## Australia

Senate (STV GV) — 1987–90 – Turnout 93.84% (CV) — Informal 3.54% :
| Party | Party | Party | Votes | % | Swing | Seats won | Seats held | Change |
| | | Liberal | 1,965,180 | 20.97 | +0.38 | 23 | 27 | |
| | | Liberal–National joint ticket | 1,289,888 | 13.76 | +1.05 | 5 | N/A | N/A |
| | | National | 664,394 | 7.09 | +1.16 | 6 | 6 | 1 |
| | | Country Liberal | 19,970 | 0.21 | −0.10 | 1 | 1 | |
| | Liberal/National Coalition | Liberal/National Coalition | 3,939,432 | 42.04 | +2.50 | 34 | 34 | 1 |
| | Labor | Labor | 4,013,860 | 42.83 | +0.66 | 32 | 32 | 2 |
| | Democrats | Democrats | 794,107 | 8.47 | +0.85 | 7 | 7 | |
| | Call to Australia | Call to Australia | 136,825 | 1.46 | −0.36 | | | |
| | Nuclear Disarmament | Nuclear Disarmament | 102,480 | 1.09 | −6.14 | 1 | 1 | |
| | Democratic Labor | Democratic Labor | 50,894 | 0.54 | +0.17 | | | |
| | Greens | Greens | 40,615 | 0.43 | +0.43 | | | |
| | Vallentine Peace Group | Vallentine Peace Group | 40,048 | 0.43 | +0.43 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| | Harradine Group | Harradine Group | 37,037 | 0.40 | +0.14 | 1 | 1 | |
| | Unite Australia | Unite Australia | 24,704 | 0.26 | +0.26 | | | |
| | Pensioner | Pensioner | 17,265 | 0.18 | –0.09 | | | |
| | Defence and Ex-Services | Defence and Ex-Services | 14,431 | 0.15 | +0.15 | | | |
| | One Australia | One Australia | 13,063 | 0.14 | +0.14 | | | |
| | Communist | Communist | 2,456 | 0.03 | +0.03 | | | |
| | Independent | Independent | 144,463 | 1.54 | | | | |
| Total | Total | Total | 9,371,681 | | | 76 | 76 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | Invalid/blank votes | 394,891 | 4.0 | –2.8 | | | |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 9,766,571 | 90.5 | | | | |
| Registered voters | Registered voters | Registered voters | 10,353,213 | | | | | |
| Source: Federal Election Results 1949-1993 |||||||||
* As this was a double-dissolution election, all Senate seats were contested.

## New South Wales

1987 Australian federal election: Senate, New South Wales :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Quota | Quota | Quota | 245,883 | | |
| | Labor | 1. Kerry Sibraa (elected 1) 2. Arthur Gietzelt (elected 4) 3. Graham Richardson (elected 6) 4. Bruce Childs (elected 8) 5. John Morris (elected 10) 6. Sue West 7. Michael Sexton | 1,355,792 | 42.4 | +0.8 |
| | Coalition | 1. Michael Baume (Lib) (elected 2) 2. Peter Baume (Lib) (elected 5) 3. David Brownhill (Nat) (elected 7) 4. Chris Puplick (Lib) (elected 9) 5. Bronwyn Bishop (Lib) (elected 11) 6. Ralph Schulze (Nat) 7. June McPhie (Lib) | 1,289,888 | 40.4 | +3.4 |
| | Democrats | 1. Paul McLean (elected 3) 2. Jenny Macleod 3. Richard Jones 4. Gary Chestnut | 290,049 | 9.1 | −0.6 |
| | Call to Australia | 1. Elaine Nile 2. Kevin Hume | 107,859 | 3.4 | −0.2 |
| | Nuclear Disarmament | 1. Robert Wood (elected 12) 2. Irina Dunn | 48,998 | 1.5 | −8.2 |
| | Greens | 1. Ian Cohen 2. Daphne Gollan | 32,513 | 1.0 | +1.0 |
| | Group A | 1. Ruth Phillips 2. Walter Brun | 30,504 | 0.9 | +0.9 |
| | Defence and Ex-Services | 1. Leslie Edwards 2. David Herd 3. William Tuohy 4. Rowley McMahon | 14,431 | 0.4 | +0.4 |
| | Unite Australia | 1. Alan Smith 2. Edna Fabb | 5,458 | 0.2 | +0.2 |
| | Group I | 1. Peter Consandine 2. Brian Buckley | 4,519 | 0.1 | +0.1 |
| | Group F | 1. Leon Bringolf 2. Habib Fares 3. Jim Donovan | 4,238 | 0.1 | +0.1 |
| | Group M | 1. John Higginbotham 2. Ian Murphy | 3,795 | 0.1 | +0.1 |
| | Group B | 1. Patricia Poulos 2. John Holley 3. John Beasley | 3,749 | 0.1 | +0.1 |
| | Independent | Arthur Chesterfield-Evans | 1,706 | 0.1 | +0.1 |
| | Independent | Bob Spanswick | 968 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| | Independent | Ivor F | 765 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| | Independent | Phil Murray | 564 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| | Independent | Nick Jones | 270 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| | Independent | Jame Smith-New | 234 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| | Independent | Keith Larkings | 88 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| | Independent | James Goody | 86 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 3,196,474 | 95.1 | +0.7 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 164,001 | 4.9 | −0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 3,360,475 | 94.5 | +0.1 |
| # | Senator | Party |
| 1 | Kerry Sibraa | Labor |
| 2 | Michael Baume | Liberal |
| 3 | Paul McLean | Democrat |
| 4 | Arthur Gietzelt | Labor |
| 5 | Peter Baume | Liberal |
| 6 | Graham Richardson | Labor |
| 7 | David Brownhill | National |
| 8 | Bruce Childs | Labor |
| 9 | Chris Puplick | Liberal |
| 10 | John Morris | Labor |
| 11 | Bronwyn Bishop | Liberal |
| 12 | Robert Wood | NDP |

## Victoria

1987 Australian federal election: Senate, Victoria :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Quota | Quota | Quota | 189,970 | | |
| | Labor | 1. John Button (elected 1) 2. Gareth Evans (elected 4) 3. Olive Zakharov (elected 6) 4. Robert Ray (elected 8) 5. Barney Cooney (elected 10) 6. John Halfpenny 7. Carole Taylor | 1,086,513 | 44.0 | −0.1 |
| | Liberal | 1. Austin Lewis (elected 2) 2. Jim Short (elected 5) 3. Richard Alston (elected 7) 4. David Hamer (elected 9) 5. Kay Patterson (elected 12) 6. John Wyld 7. John Goodfellow 8. John Riggall 9. Severn Clarke | 878,899 | 35.6 | +1.4 |
| | Democrats | 1. Janet Powell (elected 3) 2. Sid Spindler 3. Ken Peak 4. Harold Fraser 5. Peter Allen | 211,043 | 8.5 | +1.6 |
| | National | 1. Julian McGauran (elected 11) 2. Noel Maughan 3. Les Flintoff | 140,143 | 5.7 | +1.7 |
| | Democratic Labor | 1. John Mulholland 2. Gloria Brook | 50,894 | 2.0 | +0.6 |
| | Call to Australia | 1. Al Watson 2. Loretto Brennan 3. John Easton | 28,966 | 1.2 | −0.1 |
| | Nuclear Disarmament | 1. Aldo Penbrook 2. Nik Dow | 28,352 | 1.1 | −6.2 |
| | Pensioner | 1. Neil McKay 2. Rosamond Ewan | 17,265 | 0.7 | −0.1 |
| | Unite Australia | 1. John Siddons 2. Ian Price 3. Lisa Harris | 11,213 | 0.5 | +0.5 |
| | Group B | 1. Bill Hartley 2. Laurene Dietrich 3. David Kerin 4. Rola Haidar | 4,243 | 0.2 | +0.2 |
| | Group L | 1. Laurie Dunlop 2. Simon Hood | 4,113 | 0.2 | +0.2 |
| | Group F | 1. David Caccianiga 2. Bill Thiele | 2,145 | 0.1 | +0.1 |
| | Group O | 1. Dino de Marchi 2. Ineke Black | 2,086 | 0.1 | +0.1 |
| | Group J | 1. Lisa King 2. Kevin O'Connell | 1,729 | 0.1 | +0.1 |
| | Group K | 1. Alan Miller 2. Maria Bennett | 1,320 | 0.1 | +0.1 |
| | Independent | Kym Roylance | 510 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| | Independent | Abraham Abdalla | 172 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 2,469,606 | 96.0 | +0.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 102,382 | 4.0 | −0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 2,571,988 | 95.3 | −0.1 |
| # | Senator | Party |
| 1 | John Button | Labor |
| 2 | Austin Lewis | Liberal |
| 3 | Janet Powell | Democrat |
| 4 | Gareth Evans | Labor |
| 5 | Jim Short | Liberal |
| 6 | Olive Zakharov | Labor |
| 7 | Richard Alston | Liberal |
| 8 | Robert Ray | Labor |
| 9 | David Hamer | Liberal |
| 10 | Barney Cooney | Labor |
| 11 | Julian McGauran | National |
| 12 | Kay Patterson | Liberal |

## Queensland

1987 Australian federal election: Senate, Queensland :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Quota | Quota | Quota | 117,721 | | |
| | Labor | 1. Margaret Reynolds (elected 1) 2. Mal Colston (elected 4) 3. Gerry Jones (elected 7) 4. John Black (elected 9) 5. Bryant Burns (elected 10) 6. Jack Camp 7. Glenevie Jensen | 643,094 | 42.0 | +2.3 |
| | National | 1. Flo Bjelke-Petersen (elected 2) 2. John Stone (elected 5) 3. Ron Boswell (elected 8) 4. Glen Sheil (elected 12) 5. George Cowan 6. Vicky Kippin 7. Ann Garms 8. Bruce Laming | 439,618 | 28.7 | −0.2 |
| | Liberal | 1. David MacGibbon (elected 3) 2. Warwick Parer (elected 6) 3. Gary Neat 4. Cassie Solomon 5. Brian Taylor 6. Jane Williamson | 275,085 | 18.0 | +0.6 |
| | Democrats | 1. Michael Macklin (elected 11) 2. Cheryl Kernot 3. Norman Johnson 4. Anthony Walters | 115,456 | 7.5 | −1.7 |
| | Independent | George Georges | 26,795 | 1.8 | +1.8 |
| | Nuclear Disarmament | 1. John Jones 2. Brian Dunsford | 17,411 | 1.1 | −3.3 |
| | Group A | 1. Barry Weedon 2. Kathleen Wacker | 6,692 | 0.4 | +0.4 |
| | Independent | Ron Smith | 3,410 | 0.2 | +0.2 |
| | Unite Australia | 1. Ron Alford 2. Geoff Fawthrop | 1,638 | 0.1 | +0.1 |
| | Group C | 1. Ray Ferguson 2. Jake Haub | 737 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| | Independent | John Bolt | 424 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 1,530,360 | 96.9 | −0.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 49,609 | 3.1 | +0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 1,579,969 | 92.5 | −0.9 |
| # | Senator | Party |
| 1 | Margaret Reynolds | Labor |
| 2 | Flo Bjelke-Petersen | National |
| 3 | David MacGibbon | Liberal |
| 4 | Mal Colston | Labor |
| 5 | John Stone | National |
| 6 | Warwick Parer | Liberal |
| 7 | Gerry Jones | Labor |
| 8 | Ron Boswell | National |
| 9 | John Black | Labor |
| 10 | Bryant Burns | Labor |
| 11 | Michael Macklin | Democrats |
| 12 | Glen Sheil | National |

## Western Australia

1987 Australian federal election: Senate, Western Australia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Quota | Quota | Quota | 63,668 | | |
| | Labor | 1. Peter Walsh (elected 1) 2. Patricia Giles (elected 3) 3. Peter Cook (elected 5) 4. Jim McKiernan (elected 7) 5. Michael Beahan (elected 9) 6. Chris Evans 7. Ed Dermer | 354,328 | 42.8 | −0.5 |
| | Liberal | 1. Fred Chaney (elected 2) 2. Peter Durack (elected 4) 3. Sue Knowles (elected 6) 4. Noel Crichton-Browne (elected 8) 5. John Panizza (elected 10) 6. Alan Eggleston 7. Cam Tinley | 324,028 | 39.1 | −1.6 |
| | Democrats | 1. Jean Jenkins (elected 11) 2. Jack Evans | 47,534 | 5.7 | +1.1 |
| | National | 1. James MacDonald 2. Glenice Sanders 3. Ron Aitkenhead 4. Beverley Poor | 45,787 | 5.5 | +3.7 |
| | Vallentine Peace Group | 1. Jo Vallentine (elected 12) 2. Louise Duxbury | 40,048 | 4.8 | +4.8 |
| | One Australia Movement | 1. Cedric Jacobs 2. Don Jackson 3. Ed Robertson | 13,063 | 1.6 | +1.6 |
| | Unite Australia | 1. Allan McMullen 2. Norm Heslington | 1,620 | 0.2 | +0.2 |
| | Independent | Frank Nesci | 426 | 0.1 | +0.1 |
| | Independent | Mark Pallister | 354 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| | Independent | Jack Flanigan | 333 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| | Independent | Gordon McColl | 162 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 827,683 | 96.7 | +1.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 28,284 | 3.3 | −1.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 855,976 | 94.4 | +0.2 |
| # | Senator | Party |
| 1 | Peter Walsh | Labor |
| 2 | Fred Chaney | Liberal |
| 3 | Patricia Giles | Labor |
| 4 | Peter Durack | Liberal |
| 5 | Peter Cook | Labor |
| 6 | Sue Knowles | Liberal |
| 7 | Jim McKiernan | Labor |
| 8 | Noel Crichton-Browne | Liberal |
| 9 | Michael Beahan | Labor |
| 10 | John Panizza | Liberal |
| 11 | Jean Jenkins | Democrats |
| 12 | Jo Vallentine | VPG |

## South Australia

1987 Australian federal election: Senate, South Australia :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Quota | Quota | Quota | 65,927 | | |
| | Labor | 1. Dominic Foreman (elected 1) 2. Nick Bolkus (elected 4) 3. Graham Maguire (elected 6) 4. Rosemary Crowley (elected 8) 5. Chris Schacht (elected 10) 6. Vic Heron 7. Rosalie McDonald | 354,747 | 41.4 | −0.3 |
| | Liberal | 1. Tony Messner (elected 2) 2. Amanda Vanstone (elected 5) 3. Robert Hill (elected 7) 4. Grant Chapman (elected 9) 5. Baden Teague (elected 11) 6. Michele Mercurio 7. Ivan Venning | 328,039 | 38.3 | +0.8 |
| | Democrats | 1. Janine Haines (elected 3) 2. John Coulter (elected 12) 3. Meg Lees 4. Ian McLiesh 5. Peter Vervoorn | 95,831 | 11.2 | 0.0 |
| | National | 1. Bill Wright 2. Neville Agars 3. Mike Rogers 4. Jessie Taylor 5. Bob Brown 6. Clifford Boyd | 29,954 | 3.5 | +2.2 |
| | Independent | Don Jessop | 25,876 | 3.0 | +3.0 |
| | Greens | 1. Ally Fricker 2. Jules Davison | 8,102 | 0.9 | +0.9 |
| | Group A | 1. Creston Magasdi 2. Reg McColl | 5,715 | 0.7 | +0.7 |
| | Unite Australia | 1. David Vigor 2. Nick Theologou 3. Patricia Prowse 4. Maxwell Elphick | 4,775 | 0.6 | +0.6 |
| | Communist | 1. John Wishart 2. Linda Gale | 2,456 | 0.3 | +0.3 |
| | Group F | 1. Tom Towle 2. Ellen Towle | 788 | 0.1 | +0.1 |
| | Independent | Bill Forster | 276 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| | Independent | Rob Robertson | 199 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| | Independent | Robert Worth | 145 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| | Independent | John Out | 47 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| | Independent | Helen Launer | 44 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| | Independent | Syd Plenty | 29 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| | Independent | Stephen Bailey | 19 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 857,042 | 96.2 | +1.6 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 33,514 | 3.8 | −1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 890,556 | 94.5 | −0.7 |
| # | Senator | Party |
| 1 | Dominic Foreman | Labor |
| 2 | Tony Messner | Liberal |
| 3 | Janine Haines | Democrats |
| 4 | Nick Bolkus | Labor |
| 5 | Amanda Vanstone | Liberal |
| 6 | Graham Maguire | Labor |
| 7 | Robert Hill | Liberal |
| 8 | Rosemary Crowley | Labor |
| 9 | Grant Chapman | Liberal |
| 10 | Chris Schacht | Labor |
| 11 | Baden Teague | Liberal |
| 12 | John Coulter | Democrats |

## Tasmania

1987 Australian federal election: Senate, Tasmania :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Quota | Quota | Quota | 21,451 | | |
| | Labor | 1. Michael Tate (elected 1) 2. John Coates (elected 4) 3. Terry Aulich (elected 6) 4. Ray Devlin (elected 8) 5. John Devereux (elected 10) 6. Janet Cooper 7. John Green | 113,638 | 40.8 | −0.8 |
| | Liberal | 1. Brian Archer (elected 2) 2. Shirley Walters (elected 5) 3. John Watson (elected 7) 4. Jocelyn Newman (elected 9) 5. Paul Calvert (elected 11) 6. Vince Smith 7. Peter Aldridge | 108,039 | 38.7 | −2.0 |
| | Harradine Group | 1. Brian Harradine (elected 3) 2. Colin Sacco | 37,037 | 13.3 | +4.5 |
| | Democrats | 1. Norm Sanders (elected 12) 2. Nick Goldie 3. Isla Macgregor | 18,841 | 6.8 | +0.7 |
| | Independent | Michael Mansell | 1,102 | 0.4 | +0.4 |
| | Independent | Laurie Heathorn | 203 | 0.1 | +0.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 278,860 | 96.2 | +2.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 11,119 | 3.8 | −2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 289,979 | 96.4 | +0.6 |
| # | Senator | Party |
| 1 | Michael Tate | Labor |
| 2 | Brian Archer | Liberal |
| 3 | Brian Harradine | Independent |
| 4 | John Coates | Labor |
| 5 | Shirley Walters | Liberal |
| 6 | Terry Aulich | Labor |
| 7 | John Watson | Liberal |
| 8 | Ray Devlin | Labor |
| 9 | Jocelyn Newman | Liberal |
| 10 | John Devereux | Labor |
| 11 | Paul Calvert | Liberal |
| 12 | Norm Sanders | Democrats |

## Australian Capital Territory

1987 Australian federal election: Senate, Australian Capital Territory :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Quota | Quota | Quota | 50,047 | | |
| | Labor | 1. Susan Ryan (elected 1) 2. Barry Reid | 74,876 | 49.9 | +5.5 |
| | Liberal | 1. Margaret Reid (elected 2) 2. Bill Stefaniak | 51,090 | 34.0 | +2.1 |
| | Democrats | 1. Andrew Freeman 2. Geoff Quayle | 15,353 | 10.2 | +1.0 |
| | Nuclear Disarmament | 1. Michael Denborough 2. Margaret Matthews | 7,719 | 5.1 | −5.2 |
| | Independent | Leonard Munday | 433 | 0.3 | +0.3 |
| | Independent | David Ash | 433 | 0.3 | +0.3 |
| | Independent | John Murray | 234 | 0.2 | +0.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 150,138 | 97.7 | +1.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 3,672 | 2.3 | −1.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 153,810 | 94.5 | +0.6 |
| # | Senator | Party | Party |
| 1 | Susan Ryan | | Labor |
| 2 | Margaret Reid | | Liberal |

## Northern Territory

1987 Australian federal election: Senate, Northern Territory :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| Quota | Quota | Quota | 20,506 | | |
| | Labor | 1. Bob Collins (elected 1) 2. Lyn Reid | 30,872 | 50.2 | +4.5 |
| | Country Liberal | 1. Grant Tambling (elected 2) 2. Ian Towns | 19,970 | 32.5 | −16.6 |
| | NT Nationals | 1. Jim Petrich 2. Joan Small | 8,892 | 14.5 | +14.5 |
| | Group C | 1. Lyn Allen 2. Catherin Paul | 1,632 | 2.7 | +2.7 |
| | Independent | Yuri Juriev | 151 | 0.2 | +0.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 61,517 | 96.3 | −0.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,374 | 3.7 | +0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 63,891 | 79.9 | −5.6 |
| # | Senator | Party | Party |
| 1 | Bob Collins | | Labor |
| 2 | Grant Tambling | | CLP |