# Results of the 1979 Victorian state election (Legislative Council)

Victorian state election, 5 May 1979 Legislative Council
<< 1976–1982 >> :
| Enrolled voters | Enrolled voters | 2,350,407 | | | | |
| Votes cast | Votes cast | 2,191,128 | | Turnout | 93.22 | +0.03 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 77,361 | | Informal | 3.53 | +0.41 |
| Summary of votes by party |||||||
| Party | Party | Primary votes | % | Swing | Seats won | Seats held |
| | Labor | 958,158 | 45.33 | +2.72 | 8 | 13 |
| | Liberal | 924,525 | 43.74 | –4.56 | 12 | 27 |
| | National | 124,050 | 5.87 | –1.98 | 2 | 4 |
| | Democrats | 60,392 | 2.86 | +2.86 | 0 | 0 |
| | Democratic Labor | 3,212 | 0.15 | –0.47 | 0 | 0 |
| | Independent | 43,430 | 2.05 | +1.56 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 2,113,767 | | | 22 | 44 |
This is a list of Legislative Council results for the Victorian 1979 state election. 22 of the 44 seats were contested.

## Results by province
### Ballarat

1979 Victorian state election: Ballarat Province :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Clive Bubb | 43,501 | 52.0 | -6.9 |
| | Labor | David Williams | 40,198 | 48.0 | +6.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 83,699 | 97.5 | +0.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,154 | 2.5 | −0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 85,853 | 94.9 | −0.1 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -6.9 | |
* This seat was won by Labor in a 1978 by-election, but is recorded as a Liberal party hold.

### Bendigo

1979 Victorian state election: Bendigo Province :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Alan Calder | 29,159 | 36.1 | +1.7 |
| | Liberal | John Radford | 26,767 | 33.1 | -0.3 |
| | National | Stuart McDonald | 18,140 | 22.4 | -5.7 |
| | Democrats | Douglas Linford | 6,778 | 8.4 | +8.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 80,844 | 97.5 | −0.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,039 | 2.5 | +0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 82,883 | 94.8 | −0.5 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal | John Radford | 44,624 | 55.2 | -5.6 |
| | Labor | Alan Calder | 36,220 | 44.8 | +5.6 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -5.6 | |

### Boronia

1979 Victorian state election: Boronia Province :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Gracia Baylor | 56,703 | 49.7 | -7.7 |
| | Labor | Richard Coughlin | 52,627 | 46.1 | +3.5 |
| | Independent | Peter Brown | 4,730 | 4.2 | +4.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 114,060 | 97.2 | +0.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 3,266 | 2.8 | −0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 117,326 | 94.2 | +1.2 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal | Gracia Baylor | 59,359 | 52.0 | -5.4 |
| | Labor | Richard Coughlin | 54,701 | 48.0 | +5.4 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -5.4 | |

### Central Highlands

1979 Victorian state election: Central Highlands Province :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Fred Grimwade | 47,916 | 55.0 | +5.7 |
| | Labor | Max McDonald | 39,138 | 45.0 | +8.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 87,054 | 97.1 | −0.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,039 | 2.5 | +0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 89,666 | 92.5 | +0.4 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -5.7 | |

### Chelsea

1979 Victorian state election: Chelsea Province :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Eric Kent | 59,381 | 51.2 | +2.4 |
| | Liberal | Geoffrey Connard | 55,684 | 48.8 | -2.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 115,065 | 96.3 | −0.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 4,369 | 3.7 | +0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 119,434 | 93.8 | +1.3 |
| | Labor gain from Liberal | Labor gain from Liberal | Swing | +2.4 | |

### Doutta Galla

1979 Victorian state election: Doutta Galla Province :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | David White | 69,342 | 58.5 | +4.9 |
| | Liberal | Claus Salger | 49,192 | 41.5 | -4.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 118,534 | 95.0 | +0.7 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 6,246 | 5.0 | −0.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 124,780 | 94.3 | +0.5 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +4.9 | |

### East Yarra

1979 Victorian state election: East Yarra Province :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Bill Campbell | 56,302 | 56.3 | -8.5 |
| | Labor | Jeanne Hendy | 32,679 | 32.7 | -2.5 |
| | Democrats | Michael McBride | 11,075 | 11.1 | +11.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 100,056 | 97.6 | −0.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,483 | 2.4 | +0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 102,539 | 91.5 | −0.3 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Preferences were not distributed.

### Geelong

1979 Victorian state election: Geelong Province :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Rod Mackenzie | 40,564 | 49.0 | +1.5 |
| | Liberal | Gordon Hall | 39,047 | 47.2 | -5.3 |
| | Democratic Labor | James Jordan | 3,212 | 3.9 | +3.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 82,823 | 97.0 | +0.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,586 | 3.0 | −0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 85,409 | 94.2 | −1.5 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Rod Mackenzie | 42,133 | 50.9 | +3.4 |
| | Liberal | Gordon Hall | 40,690 | 49.1 | -3.4 |
| | Labor gain from Liberal | Labor gain from Liberal | Swing | +3.4 | |

### Gippsland

1979 Victorian state election: Gippsland Province :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Thomas Matthews | 30,624 | 40.2 | +2.0 |
| | Liberal | Dick Long | 24,874 | 32.7 | +3.1 |
| | National | John King | 12,678 | 16.7 | -8.8 |
| | Democrats | Ian Goldie | 6,232 | 8.2 | +8.2 |
| | Independent | Bruce Ingle | 1,718 | 2.3 | +2.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 76,126 | 95.9 | −1.9 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 3,280 | 4.1 | +1.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 79,406 | 93.5 | +0.2 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal | Dick Long | 41,788 | 54.9 | -2.5 |
| | Labor | Thomas Matthews | 34,338 | 45.1 | +2.5 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -2.5 | |

### Higinbotham

1979 Victorian state election: Higinbotham Province :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Robert Lawson | 55,703 | 54.7 | -7.3 |
| | Labor | Geoffrey Fleming | 46,031 | 45.3 | +7.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 101,734 | 97.2 | −0.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,961 | 2.8 | +0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 104,695 | 93.4 | +0.5 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -7.3 | |

### Melbourne

1979 Victorian state election: Melbourne Province :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Evan Walker | 56,565 | 62.5 | +4.7 |
| | Liberal | Bill Stanley | 33,917 | 37.5 | -4.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 90,482 | 94.8 | −0.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 4,946 | 5.2 | +0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 95,428 | 87.4 | +1.6 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +4.7 | |

### Melbourne North

1979 Victorian state election: Melbourne North Province :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Giovanni Sgro | 52,787 | 53.1 | -10.5 |
| | Liberal | Geoff Lutz | 26,222 | 26.4 | -11.1 |
| | Independent | Eric Granger | 20,496 | 20.6 | +20.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 99,955 | 94.7 | −0.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 5,555 | 5.3 | +0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 105,060 | 91.2 | −0.4 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Preferences were not distributed.

### Melbourne West

1979 Victorian state election: Melbourne West Province :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Joan Coxsedge | 54,263 | 52.8 | -7.1 |
| | Liberal | Rino Baggio | 29,842 | 29.0 | -11.2 |
| | Independent | Alexander Knight | 13,202 | 12.9 | +12.9 |
| | Democrats | Ivan Pollock | 5,466 | 5.3 | +5.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 102,773 | 94.7 | −0.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 5,716 | 5.3 | +0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 108,489 | 93.6 | +1.4 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Preferences were not distributed.

### Monash

1979 Victorian state election: Monash Province :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Don Hayward | 57,361 | 59.6 | -5.1 |
| | Labor | Howard Smith | 38,798 | 40.4 | +5.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 96,159 | 96.9 | 0.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 3,112 | 3.1 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 99,271 | 90.6 | +0.7 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -5.1 | |

### North Eastern

1979 Victorian state election: North Eastern Province :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Bill Baxter | 33,686 | 40.8 | -12.7 |
| | Liberal | Bill Hunter | 24,157 | 29.3 | +6.8 |
| | Labor | Nicholas Paola | 20,090 | 24.3 | +0.3 |
| | Democrats | Diane Teasdale | 4,594 | 5.6 | +5.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 82,527 | 96.2 | −1.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 3,218 | 3.8 | +1.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 85,745 | 94.5 | +0.1 |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | National | Bill Baxter | 53,334 | 64.6 | |
| | Liberal | Bill Hunter | 29,193 | 35.4 | |
| | National hold | National hold | Swing | | |

### North Western

1979 Victorian state election: North Western Province :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | National | Ken Wright | 34,310 | 45.7 | -5.5 |
| | Liberal | Ian Milburn | 22,768 | 30.3 | +0.4 |
| | Labor | Pamela Fowler | 18,019 | 24.0 | +5.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 75,097 | 97.2 | −0.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,193 | 2.8 | +0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 77,290 | 95.2 | +0.9 |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | National | Ken Wright | 47,267 | 62.9 | -3.4 |
| | Liberal | Ian Milburn | 27,830 | 37.1 | +3.4 |
| | National hold | National hold | Swing | -3.4 | |

### Nunawading

1979 Victorian state election: Nunawading Province :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Peter Block | 55,983 | 49.8 | -10.4 |
| | Labor | Alan Wearne | 43,709 | 38.9 | -0.9 |
| | Democrats | Jeffrey McAlpine | 12,644 | 11.3 | +11.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 112,336 | 97.6 | 0.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,706 | 2.4 | 0.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 115,042 | 94.0 | +0.4 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal | Peter Block | 62,697 | 55.8 | -4.4 |
| | Labor | Alan Wearne | 49,639 | 44.2 | +4.4 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -4.4 | |

### South Eastern

1979 Victorian state election: South Eastern Province :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Alan Hunt | 40,278 | 46.1 | +0.5 |
| | Labor | Norman Spencer | 29,065 | 33.3 | +4.3 |
| | National | Donald McRae | 13,110 | 15.0 | -4.6 |
| | Democrats | Stefan Taficsuk | 4,790 | 5.5 | +5.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 87,243 | 97.5 | −0.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,275 | 2.5 | +0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 89,518 | 92.8 | +0.2 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal | Alan Hunt | 53,662 | 61.5 | -4.9 |
| | Labor | Norman Spencer | 33,581 | 38.5 | +4.9 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -4.9 | |

### Templestowe

1979 Victorian state election: Templestowe Province :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Vasey Houghton | 56,059 | 50.5 | -7.3 |
| | Labor | Mike Arnold | 54,881 | 49.5 | +7.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 110,940 | 97.4 | −0.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,934 | 2.6 | +0.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 113,874 | 93.5 | +0.5 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -7.3 | |

### Thomastown

1979 Victorian state election: Thomastown Province :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Glyde Butler | 75,172 | 68.4 | +7.2 |
| | Liberal | Kathleen Mulraney | 34,678 | 31.6 | -7.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 109,850 | 94.5 | −1.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 6,395 | 5.5 | +1.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 116,245 | 93.8 | +0.5 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | +7.2 | |

### Waverley

1979 Victorian state election: Waverley Province :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Labor | Cyril Kennedy | 49,097 | 44.8 | +2.0 |
| | Liberal | William McDonald | 48,309 | 44.1 | -13.1 |
| | Democrats | Frederick Steinicke | 8,813 | 8.1 | +8.1 |
| | Independent | Stephen Buttery | 3,284 | 3.0 | +3.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 109,503 | 95.9 | −0.6 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 4,675 | 4.1 | +0.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 114,178 | 93.5 | +0.2 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Labor | Cyril Kennedy | 55,376 | 50.6 | +6.3 |
| | Liberal | William McDonald | 54,127 | 49.4 | -6.3 |
| | Labor gain from Liberal | Labor gain from Liberal | Swing | +6.3 | |

### Western

1979 Victorian state election: Western Province :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Liberal | Digby Crozier | 39,262 | 50.8 | +3.4 |
| | Labor | Henry Birrell | 25,969 | 33.6 | +4.0 |
| | National | Clive Mitchell | 12,126 | 15.7 | -7.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 77,357 | 97.9 | −0.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,640 | 2.1 | +0.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 78,997 | 95.2 | 0.0 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
* Preferences were not distributed.