Results of the 1976 Victorian state election (Legislative Council)
# Results of the 1976 Victorian state election (Legislative Council)

Victorian state election, 20 March 1976 Legislative Council

<< 1973–1979 >> :

| Enrolled voters | Enrolled voters | 2,267,282 | | | | |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Votes cast | Votes cast | 2,102,674 | | Turnout | 92.7 | –0.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | 65,997 | | Informal | 3.1 | +0.7 |
| Summary of votes by party |||||||
| Party | Party | Primary votes | % | Swing | Seats won | Seats held |
| | Liberal | 988,681 | 48.3 | +5.2 | 15 | 26 |
| | Labor | 872,076 | 42.6 | +1.8 | 5 | 9 |
| | National | 160,708 | 7.9 | +1.5 | 2 | 5 |
| | Democratic Labor | 12,601 | 0.6 | –8.1 | 0 | 0 |
| | Australia | 2,611 | 0.1 | –0.9 | 0 | 0 |
| | Independent | 10,127 | 0.5 | * | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 2,046,804 | | | 22 | 40 |

This is a list of Legislative Council results for the Victorian 1976 state election. 22 of the 40 seats were contested.

## Results by province

### Ballarat

1976 Victorian state election: Ballarat Province :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Rob Knowles | 45,545 | 58.9 |
| | Labor | Ronald Corbett | 31,783 | 41.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 77,328 | 97.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,056 | 2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 79,384 | 95.0 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |

### Bendigo

1976 Victorian state election: Bendigo Province :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labor | Elaine Knight | 26,652 | 34.4 |
| | Liberal | Bruce Reid | 25,863 | 33.4 |
| | National | Michael Clarke | 21,821 | 28.1 |
| | Democratic Labor | Ronald Gane | 3,206 | 4.1 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 77,542 | 98.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,604 | 2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 79,146 | 95.3 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal | Bruce Reid | 47,153 | 60.8 |
| | Labor | Elaine Knight | 30,389 | 39.2 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |

### Boronia

1976 Victorian state election: Boronia Province :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Kevin Foley | 59,075 | 57.4 |
| | Labor | Stuart Russell | 43,847 | 42.6 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 102,922 | 97.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 3,032 | 2.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 105,954 | 93.0 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |

### Central Highlands

1976 Victorian state election: Central Highlands Province :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Jock Granter | 37,876 | 49.3 |
| | Labor | Max McDonald | 27,876 | 36.3 |
| | National | Pat McNamara | 8,465 | 11.0 |
| | Independent | Peter Brown | 2,611 | 3.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 76,828 | 97.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,048 | 2.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 78,876 | 92.1 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal | Jock Granter | | 60.7 |
| | Labor | Max McDonald | | 39.3 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |

* Two party preferred vote was estimated.

### Chelsea

1976 Victorian state election: Chelsea Province :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Neil Stacey | 53,970 | 51.2 |
| | Labor | Michael Duffy | 51,521 | 48.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 105,491 | 96.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 3,512 | 3.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 109,003 | 92.5 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |

### Doutta Galla

1976 Victorian state election: Doutta Galla Province :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labor | Bill Landeryou | 58,121 | 53.6 |
| | Liberal | Rex Webb | 50,384 | 46.4 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 108,505 | 95.7 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 4,926 | 4.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 113,431 | 93.8 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |

### East Yarra

1976 Victorian state election: East Yarra Province :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Haddon Storey | 66,998 | 64.8 |
| | Labor | Robert Gurry | 36,306 | 35.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 103,304 | 97.7 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,428 | 2.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 105,732 | 91.8 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |

### Geelong

1976 Victorian state election: Geelong Province :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Glyn Jenkins | 41,401 | 52.5 |
| | Labor | Rod Mackenzie | 37,413 | 47.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 78,814 | 96.9 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,544 | 3.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 81,358 | 95.7 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |

### Gippsland

1976 Victorian state election: Gippsland Province :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labor | Eric Kent | 28,096 | 38.2 |
| | Liberal | James Taylor | 21,769 | 29.6 |
| | National | John Vinall | 18,796 | 25.5 |
| | Democratic Labor | Leslie Hilton | 4,941 | 6.7 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 73,602 | 97.8 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,683 | 2.2 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 75,285 | 93.3 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal | James Taylor | 42,238 | 57.4 |
| | Labor | Eric Kent | 31,364 | 42.6 |
| | Liberal gain from Labor | Liberal gain from Labor | Swing | |

### Higinbotham

1976 Victorian state election: Higinbotham Province :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Murray Hamilton | 65,031 | 63.1 |
| | Labor | Russell Shearn | 39,696 | 37.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 104,727 | 97.6 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,566 | 2.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 107,293 | 92.9 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |

### Melbourne

1976 Victorian state election: Melbourne Province :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labor | Ivan Trayling | 58,113 | 57.8 |
| | Liberal | Bryce McNair | 42,483 | 42.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 100,596 | 95.2 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 5,119 | 4.8 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 105,715 | 85.8 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |

### Melbourne North

1976 Victorian state election: Melbourne North Province :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labor | John Walton | 65,513 | 63.5 |
| | Liberal | Geoff Lutz | 37,629 | 36.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 103,142 | 95.1 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 5,356 | 4.9 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 108,498 | 91.6 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |

### Melbourne West

1976 Victorian state election: Melbourne West Province :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labor | Bon Thomas | 60,144 | 59.9 |
| | Liberal | Peter Stirling | 40,339 | 40.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 100,483 | 94.9 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 5,407 | 5.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 105,890 | 92.2 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |

### Monash

1976 Victorian state election: Monash Province :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | James Guest | 65,408 | 64.7 |
| | Labor | Johan Hulskamp | 35,660 | 35.3 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 101,068 | 96.9 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 3,189 | 3.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 104,257 | 89.9 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |

### North Eastern

1976 Victorian state election: North Eastern Province :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | David Evans | 41,836 | 53.5 |
| | Labor | Lewis Lee | 18,782 | 24.0 |
| | Liberal | George Ikinger | 17,638 | 22.5 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 78,256 | 97.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,208 | 2.7 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 80,464 | 94.4 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | National | David Evans | | 72.6 |
| | Labor | Lewis Gee | | 27.4 |
| | National hold | National hold | Swing | |

* Two party preferred vote was estimated.

### North Western

1976 Victorian state election: North Western Province :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | National | Bernie Dunn | 37,083 | 51.2 |
| | Liberal | William Armstrong | 21,627 | 29.9 |
| | Labor | Edward McCormack | 13,686 | 18.9 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 72,396 | 97.7 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,711 | 2.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 74,107 | 94.3 |
| Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
| | National | Bernie Dunn | | 66.3 |
| | Liberal | William Armstrong | | 33.7 |
| | National hold | National hold | Swing | |

* Two candidate preferred vote was estimated.

### Nunawading

1976 Victorian state election: Nunawading Province :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Vernon Hauser | 65,006 | 60.2 |
| | Labor | John Madden | 43,049 | 39.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 108,055 | 97.6 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,612 | 2.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 110,667 | 93.6 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |

### South Eastern

1976 Victorian state election: South Eastern Province :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Roy Ward | 35,254 | 45.6 |
| | Labor | Merton Ryan | 22,434 | 29.0 |
| | National | William Gleeson | 15,159 | 19.6 |
| | Democratic Labor | Noel Gleeson | 4,454 | 5.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 77,301 | 98.0 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,598 | 2.0 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 78,899 | 92.6 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal | Roy Ward | 51,347 | 66.4 |
| | Labor | Merton Ryan | 25,954 | 33.6 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |

### Templestowe

1976 Victorian state election: Templestowe Province :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Ralph Howard | 60,572 | 57.8 |
| | Labor | Pauline Toner | 44,172 | 42.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 104,744 | 97.6 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 2,516 | 2.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 107,260 | 93.0 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |

### Thomastown

1976 Victorian state election: Thomastown Province :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Labor | Dolph Eddy | 62,466 | 61.2 |
| | Liberal | John Fletcher | 39,546 | 38.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 102,012 | 95.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 4,851 | 4.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 106,863 | 93.3 |
| | Labor hold | Labor hold | Swing | |

### Waverley

1976 Victorian state election: Waverley Province :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Don Saltmarsh | 59,058 | 57.2 |
| | Labor | Anthony Scarcella | 44,146 | 42.8 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 103,204 | 96.5 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 3,754 | 3.5 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 106,958 | 93.3 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |

### Western

1976 Victorian state election: Western Province :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Bruce Chamberlain | 36,209 | 47.4 |
| | Labor | Thomas Windsor | 22,600 | 29.6 |
| | National | Linden Cameron | 17,548 | 23.0 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 76,357 | 98.4 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,277 | 1.6 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 77,634 | 95.2 |
| Two-party-preferred result ||||||
| | Liberal | Bruce Chamberlain | 52,214 | 68.4 |
| | Labor | Thomas Windsor | 24,143 | 31.6 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | |
