Results of the 1979 South Australian state election (Legislative Council)

South Australian state election, 15 September 1979 Legislative Council << 1975–1982 >>
Enrolled voters		826,586
Votes cast		765,032		Turnout	92.6	–0.7
Informal votes		33,637		Informal	4.4	–0.8
Summary of votes by party
Party		Primary votes	%	Swing	Seats won	Seats held
	Liberal	370,398	50.6	+22.8	6	11
	Labor	290,552	39.7	–7.6	4	10
	Democrats	47,527	6.5	+6.5	1	1
	National Country	7,716	1.1	–1.0	0	0
	Marijuana	6,132	0.8	+0.8	0	0
	Other	9,070	1.3	*	0	0
Total		731,395			11	22

This is a list of results for the Legislative Council at the 1979 South Australian state election.

Continuing members

The following MLCs were not up for re-election this year.

Member		Party	Term
	Frank Blevins	Labor	1975–1982
	John Cornwall	Labor	1975–1982
	Jim Dunford	Labor	1975–1982
	Anne Levy	Labor	1975–1982
	Chris Sumner	Labor	1975–1982
	Norm Foster	Labor	1975–1982
	Martin Cameron	Liberal	1975–1982
	John Carnie	Liberal	1975–1982
	Boyd Dawkins	Liberal	1975–1982
	Murray Hill	Liberal	1975–1982
	Don Laidlaw	Liberal	1975–1982

Election results

1979 South Australian state election: Legislative Council

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Quota			60,852
	Liberal	1. Ren DeGaris (elected) 2. Trevor Griffin (elected) 3. Arthur Whyte (elected) 4. Legh Davis (elected) 5. John Burdett (elected) 6. Robert Ritson (elected) 7. Amanda Vanstone	370,398	50.6	+22.8
	Labor	1. Brian Chatterton (elected) 2. Cec Creedon (elected) 3. Gordon Bruce (elected) 4. Barbara Wiese (elected) 5. James Hennessy 6. Erwin Williamson 7. Giovanni Vassallo	290,552	39.7	−7.6
	Democrats	1. Lance Milne (elected) 2. Christopher Harte 3. Raymond Buttery 4. Nicholas Theologou 5. Brian Fain 6. Robert North	47,527	6.5	+6.5
	National	1. Warren Norton 2. Allan Woolford 3. Wayne Murphy	7,716	1.1	−1.0
	Marijuana	Stephen Dimitriou	6,132	0.8	+0.8
	Group D	1. Harold Steele 2. Emily Perry 3. Peter Clifton	5,671	0.8	+0.8
	Independent	Screw Parasites	3,399	0.5	+0.5
Total formal votes			731,395	95.6	+0.8
Informal votes			33,637	4.4	−0.8
Turnout			765,032	92.6	−0.7

See also

• Candidates of the 1979 South Australian state election
• Members of the South Australian Legislative Council, 1979–1982