Elections to the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly were held on Saturday, 21 February 1998. The incumbent Liberal Party, led by Kate Carnell, was challenged by the Labor Party, led by Wayne Berry. Candidates were elected to fill three multi-member electorates using a single transferable vote method, known as the Hare-Clark system. The result was another hung parliament. However the Liberals, with the largest representation in the 17-member unicameral Assembly, formed Government with the support of independents Michael Moore, Paul Osborne, and Dave Rugendyke. Carnell was elected Chief Minister at the first sitting of the fourth Assembly on 19 March 1998.
Subsequent to the election and during the life of the fourth Assembly, on 18 October 2000, Carnell stepped down as Chief Minister and was replaced by Gary Humphries.
This would be the last time the Liberal Party (or the Coalition) would form government at a state or territory level after an election until the 2008 Western Australian state election. Also, this is the last time the Liberal Party has formed government after an election in the ACT.
Key dates
Close of party registration: 15 January 1998
Pre-election period commenced/nominations opened: 16 January 1998
Rolls closed: 23 January 1998
Nominations closed: 29 January 1998
Nominations declared/ballot paper order determined: 30 January 1998
Pre-poll voting commenced: 2 February 1998
Polling day: 21 February 1998
Poll declared: 17 March 1998
Overview
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
Greens
Lucy Horodny (Ginninderra)
Brindabella
Five seats were up for election. The Labor Party was defending two seats. The Liberal Party was defending two seats. The Paul Osborne Independent Group was defending one seat.
Ginninderra
Five seats were up for election. The Labor Party was defending two seats. The Liberal Party was defending two seats. The Greens were defending one seat.
Molonglo
Seven seats were up for election. The Labor Party was defending two seats. The Liberal Party was defending three seats. The Greens were defending one seat. The Moore Independents were defending one seat.
Results
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M - Moore Independents
O - Osborne Independent Group
See also
Members of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly, 1998–2001
Second Carnell Ministry
Humphries Ministry
List of Australian Capital Territory elections
References
External links
ACT Electoral Commission
ACT Legislative Assembly - List of Members (1989 - 2008)