1971 Western Australian state election

Elections were held in the state of Western Australia on 20 February 1971 to elect all 51 members to the Legislative Assembly and 15 members to the 30-seat Legislative Council. The four-term Liberal-Country Party coalition government, led by Premier David Brand, was defeated by the Labor Party, led by Opposition Leader John Tonkin.

1971 Western Australian state election
20 February 1971 (1971-02-20)
All 51 seats in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
and 15 (of the 30) seats to the Western Australian Legislative Council
26 Assembly seats were needed for a majority
  First party Second party
 
Leader John Tonkin David Brand
Party Labor Liberal/Country coalition
Leader since 1 January 1967 1 March 1957
Leader's seat Melville Greenough
Last election 23 seats 28 seats
Seats won 26 seats 25 seats
Seat change 3 3
Percentage 48.91% 35.30%
Swing 3.56 13.95
Premier before election

David Brand
Liberal/Country coalition

 Elected Premier

John Tonkin
Labor

This was the first election in which no seats were uncontested since the introduction of responsible government in 1890. This was partly due to the Democratic Labor Party deciding to contest every seat up for election in both Houses.

There was a large increase in the number of electors, because this was the first election after 18 year olds had been given the vote.

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