1931 Australian Federal Election
Depression election19 December 1931 · Depression and war · 75 seats, 38 for a majority
The incumbent first-term Australian Labor Party (ALP) government led by Prime Minister James Scullin was defeated in a landslide by the United Australia Party (UAP) led by Joseph Lyons. As of 2025, this is the last time that a sitting government at a federal level has been defeated after a single term.
Prime Minister before
James Scullin
Labor
Prime Minister after
Joseph Lyons
United Australia
Largest force
United Australia
33 of 75 seats
Turnout
95.0%
The result
United Australia
Joseph Lyons · 36.4% of votes · +14 seats
33
seats
Country
Earle Page · 12.2% of votes · +6 seats
16
seats
Labor
James Scullin · 27.1% of votes · -21 seats
15
seats
Emergency Committee
5.5% of votes · +5 seats
5
seats
Lang Labor
Jack Lang · 10.6% of votes · -1 seats
4
seats
Independents
6.0% of votes · -1 seats
3
seats