Rare and Unique Original 1989 ACT Legislative Assembly Election Ballot Paper - Canberra's First Ever Self Government Vote! - Alongside 2 Other Ballots (3)

Full Description

- Alongside this 1989 ballot this lot includes ballots from the smaller ACT 1995 Legislative Assembly election (which was the first time the Hare-Clark electoral system was used); alongside the 1998 ACT Legislative Assembly one, featuring Paul Osborne and the "kingmaker" election; Bill Wood is also featured on both of these smaller ballot papers - Following the granting of self-government to the ACT, its very first general election was held on March 4, 1989 this election remains one of the most uniquely bizarre and significant events in Australian political history - This was special for several reasons including the fact the vote marked the birth of ACT self-government, and was the first time Canberrans were able to directly elect local representatives with legislative powers - Ironically the historic vote was forced as in a previous 1978 referendum, 63 percent of the ACT voters explicitly rejected self-government, preferring to stay under federal control; this resentment eventually birthed some highly successful protest groups including the No Self-Government Party and the Abolish Self-Government Coalition which actually won multiple seats in the new parliament - because of the low entry bar (cheap and easy to register a voting party); 117 candidates split across 22 parties crowded into the final voting form - this meant the ballot is one metre-wide!; parties such as Party! Party! Party and the Sun-Ripened Warm Tomato Party were included! - The eventual vote took over two months to count! - Provenance - this is from private collection and estate of Bill Wood M.L.A who features on the ballot paper under the Labour Party, and his wife Beverley - All in very good condition; a historic find!