Ben Chifley Labor Robert Menzies Liberal/Country coalition The 1949 Australian federal election was held on Saturday, 10 December, 1949.

The incumbent Labor Party, led by Prime Minister Ben Chifley, was defeated by the opposition Liberal–Country coalition under Robert Menzies in a landslide.

Prime Minister Chifley intended to bring all of the banks under Government control, a socialist policy which the Coalition argued was not in the country's interest.

The election took place against the background of the 1949 Australian coal strike, the developing Cold War and growing fears of communism.

The 1949 election was the first time the Liberal Party of Australia won government federally, and marked the beginning of a long reign in power, 1949-1967 (some of that as part of a Coalition).