The Dunstan Governments in South Australia (1967-68, and 1970-79) pioneered reforms in a range of areas. But the ‘Dunstan Decade’ nearly stopped before it got properly underway. The SA election on 2 March 1968 was a watershed moment in Don Dunstan’s political career. The ALP won 54% of the vote but was turned out because that had not translated into a majority of seats, due to the gerrymander which Dunstan had fought to overturn since he entered Parliament in 1953. Because the vote was very close in two seats, the outcome was not immediately known. Dunstan did not resign until he was forced to do so, on 16 April. Dramatic uncertainty, press attention including from interstate, and his platform to hammer the debate about electoral inequality all dragged out for weeks. Significant public protests and rallies, involving students, supported Dunstan’s claim for electoral reform and proper democracy. Events in Adelaide were influenced by those around the world, the transnational mood and moment of 1968. Public rallies and protests led to electoral reform, which in turn enabled the ‘Dunstan Decade’ of the 1970s and the nation-leading reforms that it comprised.