8
May 2019
PDF version [975KB]
Stephen Barber
Statistics
and Mapping Section
Executive
summary
This paper provides details of House of Representatives by-elections,
from that held for Darling Downs on 14 September 1901 to the most recent
held on 20 October 2018 for Wentworth. The following observations can be made
about those by-elections:
-
there have been 158 by-elections, an average of 3.5 per
parliament.
- the nine by-elections held during the current, 45th, Parliament
is the second highest number in an individual parliament—seven of these related
to dual citizenship; 10 by-elections—nine caused by the deaths of members—were
held during the 20th Parliament (1951–1954)
- the average number of nominations has grown over the years from
2.2 per by-election to 11.5 per by-election
- in only four cases was a by-election contested by just a single
candidate
-
an increasing tendency has been for governments to avoid
contesting by-elections in their opponents’ safe seats
-
in only ten cases have the opposition party failed to contest a
by-election
- eighty-three of the by-elections followed the resignation of the
member, 68 members died in office, there have been six voided elections, and
one MP was expelled from the House
- since 1949 resignations account for over two-thirds of
by-elections and over half the resignations have occurred in safe seats
- on 36 occasions the party complexion of a seat has altered at a
by-election; five of the losses have been by the opposition of the day
-
the average two-party preferred swing against the government of
the day has been 3.8 per cent and
- since 1949 the largest two-party swing against a government (16.1
per cent) occurred against Labor in Canberra in 1995. The largest swing to a
government (16.2 per cent) occurred to the Coalition in McPherson in 1981.
Contents
Executive summary
Party abbreviations
Introduction
The organisation of Commonwealth
by-elections
The reasons why by-elections have been
held
The timing of by-elections
Vacancies for which no by-election held
By-elections where members recontested
Number of nominations
Voter turnout
Party performance
Seats lost at by-elections
Impact upon party
Impact upon Government/Opposition
Party win/loss performance
By-elections caused by
resignation—safeness of seat
Analysing by-election swings since 1949
Average swings against governments
Personal and political matters
The changing of the old guard
Future prime ministers
The exiting of prime ministers
Future leaders of the Opposition
The exiting of leaders of the
Opposition
Family matters
Famous entries into the House
Kicked upstairs?
A matter of treason
By-elections that caused ripples
Voided elections
Appendix 1: House of Representatives
by-elections, 1901–2018
Appendix 2: By-election results by
electoral division, 1901–2018 [PDF338KB]
First past the post electoral system
Preferential voting electoral system
Appendix 3: Notes on Commonwealth
by-elections, 1901–2018
Appendix
4: By-election timing, 1901–2018
Appendix 5: Sources on by-elections in
Australia
General studies
Case studies
Commonwealth
List of tables
Table
1: vacancies brought about by resignation and death
Table
2: by-elections, 2000–2018
Table
3: vacancies for which no by-election was held, 1901–2018
Table
4: candidates per by-election
Table
5: seats lost at by-elections, 1901–2018
Table
6: party win/loss performance at by-elections, 1901–2018
Table
7: by-elections caused by resignation—safeness of seat, 1949–2018
Table
8: average swings against governments in by-elections, 1949–2018
Table
9: two-party preferred swings, by-elections, 1949–2018
Party abbreviations and symbols
AAP |
Advance
Australia Party |
AC |
Australian
Christians |
ACons |
Australian
Conservatives |
ACP |
Australian
Cyclists Party |
ADVP |
Australian
Defence Veterans Party |
AFI |
Australians
Against Further Immigration |
AHP |
Affordable
Housing Party |
AJP |
Animal
Justice Party |
ALA |
Australian
Liberty Alliance |
ALP |
Australian
Labor Party |
AMHP |
Australian
Mental Health Party |
ANAG |
Australian
National Action Group |
AntiSoc |
Anti-Socialist |
AP |
Australia
Party |
APEP |
Australian
People’s Party |
APPG |
Australian
Pensioner Pressure Group |
AR |
Australian
Republican |
ARM |
Australian
Reform Movement |
ASP |
Australian
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party (Australian Shooters Party prior to 2018) |
ASxP |
Australian
Sex Party |
Atok |
Atokist |
AusConst |
Australian
Constitutionalist |
BTA |
Bullet
Train for Australia |
CntreAll |
Centre
Alliance (Nick Xenophon Team prior to 2018) |
CCC |
Climate
Change Coalition |
CDP |
Christian
Democratic Party |
CCE |
Conservatives
for Climate and Environment |
CEC |
Citizens
Electoral Council |
CM |
CountryMinded |
Com |
Communist
Party |
Cons |
Conservative |
Const |
Constitutionalist |
CP |
Country
Party |
CRep |
Constitutional
Republican |
CTA |
Call to
Australia |
CYA |
Australian
Country Party |
Dem |
Australian
Democrats |
DHJP |
Derryn
Hinch’s Justice Party |
DLP |
Democratic
Labor Party |
DOGS |
Council
for the Defence of Government Schools |
DSP |
Deadly
Serious Party |
EcRef |
Economic
Reform |
EFN |
Environmentalists
for Nuclear Energy |
Farmers |
Farmers’
Party |
FFP |
Family
First Party |
FishP |
The
Fishing Party |
FLP |
Federal
Labor Party |
FLR |
Family Law
Reform Party |
FP |
Future Party |
FPA |
Federal Party
of Australia |
FST |
Australia
First Party |
FT |
Free Trade |
FUT |
Science
Party |
Grn |
Greens |
Gry |
Grey Power |
GWA |
The Greens
(WA) |
HAN |
Pauline
Hanson’s One Nation |
HMP |
Help End
Marijuana Prohibition |
HPA |
Hope Party
Australia |
ICP |
Independent
Country Party |
ILab |
Independent
Labor |
ILCL |
Independent
Liberal Country League |
ILib |
Independent
Liberal |
INat |
Independent
Nationalist |
Ind |
Independent |
KAP |
Katter’s
Australian Party |
LDP |
Liberal
Democratic Party |
LFF |
Liberals
for Forests |
Lib |
Liberal
Party |
LibF |
Liberal
Forum |
LLab |
Lang Labor |
LNP |
Liberal
National Party |
LP |
Liberal
Party |
LRG |
Liberal
Reform Group |
NA |
National
Alliance |
NAP |
New
Australian Party |
Nat |
Nationalist |
NCPP |
Non-Custodial
Parents Party |
NGST |
No GST
Party |
NHP |
National
Humanitarian Party |
NLP |
Natural
Law Party |
NP |
National
Party |
NSP |
National
Socialist Party |
ON |
One Nation |
ONNSW |
One Nation
NSW Division |
PCP |
Progressive
Conservative Party |
PIR |
Pirate
Party Australia |
PLP |
Progressive
Labour Party |
PORP |
Property
Owners’ Rights Party |
PP |
Progress Party |
Prog |
Australian
Progressives |
Prot |
Protectionist |
ProtLab |
Protestant
Labor |
PUP |
Palmer
United Party |
RARI |
Reclaim
Australia: Reduce Immigration |
RPA |
Republican
Party of Australia |
RSNP |
Returned
Soldiers National Party |
RUA |
Rise Up
Australia Party |
SA |
Socialist
Alliance |
SC |
Social
Credit |
SLib |
State
Liberal |
Soc |
Socialist |
SP |
Socialist
Party of Australia |
SPA |
Secular
Party of Australia |
SPP |
Sustainable
Australia (Sustainable Population Party prior to 2018) |
ST |
Single Tax
League |
SUN |
Seniors
United Party of Australia |
SWP |
Socialist
Workers’ Party |
TA |
Taxpayers’
Association |
TAP |
The Arts
Party |
UAP |
United
Australia Party |
UM |
Uninflated
Movement |
Unite |
Unite
Australia Party |
UTG |
United
Tasmanian Group |
UWU |
Unemployed
Workers Union |
VEF |
Voluntary Euthanasia
Party |
VFU |
Victorian
Farmers’ Union |
VOTE |
Voice of
the Elderly |
21CA |
21st
Century Party |
|
|
Symbols |
.. |
Not
available or not applicable |
Note
1: Some party abbreviations shown above may not be the official abbreviations
registered (some parties do not have an abbreviation) with the AEC. These
unofficial abbreviations have been used for convenience in the following tables
and graphs.
Note 2: All
tables and graphs have been compiled by the Parliamentary Library.
Introduction
This Research Paper updates an earlier Parliamentary Library
Research paper and details the 158 by-elections for the House of
Representatives held to date, including some of the factors involved in their
being held.[1]
It also discusses relevant factors such as the timing of
by-elections, the number of nominations, the voter turnout and party
performance over the years, and the swings that have occurred.
The paper concludes with a general discussion of some of the
personal and political aspects of the by-elections.
The
organisation of Commonwealth by-elections
By-elections are held to fill vacancies in the House of
Representatives resulting from the death, resignation, absence without leave,
expulsion, disqualification or ineligibility of a member.
The first by-election was held in the Queensland electorate
of Darling Downs, on 14 September 1901, barely four months after the opening of
the new Commonwealth Parliament. The by-election followed the death of the
sitting member, William Groom. The most recent by-election was held in the
electorate of Wentworth (NSW) on 20 October 2018 following the resignation of
the sitting member and deposed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
The reasons why by-elections
have been held
Of the 158 by-elections, 68 (43.0 per cent) have occurred
because of the death of the member, 83 (52.5 per cent) as the result of the
resignation of the member, six (3.8 per cent) because of voided elections, and
one (0.6 per cent) because of the expulsion of the member for Kalgoorlie from
the House in 1920.
Over time, the reasons for by-elections have altered quite
markedly:
- from 1901 to 1979, 61.5 per cent of all by-elections were brought
about by death and
- by contrast, since 1980, 88.9 per cent of all by-elections have
been brought about by resignation.
Table 1: vacancies brought about
by resignation and death
Years |
Vacancy due to death
(%) |
Vacancy due to resignation
(%) |
Other
(%) |
1901–1979 |
61.5 |
33.7 |
4.8 |
Since 1980 |
7.4 |
88.9 |
3.7 |
The following graph further illustrates the changing pattern
in the reasons causing by-elections.
Figure 1: reason for by-election, by decade
One factor contributing to this changing pattern is that
members today enter the House of Representatives at a generally younger age
than used to be the case. Of the 41 parliaments to 2005, the second quarter’s
intake (1929–1951) was the oldest, averaging 48.3 years per new member. By
contrast, the fourth quarter’s intake (1977–2005) was the youngest at 42.2
years per new member.[2]
[3]
Another factor is the greater preparedness of members to leave (resign from)
Parliament—the cause of 79.6 per cent of by-elections since 1980—often to
pursue another career.[4]
This has been aided by a third factor, namely the general increase in longevity
of Australians brought about by, among other things, better health care.[5]
The timing of
by-elections
Section 33 of the Australian Constitution confers on
the Speaker of the House of Representatives the power to issue a writ for the
election of a new member.[6]
The Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918—Part XIII specifies that the
election (polling day) must be held between 33 and 58 days from the date the
writ is issued.[7]
There is no prescribed time period within which a
by-election writ must be issued and, in fact, there is no accepted view as to
the period that should elapse between vacancy and polling day.
Perhaps surprisingly, this has not become a matter of any
long-term political debate, allowing governments a great deal of freedom in the
setting of by-election dates. The length of time from a vacancy until polling
day has, therefore, varied considerably, with the maximum number of days being
the 82 days for Moreton in 1983, and the minimum being the 17 days for East
Sydney in 1903.[8]
The total elapsed time from vacancy to election has increased since 1901.
Between 1901 and 1949, the average was 40.3 days, whereas during the period
1949 to 2018 the average has been 52.7 days. The average figure for all
by-elections has been 48.1 days.
Ideally, by-elections are held as early as possible after a
seat becomes vacant, ‘so that the electors are not left without representation
any longer than is necessary’.[9]
In fact, such a consideration is occasionally pushed aside by short-term
political factors. On 22 October 1982 the Member for Flinders, Phillip Lynch,
resigned his seat. The Speaker fixed 4 December as the date for a by-election,
but also declared that there would be a delay of almost three weeks before the
writs for the by-election would be issued. According to Anne Summers, this gave
the Fraser Government the option of calling a general election for 4 or 11
December.[10]
The by-election could, therefore, have been pushed aside; although a double
dissolution election was eventually held on 5 March 1983.
In the cases of the 22 by-elections held during 2000–2018,
the delay between the date of the seat becoming vacant[11]
and the date of the issuing of the writ varied considerably. The 45 days for Griffith
and the 40 days for Gippsland contrasted with the issuing of writs in under a
week for by-elections in Ryan, Lyne, North Sydney, New England, Bennelong and
Batman.
The variation allowed in regard to
by-election dates is thus an anomaly in an electoral system that is generally
highly regulated.
Table 2: by-elections, 2000–2018
Division |
Held by |
Date of
vacancy |
Date of writ |
Delay in issuing
writ |
Elapsed time
from vacancy
to by-election |
Isaacs (Vic) |
ALP |
14.06.00 |
30.06.00 |
16 days |
59 days |
Ryan (Qld) |
LP |
05.02.01 |
09.02.01 |
4 days |
40 days |
Aston (Vic) |
LP |
24.04.01 |
01.06.01 |
38 days |
81 days |
Cunningham (NSW) |
ALP |
16.08.02 |
16.09.02 |
31 days |
64 days |
Werriwa (NSW) |
ALP |
21.01.05 |
14.02.05 |
24 days |
57 days |
Gippsland (Vic) |
LP |
09.04.08 |
19.05.08 |
40 days |
80 days |
Lyne (NSW) |
LP |
30.07.08 |
04.08.09 |
5 days |
38 days |
Mayo (SA) |
LP |
14.07.08 |
04.08.09 |
21 days |
54 days |
Bradfield (NSW) |
LP |
19.10.09 |
30.10.09 |
11 days |
47 days |
Higgins (Vic) |
LP |
19.10.09 |
30.10.09 |
11 days |
47 days |
Griffith (Qld) |
ALP |
22.11.13 |
06.01.14 |
45 days |
78 days |
Canning (WA) |
LP |
21.07.15 |
17.08.15 |
27 days |
60 days |
North Sydney (NSW) |
LP |
23.10.15 |
26.10.15 |
3 days |
43 days |
New England (NSW) |
NP |
27.10.17 |
27.10.17 |
0 days |
36 days |
Bennelong (NSW) |
LP |
11.11.17 |
13.11.17 |
2 days |
35 days |
Batman (Vic) |
ALP |
01.02.18 |
07.02.18 |
6 days |
44 days |
Braddon (Tas) |
ALP |
10.05.18 |
15.06.18 |
36 days |
79 days |
Fremantle (WA) |
ALP |
10.05.18 |
15.06.18 |
36 days |
79 days |
Longman (Qld) |
ALP |
10.05.18 |
15.06.18 |
36 days |
79 days |
Perth (WA) |
ALP |
10.05.18 |
15.06.18 |
36 days |
79 days |
Mayo (SA) |
CntreAll |
11.05.18 |
15.06.18 |
35 days |
78 days |
Wentworth (NSW) |
LP |
31.08.18 |
17.09.18 |
17 days |
50 days |
Appendix 4 provides details of the timing of all
by-elections held between September 1901 and October 2018. It also shows the
number of days elapsed between the seat becoming vacant and the by-election
date, the number of days elapsed since the previous general election, and the
number of days between the by-election and the next general election.
Vacancies for
which no by-election held
There have been 20 occasions when the Speaker has, in fact,
declined to issue such a writ for a by-election due to a pending general
election. The longest period a seat has been without a member prior to a
general election was 128 days in the case of Hindmarsh in 1909–10. The shortest
period was the 39 days between 13 August 1940, when three MPs were killed in a
plane crash, and the election of 21 September 1940.
The situation regarding the last of these occasions—Wills,
1992–93—was the result of the by-election held in November 1992 subsequently
being voided by the Court of Disputed Returns. The successful candidate, Phil
Cleary, was found to be in breach of section 44(iv) of the Constitution
and the Labor and Liberal candidates were found ineligible under section 44(i).
By-elections
where members recontested
There have been 13 occasions where the previous member has
recontested in a by-election. Of these, nine members have been successful in
retaining their seat.
The successful members were in the seats: East Sydney 1903,
Echuca 1907, Lindsay 1996, New England 2017, Bennelong 2017, Braddon 2018,
Fremantle 2018, Longman 2018 and Mayo 2018.
In all but the first two of these by-elections the previous
member was recontesting after either being found or resigning before being
found invalidly elected by the Court of Disputed Returns.
The unsuccessful recontests were in: Melbourne 1904,
Riverina 1904, Ballaarat 1920 and Kalgoorlie 1920.
Table 3: vacancies for which no
by-election was held, 1901–2018
Division |
Vacant |
Next
election |
Days |
Hunter
(NSW) |
30.09.03 |
16.12.03 |
77 |
Indi (Vic) |
12.10.06 |
12.12.06 |
61 |
Northern
Melbourne (Vic) |
13.10.06 |
12.12.06 |
60 |
Hindmarsh
(SA) |
06.12.09 |
13.04.10 |
128 |
East
Sydney (NSW) |
24.12.09 |
13.04.10 |
110 |
West
Sydney (NSW) |
06.09.28 |
17.11.28 |
72 |
Wimmera
(Vic) |
14.10.31 |
19.12.31 |
66 |
Martin
(NSW) |
05.06.34 |
15.09.34 |
102 |
Ballaarat
(Vic) |
31.07.34 |
15.09.34 |
46 |
Werriwa
(NSW) |
02.08.34 |
15.09.34 |
44 |
Henty
(Vic) |
13.08.40 |
21.09.40 |
39 |
Flinders
(Vic) |
13.08.40 |
21.09.40 |
39 |
Corangamite
(Vic) |
13.08.40 |
21.09.40 |
39 |
West
Sydney (NSW) |
14.08.46 |
28.09.46 |
45 |
Hindmarsh
(SA) |
14.08.46 |
28.09.46 |
45 |
McMillan
(Vic) |
14.10.55 |
10.12.55 |
57 |
Leichhardt
(Qld) |
11.10.58 |
22.11.58 |
42 |
Warringah
(NSW) |
03.08.66 |
26.11.66 |
110 |
Bonython
(SA) |
30.09.77 |
10.12.77 |
71 |
Wills
(Vic) |
25.11.92 |
13.03.93 |
108 |
Number
of nominations
The 158 by-elections have been contested by an average of 5.3
candidates. Over the years, however, there has been a steady increase in the
number of nominations.
In the 24 first-past-the-post cases between 1901 and October
1918 the average number of nominations was 2.2 per contest.
In the following 134 preferential voting cases there has
been an average of 5.9 nominations per by-election:
- from the introduction of preferential voting in December 1918 to
the end of the 1960s there was an average of 3.7 nominations per by-election
- the 1970s and 1980s saw the first of two significant increases in
candidate numbers, with 6.2 candidates per by-election over these decades
- this was exceeded during the 1990s, with the average climbing to
8.1 candidates per contest and
- since 2000 a further climb to 11.5 candidates per by-election has
occurred.
The record number of nominations
has occurred twice in by-elections: Wills (Vic) in 1992 and Bradfield (NSW) in
2009. In the 1992 Wills by-election 22 nominations were received to fill the
seat vacated by former Prime Minister Hawke. The field of 22 candidates that
contested the 2009 Bradfield by-election was inflated due to the presence of
nine Christian Democratic Party candidates. The 2017 New England by-election
had 17 nominations, the third highest on record.
In only four cases, or 2.6 per
cent, was a by-election contested by just a single candidate: Kalgoorlie 1913,
Dalley 1915, Wide Bay 1928 and Cunningham 1956.
In recent years there has been a tendency for governments to
avoid contesting by-elections, especially in their opponents’ safe seats. Since
1990 the incumbent government has failed to contest 18 of the 36 by-elections
held. In all cases bar one this has often meant an easy win to the party
holding the seat. In the case of Cunningham in 2002, however, the absence of a
Liberal candidate helped the Australian Greens candidate win the seat from the
ALP.[12]
Table 4: candidates per
by-election
Years |
By-elections |
Average number of
candidates |
Largest number of
candidates |
1901–2018 |
158 |
5.3 |
22 (2 cases) |
1901–1918 (First-past-the-post) |
24 |
2.2 |
4 (Tasmania 1902) |
1918–2018 (Preferential voting) |
134 |
5.9 |
22 (2 cases) |
Preferential voting |
|
|
|
1918–1929 |
15 |
3.1 |
5 (3 cases) |
1930–1939 |
12 |
3.7 |
6 (Wilmot 1939) |
1940–1949 |
7 |
4.0 |
7 (Wimmera 1946) |
1950–1959 |
16 |
3.7 |
6 (3 cases) |
1960–1969 |
22 |
3.9 |
5 (8 cases) |
1970–1979 |
8 |
6.5 |
12 (Parramatta 1973) |
1980–1989 |
18 |
6.1 |
12 (Lowe 1982) |
1990–1999 |
14 |
8.1 |
22 (Wills 1992) |
2000–2009 |
10 |
11.5 |
22 (Bradfield 2009) |
Since 2010 |
12 |
11.6 |
17 (New England 2017) |
By contrast, apart from the 2015 by-election in North
Sydney, the official Opposition has contested every by-election from Dalley in
1953. Since 1901 the Opposition has failed to contest ten, or 6.3 per cent, of
by-elections: Darling Downs 1901, Melbourne 1904, Echuca 1907, Adelaide 1908, Dalley
1915, Echuca 1919, Wide Bay 1928, Balaclava 1929, Bradfield 1952 and North
Sydney 2015.
Voter turnout[13]
During the period of voluntary voting (1901–1924) the
average turnout for by-elections was just 56.7 per cent. The lowest figure was
15.1 per cent in East Sydney in 1903. Since the introduction of compulsory voting
in 1924 the average by-election turnout figure has been 86.8 per cent. This
contrasts with a 94.4 per cent turnout in general elections over that period.
During the compulsory voting years there has been a slight
fall in the by-election turnout figure. For the 62 contested by-elections prior
to 1970 the turnout was 88.5 per cent; the turnout for the 62 by-elections
since 1970 has been 85.2 per cent. The lowest turnout figure over the
compulsory voting period has been 64.0 per cent in Perth 2018, just below the
66.0 per cent in Fremantle also in 2018. The previous lowest was 69.5 per cent in
Wentworth in 1981.
Party
performance
Seats lost at
by-elections
In only 36 of the 158 by-elections (22.8 per cent) has a
seat altered its party status.
Table 5: seats lost at
by-elections, 1901–2018
Division |
Government |
Sitting party |
Winning party |
Melbourne (Vic) 1904 |
Prot |
Prot |
ALP |
Riverina (NSW) 1904 |
ALP |
FT |
Prot |
Adelaide (SA) 1908 |
Prot |
Prot |
ALP |
Boothby (SA) 1911 |
ALP |
ALP |
Lib |
Grampians (Vic) 1915 |
ALP |
ALP |
Lib |
Wide Bay (Qld) 1915 |
ALP |
ALP |
Lib |
Swan (WA) 1918 |
Nat |
Nat |
ALP |
Corangamite (Vic) 1918 |
Nat |
Nat |
VFU |
Echuca (Vic) 1919 |
Nat |
Nat |
VFU |
Ballaarat (Vic) 1920 |
Nat |
Nat |
ALP |
Kalgoorlie (WA) 1920 |
Nat |
ALP |
Nat |
Maranoa (Qld) 1921 |
Nat |
ALP |
CP |
Wide Bay (Qld) 1928 |
Nat |
Nat |
CP |
Franklin (Tas) 1929 |
ALP |
Ind |
ALP |
Parkes (NSW) 1931 |
ALP |
ALP |
Nat |
East Sydney (NSW) 1932 |
UAP |
UAP |
LLab |
Darling Downs (Qld) 1936 |
UAP |
UAP |
CP |
Gwydir (NSW) 1937 |
UAP/CP |
CP |
ALP |
Wakefield (SA) 1938 |
UAP/CP |
UAP |
ALP |
Wilmot (Tas) 1939 |
UAP/CP |
UAP |
ALP |
Corio (Vic) 1940 |
UAP |
UAP |
ALP |
Henty (Vic) 1946 |
ALP |
Ind |
LP |
Flinders (Vic) 1952 |
LP/CP |
LP |
ALP |
Calare (NSW) 1960 |
LP/CP |
LP |
CP |
Dawson (Qld) 1966 |
LP/CP |
CP |
ALP |
Corio (Vic) 1967 |
LP/CP |
LP |
ALP |
Bass (Tas) 1975 |
ALP |
ALP |
LP |
Lowe (NSW) 1982 |
LP/NP |
LP |
ALP |
Adelaide (SA) 1988 |
ALP |
ALP |
LP |
Groom (Qld) 1988 |
ALP |
NP |
LP |
Wills (Vic) 1992 |
ALP |
ALP |
Ind |
Canberra (ACT) 1995 |
ALP |
ALP |
LP |
Ryan (Qld) 2001 |
LP/NP |
LP |
ALP |
Cunningham (NSW) 2002 |
LP/NP |
ALP |
Grn |
Lyne (NSW) 2008 |
ALP |
NP |
Ind |
Wentworth (NSW) 2018 |
LP/NP |
LP |
Ind |
Note: By the time of the Grampians by-election of 1917, the
Liberal Party had been subsumed by the Nationalist Party. This by-election is,
therefore, not included as an occasion when the seat changed party hands
Impact upon
party
- twenty-seven (17.1 per cent) by-elections have been lost by a major
party to another major party
- four (2.5 per cent) have been lost by a major party to a minor
party (Corangamite 1918, Echuca 1919, East Sydney 1932 and Cunningham 2002)
- three (1.9 per cent) have been lost by a major party to an
independent (Wills 1992, Lyne 2008 and Wentworth 2018) and
- two (1.3 per cent) previously held by independents were won by a
major party (Franklin 1929 and Henty 1946).
Impact
upon Government/Opposition
-
in 25 by-elections (15.8 per cent) the seat has been lost by the
government of the day
- five seats (3.2 per cent) have been lost by the opposition of the
day (Riverina 1904, Kalgoorlie 1920, Maranoa 1921, Cunningham 2002 and Lyne
2008)
- four seats (2.5 per cent) have been lost by one Coalition partner
to another (Wide Bay 1928, Darling Downs 1936, Calare 1960 and Groom 1988)[14]
- two seats (1.3 per cent) were won from Independents, one by the
government of the day (Franklin 1929) and one by the opposition (Henty 1946)
- only one by-election (0.6 per cent) has been won by a government
from the opposition (Kalgoorlie 1920) and
- one by-election (0.6 per cent) lost by a government resulted in
the government losing its majority in the House (Wentworth 2018).
Party
win/loss performance
The table below shows, over the long haul, the major
non-Labor parties of the day have not done quite as well as their rivals in
terms of winning seats from other parties.
Table 6: party win/loss
performance at by-elections, 1901–2018
Party |
Seats gained |
Seats lost |
ALP |
14 |
11 |
Major non-Labor parties* |
11 |
19 |
CP/NP |
4 |
4 |
Other |
7 |
2 |
Total |
36 |
36 |
* These figures include
Riverina 1904, won by the Protectionists from the Free Traders.
On 11 of the 36 occasions where a seat has changed party
hands at a by-election the party that won the seat at the by-election lost the
seat at the next general election (Boothby 1911, Swan 1918, Kalgoorlie 1920,
Franklin 1929, Wakefield 1938, Wilmot 1939, Flinders 1952, Adelaide 1988,
Canberra 1995, Ryan 2001 and Cunningham 2002).[15]
By-elections
caused by resignation—safeness of seat
The fact that relatively few seats
have changed party hands in by-elections is probably due more to the propensity
for by-elections to occur in safer seats, rather than any other factor.
Political parties and individual members seem to be well aware of the possible
political consequences of losing a seat at a by-election, and thus try to
ensure that by-elections caused by resignation occur only in relatively safe
seats. For example, since 1949, of the 68 by-elections that were caused by the
resignation of the sitting member, 15 have been in marginal seats (that is,
seats requiring a swing of less than six per cent to change hands). By far the
largest number of by-elections, 35, has occurred in safe seats (that is, seats
requiring a swing of over ten per cent to change hands).
Table 7: by-elections caused by
resignation—safeness of seat, 1949–2018
|
Number |
Percentage |
Marginal |
15 |
22.1 |
Fairly Safe |
18 |
26.5 |
Safe |
35 |
51.5 |
Total |
68 |
100.0 |
Analysing
by-election swings since 1949
Apart from a party’s success or defeat in a by-election, the
most important aspect of a by-election is the swing that takes place.
Conventional wisdom holds that there is usually a swing against the government
of the day at a by-election. The success or otherwise of a government, opposition,
or party leader at the by-election is often measured by the size of the swing
in comparison with the average swing recorded in past by-elections. However,
by-elections occur in varied and disparate electoral divisions, with different
numbers and mixes of candidates and with a variety of local, state and national
issues involved. It could, therefore, be argued that, given the variety of
factors involved, there is no 'normal' by-election swing. By-elections are held
in such varying circumstances that none can be regarded as typical, and it is
generally agreed that any swing that occurs is usually explained by the special
factors pertaining to each by-election.[16]
By-election swings can be calculated by comparing the first
preference and two-party preferred votes received by the various parties at the
by-election with the votes at the previous general election. The two-party
preferred swing is more commonly used as it overcomes some of the difficulties
inherent in using first preference swings. First preference swings can be
affected by the number and nature of candidates and parties contesting the
by-election when compared with the previous general election.
Average first preference and two-party preferred vote swings
for by-elections held between 1949 and October 2018 are given below.[17]
Swings cannot be calculated where one of the major parties (that is, ALP or
LP/NP Coalition) did not stand a candidate at the by-election or the preceding
general election, or where the division was uncontested at the by-election or
the preceding general election.
The average two-party preferred swing against the government
of the day in all by-elections held during the period 1949 to 2018 was 3.8 per
cent. The swing against ALP governments (5.5 per cent) was somewhat higher than
the swing against LP/NP Coalition governments (3.2 per cent) while the swing
against the government of the day in government-held seats was 4.8 per cent.
The average two-party preferred swing in by-elections caused by the death of
the sitting member was just over half the swing in by-elections caused by the
resignation of the member.
Average
swings against governments
Two-party preferred swings at by-elections during the period
have varied from an anti-government swing of 16.1 per cent in Canberra in 1995
to a swing of 16.2 per cent to the government in McPherson in 1981. The largest
swing against an ALP Government was the Canberra figure, while the largest
swing against a LP/(CP)NP Coalition Government was achieved when Gough Whitlam
won Werriwa in 1952 with a 12.4 per cent swing.
Two-party preferred swings to the government of the day are
a rare event in by-elections, with only 14 being recorded during the period.
The largest swing to an ALP Government was in Wills in 1992 with a 5.9 per cent
swing (although the ALP lost the seat to an independent candidate, Phil Cleary[18])
while the largest swing to a LP/NP Coalition Government was in McPherson,
referred to above.
As the number of candidates contesting a by-election is
generally larger than the number contesting the previous general election,
first preference swings against the government tend to be higher than two-party
preferred swings.
Table 8: average swings against governments
in by-elections, 1949–2018
|
First
preference
per cent |
Two-party
preferred
per cent |
All by-elections |
5.6 |
3.8 |
Government held seats |
6.5 |
4.8 |
LP/NP Governments |
4.7 |
3.2 |
ALP Governments |
8.2 |
5.5 |
By-elections caused by death |
3.6 |
2.6 |
By-elections caused by resignation |
7.1 |
4.7 |
Table
9: two-party preferred swings, by-elections, 1949–2018
ALP Government |
|
LP/NP Government continued |
|
Division |
Swing (%) |
|
Division |
Swing (%) |
|
Parramatta 1973 |
-6.6 |
|
Calare 1960 |
+1.0 |
|
Bass 1975 |
-14.6 |
|
Higinbotham 1960 |
-9.2 |
|
Wannon 1983 |
-1.5 |
|
Batman 1962 |
n.a. |
|
Bruce 1983 |
-3.8 |
|
Grey 1963 |
+4.9 |
|
Moreton 1983 |
-1.2 |
|
East Sydney 1963 |
n.a. |
|
Corangamite 1984 |
-1.3 |
|
Denison 1964 |
-1.9 |
|
Hughes 1984 |
-5.0 |
|
Angas 1964 |
-2.1 |
|
Richmond 1984 |
+0.5 |
|
Parramatta 1964 |
-3.0 |
|
Scullin 1986 |
-4.4 |
|
Robertson 1964 |
-1.4 |
|
Adelaide 1988 |
-8.4 |
|
Riverina 1965 |
-0.9 |
|
Port Adelaide 1988 |
-11.1 |
|
Dawson 1966 |
-11.9 |
|
Groom 1988 |
-5.2 |
|
Kooyong 1966 |
-3.8 |
|
Oxley 1988 |
-11.8 |
|
Corio 1967 |
-11.1 |
|
Gwydir 1989 |
n.a. |
|
Capricornia 1967 |
+1.5 |
|
Menzies 1991 |
n.a. |
|
Higgins 1968 |
-0.3 |
|
Wills 1992 |
+5.9 |
|
Curtin 1969 |
-7.1 |
|
Werriwa 1994 |
-6.3 |
|
Bendigo 1969 |
+2.1 |
|
Fremantle 1994 |
+1.0 |
|
Gwydir 1969 |
-7.7 |
|
Bonython 1994 |
-7.8 |
|
Australian Capital Territory 1970 |
+13.8 |
|
Mackellar 1994 |
n.a. |
|
Chisholm 1970 |
-2.8 |
|
Warringah 1994 |
n.a. |
|
Murray 1971 |
-0.4 |
|
Kooyong 1994 |
n.a. |
|
Cunningham 1977 |
-0.3 |
|
Canberra 1995 |
-16.1 |
|
Werriwa 1978 |
-11.3 |
|
Wentworth 1995 |
n.a. |
|
Grayndler 1979 |
-6.9 |
|
Gippsland 2008 |
-6.1 |
|
Boothby 1981 |
-1.2 |
|
Lyne 2008 |
n.a. |
|
Curtin 1981 |
-7.5 |
|
Mayo 2008 |
n.a. |
|
McPherson 1981 |
+16.2 |
|
Bradfield 2009 |
n.a. |
|
Wentworth 1981 |
-6.2 |
|
Higgins 2009 |
n.a. |
|
Lowe 1982 |
-8.5 |
|
|
|
|
Flinders 1982 |
-3.3 |
|
LP/NP
Government |
|
Blaxland 1996 |
n.a. |
|
Division |
Swing (%) |
|
Lindsay 1996 |
+5.0 |
|
Balaclava 1951 |
-3.4 |
|
Fraser 1997 |
n.a. |
|
Macquarie 1951 |
+0.4 |
|
Holt 1999 |
n.a. |
|
Lyne 1952 |
-8.8 |
|
Isaacs 2000 |
n.a. |
|
Flinders 1952 |
-11.0 |
|
Ryan 2001 |
-9.7 |
|
Werriwa 1952 |
-12.4 |
|
Aston 2001 |
-3.7 |
|
Bradfield 1952 |
n.a. |
|
Cunningham 2002 |
n.a. |
|
Dalley 1953 |
n.a. |
|
Werriwa 2005 |
n.a. |
|
Corangamite 1953 |
-6.5 |
|
Griffith 2014 |
+1.3 |
|
Lang 1953 |
-2.5 |
|
Canning 2015 |
-6.6 |
|
Gwydir 1953 |
-0.4 |
|
North Sydney 2015 |
n.a. |
|
Cook 1955 |
n.a. |
|
New England 2017 |
+7.2 |
|
Cunningham 1956 |
n.a. |
|
Bennelong 2017 |
-4.8 |
|
Barker 1956 |
-9.9 |
|
Batman 2018 |
n.a. |
|
Wentworth 1956 |
n.a. |
|
Braddon 2018 |
-0.1 |
|
Richmond 1957 |
n.a. |
|
Fremantle 2018 |
n.a. |
|
Parramatta 1958 |
-6.4 |
|
Longman 2018 |
-3.7 |
|
Hunter 1960 |
n.a. |
|
Perth 2018 |
n.a. |
|
La Trobe 1960 |
-7.5 |
|
Mayo 2018 |
-0.7 |
|
Balaclava 1960 |
-4.6 |
|
Wentworth 2018 |
-7.0 |
|
Bendigo |
+0.1 |
|
|
|
|
n.a. not applicable |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Personal and political matters
A stark listing of 158 electoral
contests can disguise the fact that many of them involved noteworthy personal
and political matters that are part of Australia’s political history.[19]
Some of these are referred to below.
The changing of the old guard
A number of members were senior politicians at state level
before they entered the federal Parliament, with this latter service being the
swan-song for a number of them:
-
the death on 8 August 1901 of William Groom (Darling Downs 1901),
the only convict to enter the Parliament, caused the first Commonwealth
by-election to be held less than six months after the opening of Parliament and
- three Constitution-drafters died in the first decade after
Federation, prompting by-elections: Edward Braddon (Wilmot 1904), Charles
Cameron Kingston (Adelaide 1908) and Frederick Holder (Wakefield 1909). By contrast,
John Forrest (Swan 1918), had enjoyed a much longer Commonwealth career, which
included several ministries, with four periods as treasurer.
Future prime ministers
Seven future Prime Ministers entered the House of
Representatives via by-elections. For Stanley Melbourne Bruce (Flinders 1918),
Harold Holt (Fawkner 1935), Arthur Fadden (Darling Downs 1936), Gough Whitlam
(Werriwa 1952) and Tony Abbott (Warringah 1994) this saw their entry into
Parliament for the first time. James Scullin (Yarra 1922) had already served a
term during 1910–1913, while John Gorton (Higgins 1968) had recently retired
from the Senate.
The exiting of prime ministers
The exiting from Parliament of 17 of the 30 MPs who have
held the office of Prime Minister has been the trigger for a by-election:
- in two cases (Wilmot 1939 and Fremantle 1945) the by-election
followed the death of the Prime Minister while in office—Joe Lyons and John
Curtin, respectively
- the by-election in Higgins in 1968 was caused by the
disappearance, while swimming off Cheviot Beach in Victoria, of Prime Minister
Harold Holt
- although Ben Chifley (Macquarie 1951) and William ‘Billy’ Hughes
(Bradfield 1952) remained in Parliament after losing office, both died while
still MPs causing by-elections
- some early Prime Ministers resigned from Parliament to assume
other positions. Andrew Fisher (Wide Bay 1915) and Joseph Cook (Parramatta
1921) both became Australian High Commissioner in London. Stanley Melbourne
Bruce had lost his seat in 1929, returned to the House in 1931, and left Parliament
for good when he was appointed as Resident Minister in London (Flinders 1933) and
-
since the departure of Robert Menzies (Kooyong 1966) only three
former Prime Ministers have not caused a by-election by their departure from
the House of Representatives—John Gorton (who unsuccessfully stood as an
independent for the Senate in 1975), John Howard (who lost his seat in 2007)
and Julia Gillard (who retired just prior to the 2013 election). The
exceptional circumstances surrounding Harold Holt (Higgins 1968) is mentioned
above. John McEwen (Murray 1971), William McMahon (Lowe 1982) and Gough Whitlam
(Werriwa 1978) all remained in Parliament for a time after ceasing to be Prime
Minister before resigning from the House. By contrast, Malcolm Fraser (Wannon
1983), Bob Hawke (Wills 1992), Paul Keating (Blaxland 1996), Kevin Rudd
(Griffith 2014) —Kevin Rudd’s resignation came after his loss of office for the
second time—and, most recently, Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth 2018) all resigned
their seats very soon after their loss of office.
Future leaders of the Opposition
Seven future leaders of the Opposition have been elected to
the House of Representatives at by-elections: Stanley Melbourne Bruce (Flinders
1918), James Scullin (Yarra 1922), Arthur Fadden (Darling Downs 1936), Gough
Whitlam (Werriwa 1952) and Tony Abbott (Warringah 1994), who all went on to
become Prime Minister, and Andrew Peacock (Kooyong 1966) and Mark Latham
(Werriwa 1994).
The exiting of leaders of the Opposition
Of the sixteen leaders of the Opposition who have not become
Prime Minister, the passing from Parliament of eight has caused a by-election:
- Frank Tudor (Yarra 1922) died in office and
- Herbert Vere Evatt (Hunter 1960), Billy Snedden (Bruce 1983),
Bill Hayden (Oxley 1988), Andrew Peacock (Kooyong 1994), John Hewson (Wentworth
1995), Mark Latham (Werriwa 2005) and Brendan Nelson (Bradfield 2009) all left
Parliament between general elections.
Family matters
Occasionally retiring MPs have been replaced by family
members. In five by-elections such a generational transfer has been from father
to son:
- four were caused by death—Littleton Groom replaced William Groom
(Darling Downs 1901), Bernard Corser replaced Edward Corser (Wide Bay 1928),
David Oliver Watkins replaced David Watkins (Newcastle 1935) and Doug Anthony
replaced Larry Anthony (Richmond 1957) and
- the fifth father to son replacement was when Harry Jenkins senior
became Ambassador to Spain in 1986. He was replaced by Harry Jenkins junior
(Scullin 1986).
In two cases the family transfer has been from uncle to nephew:
- Herbert Pratten to Frederick Pratten (Martin 1928) and David
Riordan to William Riordan (Kennedy 1936).
The retirements of both Alexander Downer senior (Angas 1964)
and Alexander Downer junior (Mayo 2008) were both the occasion for a
by-election to be held. Georgina Downer, the daughter of Alexander Downer
junior, contested a by-election in the same seat (Mayo 2018), however, she was
unsuccessful.
Famous entries into the House
of Representatives
Some MPs have achieved a national prominence prior to their
election to the House of Representatives via a by-election:
- William Spence (Darwin 1917) had been a co-founder and long-time
President of the Australian Workers' Union
- successive Queensland Labor Premiers, Thomas Joseph Ryan (1915–1919)
and Edward Theodore (1919–1925) entered the House of Representatives as MPs for
New South Wales seats—Ryan in 1921 for West Sydney, and Theodore for Dalley in
1925
- Archie Grenfell Price (Boothby 1941), Master of St Mark's
College, University of Adelaide, was a noted Australian geographer
- Garfield Barwick KC (Parramatta 1958) was a leading Australian
barrister
- John Gorton (Higgins 1968), former prominent member of the
Senate, entered the House following his replacement of Harold Holt as Prime
Minister
- Steele Hall (Boothby 1981) had been Premier of South Australia
1968–1970, as well as a Senator for South Australia
- Carmen Lawrence (Fremantle 1994) had been Premier of Western
Australia 1990–1993. Lawrence's success was the first by-election victory by a
woman candidate
- Ged Kearney (Batman 2018) had been Federal Secretary of the
Australian Nursing Federation 2008–2010 and President of the Australian Council
of Trade Unions 2010–2018 and
- Kerryn Phelps (Wentworth 2018) is a Member of the Order of
Australia (2011) and has been awarded the Centenary Medal (in 2001 for services
to health and medicine). As well as a regular media commentator and author, she
had been President of the Australian Medical Association 2000–2003—the first
woman to do so—and Deputy Lord Mayor of the Sydney City Council 2016–2017.
Kicked upstairs?
Many MPs have been appointed to prominent positions, thus
ending their parliamentary careers. Some have seen this as an ideal way in
which to leave the political hurly-burly, while for others there has been a
suggestion that this was a means to push a potential leadership contender out
of the picture:
- by-elections were caused when Paul Hasluck (Curtin 1969) and Bill
Hayden (Oxley 1988) accepted the office of Governor-General
- Charles Abbott (Gwydir 1937) and Roger Dean (Robertson 1964) were
both appointed Administrator of the Northern Territory, while Alex Wilson
(Wimmera 1946) was appointed Administrator of Norfolk Island
- some sudden departures have been caused by appointment to the
judiciary. Edward McTiernan (Parkes 1931) and Garfield Barwick (Parramatta
1964) joined the High Court. Supreme Court appointments have also been made:
William Irvine (Flinders 1918) in Victoria, Herbert Vere Evatt (Hunter 1960) in
New South Wales, and Percy Joske (Balaclava 1960) in the Australian Capital
Territory. Bob Ellicott (Wentworth 1981) was appointed to the Federal Court,
while Nigel Bowen (Parramatta 1973) joined the New South Wales Court of Appeal
- by far the most-used diplomatic position for appointments of
former MPs has been the High Commissioner position in London, with the
appointment of eight former members forcing by-elections. Former Prime
Ministers Fisher (Wide Bay 1915) and Cook (Parramatta 1921) began the list,
followed by Granville Ryrie (Warringah 1927), Thomas White (Balaclava 1951),
Eli James Harrison (Wentworth 1956), Alexander Downer senior (Angas 1964), Vic
Garland (Curtin 1981) and Neal Blewett (Bonython 1994)
- various other members have accepted ambassadorships and other high
commissions: Richard Casey (Corio 1940) and Howard Beale (Parramatta 1958) Ambassadors
to the USA, Hugh Roberton (Riverina 1965) Ambassador to Ireland, Hubert
Opperman (Corio 1967) High Commissioner to Malta, Lance Barnard (Bass 1975) Ambassador
to Norway, Finland and Sweden, Les Johnson (Hughes 1984) High Commissioner to
New Zealand, Harry Jenkins senior (Scullin 1986) Ambassador to Spain and
Brendan Nelson (Bradfield 2009) Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the
European Union and
- other unusual official appointments include Archibald Ian Allan
(Gwydir 1969) to the Secretary-Generalship of the Commonwealth War Graves
Commission, Alexander Downer junior (Mayo 2008) moved to the position of United
Nations Special Envoy for Cyprus, and Brendan Nelson (Bradfield 2009) to the
positions of Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and Special
Representative to the World Health Organisation (in conjunction with his ambassadorship).
A matter of treason
On 7 November 1920 Hugh Mahon chaired a public meeting in
Melbourne sponsored by the Irish Ireland League and, in a speech attacking the
British presence in Ireland, spoke of ‘this bloody and accursed Empire’. His
expulsion from the House of Representatives four days later for his ‘seditious
and disloyal utterances’ was due to the House finding that he had been ‘guilty
of conduct unfitting him to remain a member of this House’. Mahon's is the only
expulsion to have occurred from the Parliament, and it forced a by-election
(Kalgoorlie 1920) which he contested but lost.[20]
The House of Representatives lost the power to expel members with the passage
of the Parliamentary Privileges Act 1987. [21]
By-elections that caused ripples
Occasionally by-elections can be seen as having an
importance beyond the immediate contest to fill a vacancy in the House of
Representatives.
Some were a sign of things to come electorally:
- the by-election (Bass 1975) to replace Deputy Prime Minister
Lance Barnard gave a very clear indication of the decline in popularity of the
Whitlam Government that was confirmed in the December 1975 election[22]
and
- the by-election to replace former Hawke and Keating Minister, Ros
Kelly (Canberra 1995), presaged the Keating Government's defeat in the March
1996 election.[23]
Other by-elections have had a different type of political
impact:
- in late 1939, coalition negotiations between the United Australia
Party and the Country Party broke down over Prime Minister Menzies’ insistence
on his right to choose all ministers. The 1940 Corio by-election to fill the
place of Richard Casey unexpectedly produced a Labor victory. According to
former Country Party leader Earle Page this was instrumental in Menzies'
weakening his stance and offering five Cabinet positions to the Country Party,
with the leader of each party to choose his own party's representatives[24]
- the Dawson by-election of 26 February 1966 was fought largely for
Labor by the candidate, Rex Patterson, and the party's deputy leader, Gough
Whitlam. The national leader, Arthur Calwell, was convinced that Labor could
not win and took little part. To the surprise of many, Patterson was
successful. Whitlam was due to come before the Federal Executive of the ALP on
2 March to face possible disciplinary treatment, possibly even expulsion.
According to Graham Freudenberg, the last-minute change of stance of the
Queensland delegates, grateful to Whitlam for the Dawson result, saved his
position—and possibly his political career[25]
- Labor’s failure to win the seat of Flinders in a by-election of
late 1982 was said to have had a double impact. Bill Hayden’s position as Labor
leader became increasingly insecure, while Prime Minister Fraser apparently
became convinced of the need for an early election before there was any chance
of Hayden’s replacement by Bob Hawke. The consequential replacement of Hayden
and the announcement of an early election on the same day were thus intimately
connected with the by-election's outcome[26]
- during 1993–1994 much media discussion focussed on the
possibility of Senator Bronwyn Bishop eventually assuming the leadership of the
Liberal Party. When the seat of Mackellar fell vacant in 1994 Bishop secured
Liberal preselection in an apparent move to clear the way for a push to the
leadership. Labor did not contest the by-election and Bishop’s main rival was
the writer, Bob Ellis, standing as an independent. Although Bishop won the seat
comfortably with 52.2 per cent of first preferences, the Liberal first
preference vote had fallen by 4.4 per cent. Although this was hardly a major
loss of votes, her failure to increase her vote in the absence of a Labor
candidate was considered enough to end any chance she may have had for the
Liberals' top job. As fellow Liberal, Peter Reith, put it, ‘Most people within
the parliamentary party were of the opinion that Bronwyn didn't have any votes
within the parliamentary party ... if she didn’t have many before Saturday [that
is, the by-election], she hasn’t got any more today and [27]
- the deposing of Malcolm Turnbull as Prime Minister by his party
in August 2018 saw Turnbull resign from Parliament causing a by-election in the
seat of Wentworth. With the Coalition only having a one seat majority in the
House of Representatives the outcome was potentially very significant. The
resulting defeat of the Liberal Party by high profile independent candidate,
Kerryn Phelps, produced a hung parliament for the newly elected Prime Minister,
Scott Morrison.
By-elections and section 44 of the Constitution:
- the Lindsay by-election in late 1996 was the result of Liberal
member, Jackie Kelly, being found ineligible by the Court of Disputed Returns
under section 44(iv)—at the time of nomination for the 1996 federal election Ms
Kelly was a serving officer in the RAAF. She was also alleged to be a dual
citizen (New Zealand) but this was not needed to be tested by the Court as she
had already been found ineligible. Jackie Kelly recontested and was returned to
Parliament
- the latter half of 2017 appeared predominantly devoted to section
44(i), and the eligibility of many parliamentarians—both senators and members—to
sit in their respective chambers because of dual citizenship was brought into
question. Two Coalition members failed this eligibility resulting in
by-elections which threatened to overturn the Government’s one seat majority. Deputy
Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce (New England, NP) was found by the Court of
Disputed Returns to also be a New Zealand citizen while John Alexander (Bennelong,
LP) resigned after having his dual citizenship confirmed by British
authorities. A further member, David Feeney (Batman, ALP), was referred by his
own party to the High Court for a ruling in early 2018. The Labor party and
crossbenchers’ attempt to refer a total of nine members—four Labor, four
Liberal and one from the Nick Xenophon Team—was defeated by the casting vote of
the Speaker of the House, Tony Smith.[28]
With the citizenship declarations by all Parliamentarians in December 2017 not
clarifying the dual citizenship ‘crisis’, the distinct possibility of further
by-elections before the next election was realised
- David Feeney (Batman, ALP) resigned before the High Court could
rule on his citizenship status. The ALP held Batman by only a 1.0 per cent
margin from the Greens. The Liber
- al Party chose not to field a candidate seemingly giving the
Greens a good chance of winning. However, a swing of 3.4 per cent to the ALP saw
it retain Batman and
-
in May 2018 the Court of Disputed Returns found that Senator Katy
Gallagher had, in effect, not taken reasonable steps to renounce her British
citizenship. Therefore, at the time of her nomination for the 2016 election she
was a dual citizen and, under section 44(i) of the Constitution,
ineligible to be elected.[29]
This finding had direct ramifications for four Members of the House—Justine
Keay (Braddon, ALP), Susan Lamb (Longman, ALP), Rebekha Sharkie (Mayo, Centre
Alliance) and Josh Wilson (Fremantle, ALP)—who all resigned. When Tim Hammond
(Perth, ALP) resigned for personal reasons, five by-elections were held on
‘Super Saturday’ 28 July 2018. Although three of the seats (Braddon, Longman
and Fremantle) were marginal Labor seats, the Liberals chose not to contest
Fremantle or to contest the other seat in Western Australia (Perth). History
was against the Liberal government winning seats from Labor but Prime Minister
Malcolm Turnbull said the results, inter alia, would be a test of his
and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten’s leaderships.[30]
In the end, Labor retained all its seats and increased its margins in Braddon
and Longman, while Rebekha Sharkie in Mayo increased her margin by 2.6 per cent
over the Liberals’ high profile candidate, Georgina Downer. The poor
performance of the Liberals in the seats they contested—especially in Longman
which had a 9.4 per cent swing against it on first preferences—was reportedly one
factor in prompting the move that eventually deposed Malcolm Turnbull as Prime
Minister on 24 August 2018.
Voided elections
Some by-elections have been caused by the voiding of
particular results after a general election: Melbourne and Riverina in 1904,
Echuca 1907, Ballaarat 1920, Lindsay 1996 and New England 2017.
Potentially, six other by-elections could have been brought
about by voiding general election results under section 44(i) of the Constitution—Bennelong
2017, Batman 2018, Braddon 2018, Fremantle 2018, Longman 2018 and Mayo 2018—but
the early resignations of the respective members avoided the need for referral
to the High Court.
The Wills by-election of 1992 was itself voided, but another
by-election was not held because of the proximity of the next general election.
Appendix 1: House of Representatives by-elections, 1901–2018
No. |
Date |
Division |
Member Elected |
Previous Member |
Reason for
Vacancy
|
1 |
14.09.01 |
Darling Downs (Qld) |
Groom LE (Prot) |
Groom WH (Prot) |
Died |
2 |
26.03.02 |
Tasmania |
Hartnoll W (FT) |
Piesse FW (FT) |
Died |
3 |
04.09.03 |
East Sydney (NSW) |
Reid GH (FT) |
Reid GH (FT) |
Resigned in protest against rejection of proposals
for redistribution of NSW. |
4 |
26.02.04 |
Wilmot (Tas) |
Cameron DN (FT) |
Braddon ENC (FT) |
Died |
5 |
30.03.04 |
Melbourne (Vic) |
Maloney WRN (ALP) |
McEacharn MD (Prot) |
Election voided |
6 |
18.05.04 |
Riverina (NSW) |
Chanter JM (Prot) |
Blackwood RO (FT) |
Election voided |
7 |
10.07.07 |
Echuca (Vic) |
Palmer AC (Prot) |
Palmer AC (Prot) |
Election voided |
8 |
13.06.08 |
Adelaide (SA) |
Roberts EA (ALP) |
Kingston CC (Prot) |
Died |
9 |
28.08.09 |
Wakefield (SA) |
Foster RW (AntiSoc) |
Holder FW (AntiSoc) |
Died |
10 |
24.08.10 |
Kooyong (Vic) |
Best RW (Lib) |
Knox W (Lib) |
Resigned |
11 |
08.02.11 |
Batman (Vic) |
Brennan F (ALP) |
Beard HE (ALP) |
Died |
12 |
11.03.11 |
North Sydney (NSW) |
Ryrie GdeL (Lib) |
Edwards GB (Lib) |
Died |
13 |
11.11.11 |
Boothby (SA) |
Gordon DJ (Lib) |
Batchelor EL (ALP) |
Died |
14 |
01.06.12 |
Werriwa (NSW) |
Bennett BH (ALP) |
Hall DR (ALP) |
Resigned. Appointed MLC (NSW). |
15 |
22.12.13 |
Kalgoorlie (WA) |
Mahon H (ALP) |
Frazer CE (ALP) |
Died |
16 |
10.01.14 |
Adelaide (SA) |
Yates GE (ALP) |
Roberts EA (ALP) |
Died |
17 |
06.02.15 |
Bendigo (Vic) |
Hampson AJ (ALP) |
Arthur JA (ALP) |
Died |
18 |
20.02.15 |
Grampians (Vic) |
Salmon CC (Lib) |
Jolly EFG (ALP) |
Died |
19 |
06.05.15 |
Dalley (NSW) |
Mahony WG (ALP) |
Howe R (ALP) |
Died |
20 |
11.12.15 |
Wide Bay (Qld) |
Corser EBC (Lib) |
Fisher A (ALP) |
Resigned. Appointed Australian High Commissioner to
Great Britain. |
21 |
30.06.17 |
Darwin (Tas) |
Spence WG (Nat) |
Howroyd CR (Nat) |
Died |
22 |
27.10.17 |
Grampians (Vic) |
Jowett E (Nat) |
Salmon CC (Lib) |
Died |
23 |
11.05.18 |
Flinders (Vic) |
Bruce SM (Nat) |
Irvine WH (Nat) |
Resigned. Appointed Victorian Supreme Court. |
24 |
26.10.18 |
Swan (WA) |
Corboy EW (ALP) |
Forrest J (Nat) |
Died |
25 |
14.12.18 |
Corangamite (Vic) |
Gibson WG (VFU) |
Manifold JC (Nat) |
Died |
26 |
20.09.19 |
Echuca (Vic) |
Hill WC (VFU) |
Palmer AC (Nat) |
Died |
27 |
10.07.20 |
Ballaarat (Vic) |
McGrath DC (ALP) |
Kerby ETJ (Nat) |
Election voided |
28 |
18.12.20 |
Kalgoorlie (WA) |
Foley GJ (Nat) |
Mahon H (ALP) |
Expelled |
29 |
30.07.21 |
Maranoa (Qld) |
Hunter JAJ (CP) |
Page J (ALP) |
Died |
30 |
03.09.21 |
West Sydney (NSW) |
Lambert WH (ALP) |
Ryan TJ (ALP) |
Died |
31 |
10.12.21 |
Parramatta (NSW) |
Pratten HE (Nat) |
Cook J (Nat) |
Resigned. Appointed Australian High Commissioner to
Great Britain. |
32 |
18.02.22 |
Yarra (Vic) |
Scullin JH (ALP) |
Tudor FG (ALP) |
Died |
33 |
06.03.26 |
Eden-Monaro (NSW) |
Perkins JA (Nat) |
Chapman A (Nat) |
Died |
34 |
26.02.27 |
Dalley (NSW) |
Theodore EG (ALP) |
Mahony WG (ALP) |
Resigned |
35 |
21.05.27 |
Warringah (NSW) |
Parkhill RA (Nat) |
Ryrie GdeL (Nat) |
Resigned. Appointed High Commissioner to Great
Britain. |
36 |
16.06.28 |
Martin (NSW) |
Pratten FG (Nat) |
Pratten HE (Nat) |
Died |
37 |
03.09.28 |
Wide Bay (Qld) |
Corser BH (CP) |
Corser EBC (Nat) |
Died |
38 |
03.08.29 |
Balaclava (Vic) |
White TW (Nat) |
Watt WA (Nat) |
Resigned |
39 |
14.12.29 |
Franklin (Tas) |
Frost CW (ALP) |
McWilliams WJ (Ind) |
Died |
40 |
31.01.31 |
Parkes (NSW) |
Marr CWC (Nat) |
McTiernan EA (ALP) |
Resigned. Appointed to High Court. |
41 |
07.03.31 |
East Sydney (NSW) |
Ward EJ (ALP) |
West JE (ALP) |
Died |
42 |
06.02.32 |
East Sydney (NSW) |
Ward EJ (LLab) |
Clasby JJ (UAP) |
Died |
43 |
11.11.33 |
Flinders (Vic) |
Fairbairn JV (UAP) |
Bruce SM (UAP) |
Resigned. Appointed Resident Minister in London. |
44 |
01.06.35 |
Newcastle (NSW) |
Watkins DO (FLP) |
Watkins D (FLP) |
Died |
45 |
17.08.35 |
Fawkner (Vic) |
Holt HE (UAP) |
Maxwell GA (UAP) |
Died |
46 |
12.12.36 |
Kennedy (Qld) |
Riordan WJF (FLP) |
Riordan D (FLP) |
Died |
47 |
19.12.36 |
Darling Downs (Qld) |
Fadden AW (CP) |
Groom LE (UAP) |
Died |
48 |
08.05.37 |
Gwydir (NSW) |
Scully WJ (ALP) |
Abbott CLA (CP) |
Resigned. Appointed Administrator of Northern
Territory. |
49 |
10.12.38 |
Wakefield (SA) |
McHugh S (ALP) |
Hawker CAS (UAP) |
Died |
50 |
20.05.39 |
Griffith (Qld) |
Conelan WP (ALP) |
Baker FMJ (FLP) |
Died |
51 |
27.05.39 |
Wilmot (Tas) |
Spurr LT (ALP) |
Lyons JA (UAP) |
Died |
52 |
02.03.40 |
Corio (Vic) |
Dedman JJ (ALP) |
Casey RG (UAP) |
Resigned. Appointed Australian Ambassador to United
States of America. |
53 |
16.11.40 |
Kalgoorlie (WA) |
Johnson HV (ALP) |
Green AE (ALP) |
Died |
54 |
21.12.40 |
Swan (WA) |
Marwick TW (CP) |
Gregory H (CP) |
Died |
55 |
24.05.41 |
Boothby (SA) |
Price AG (UAP) |
Price JL (UAP) |
Died |
56 |
18.08.45 |
Fremantle (WA) |
Beazley KE (ALP) |
Curtin J (ALP) |
Died |
57 |
09.02.46 |
Wimmera (Vic) |
Turnbull WG (CP) |
Wilson A (CP) |
Resigned. Appointed Administrator of Norfolk Island. |
58 |
30.03.46 |
Henty (Vic) |
Gullett HBS (Lib) |
Coles AW (Ind) |
Resigned |
59 |
28.07.51 |
Balaclava (Vic) |
Joske PE (LP) |
White TW (LP) |
Resigned. Appointed High Commissioner to Great
Britain. |
60 |
28.07.51 |
Macquarie (NSW) |
Luchetti AS (ALP) |
Chifley JB (ALP) |
Died |
61 |
22.03.52 |
Lyne (NSW) |
Lucock PE (CP) |
Eggins EJ (CP) |
Died |
62 |
18.10.52 |
Flinders (Vic) |
Ewert KWW (ALP) |
Ryan RS (LP) |
Died |
63 |
29.11.52 |
Werriwa (NSW) |
Whitlam EG (ALP) |
Lazzarini HP (ALP) |
Died |
64 |
20.12.52 |
Bradfield (NSW) |
Turner HB (LP) |
Hughes WM (LP) |
Died |
65 |
09.05.53 |
Dalley (NSW) |
Greenup AE (ALP) |
Rosevear JS (ALP) |
Died |
66 |
29.08.53 |
Corangamite (Vic) |
Mackinnon ED (LP) |
McDonald AM (LP) |
Died |
67 |
29.08.53 |
Lang (NSW) |
Stewart FE (ALP) |
Mulcahy D (ALP) |
Died |
68 |
19.12.53 |
Gwydir (NSW) |
Allan AI (CP) |
Treloar TJ (CP) |
Died |
69 |
21.05.55 |
Cook (NSW) |
Cope JF (ALP) |
Sheehan T (ALP) |
Died |
70 |
11.04.56 |
Cunningham (NSW) |
Kearney VD (ALP) |
Davies W (ALP) |
Died |
71 |
13.10.56 |
Barker (SA) |
Forbes AJ (LP) |
Cameron AG (LP) |
Died |
72 |
08.12.56 |
Wentworth (NSW) |
Bury LHE (LP) |
Harrison EJ (LP) |
Resigned. Appointed High Commissioner to Great
Britain. |
73 |
14.09.57 |
Richmond (NSW) |
Anthony JD (CP) |
Anthony HL (CP) |
Died |
74 |
08.03.58 |
Parramatta (NSW) |
Barwick GEJ (LP) |
Beale OH (LP) |
Resigned. Appointed Ambassador to USA. |
75 |
09.04.60 |
Hunter (NSW) |
James AW (ALP) |
Evatt HV (ALP) |
Resigned. Appointed NSW Supreme Court. |
76 |
09.04.60 |
La Trobe (Vic) |
Jess JD (LP) |
Casey RG (LP) |
Resigned |
77 |
16.07.60 |
Balaclava (Vic) |
Whittorn RH (LP) |
Joske PE (LP) |
Resigned. Appointed Commonwealth Industrial Court. |
78 |
16.07.60 |
Bendigo (Vic) |
Beaton NL (ALP) |
Clarey PJ (ALP) |
Died |
79 |
05.11.60 |
Calare (NSW) |
England JA (CP) |
Howse JB (LP) |
Resigned |
80 |
10.12.60 |
Higinbotham (Vic) |
Chipp DL (LP) |
Timson TF (LP) |
Died |
81 |
01.09.62 |
Batman (Vic) |
Benson SJ (ALP) |
Bird AC (ALP) |
Died |
82 |
01.06.63 |
Grey (SA) |
Mortimer J (ALP) |
Russell EHD (ALP) |
Died |
83 |
28.09.63 |
East Sydney (NSW) |
Devine LT (ALP) |
Ward EJ (ALP) |
Died |
84 |
15.02.64 |
Denison (Tas) |
Gibson A (LP) |
Townley AG (LP) |
Died |
85 |
20.06.64 |
Angas (SA) |
Giles GO (LP) |
Downer AR (LP) |
Resigned. Appointed High Commissioner to Great
Britain. |
86 |
20.06.64 |
Parramatta (NSW) |
Bowen NH (LP) |
Barwick GEJ (LP) |
Resigned. Appointed to High Court. |
87 |
05.12.64 |
Robertson (NSW) |
Bridges-Maxwell CW (LP) |
Dean RL (LP) |
Resigned. Appointed Administrator of NT. |
88 |
27.02.65 |
Riverina (NSW) |
Armstrong AA (CP) |
Roberton HS (CP) |
Resigned. Appointed Ambassador to Ireland. |
89 |
26.02.66 |
Dawson (Qld) |
Patterson RA (ALP) |
Shaw GW (CP) |
Died |
90 |
02.04.66 |
Kooyong (Vic) |
Peacock AS (LP) |
Menzies RG (LP) |
Resigned |
91 |
22.07.67 |
Corio (Vic) |
Scholes GGD (ALP) |
Opperman HF (LP) |
Resigned. Appointed High Commissioner to Malta. |
92 |
30.09.67 |
Capricornia (Qld) |
Everingham DN (ALP) |
Gray GH (ALP) |
Died |
93 |
24.02.68 |
Higgins (Vic) |
Gorton JG (LP) |
Holt HE (LP) |
Presumed dead |
94 |
19.04.69 |
Curtin (WA) |
Garland RV (LP) |
Hasluck PM (LP) |
Resigned. Appointed Governor-General. |
95 |
07.06.69 |
Bendigo (Vic) |
Kennedy AD (ALP) |
Beaton NL (ALP) |
Resigned |
96 |
07.06.69 |
Gwydir (NSW) |
Hunt RJD (CP) |
Allan AI (CP) |
Resigned. Appointed Secretary-General Commonwealth
War Graves Commission. |
97 |
30.05.70 |
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) |
Enderby KE (ALP) |
Fraser JR (ALP) |
Died |
98 |
19.09.70 |
Chisholm (Vic) |
Staley AA (LP) |
Kent Hughes WS (LP) |
Died |
99 |
20.03.71 |
Murray (Vic) |
Lloyd EB (CP) |
McEwen J (CP) |
Resigned |
100 |
22.09.73 |
Parramatta (NSW) |
Ruddock PM (LP) |
Bowen NH (LP) |
Resigned. Appointed to NSW Court of Appeal. |
101 |
28.06.75 |
Bass (Tas) |
Newman KE (LP) |
Barnard LH (ALP) |
Resigned. Appointed Ambassador to Norway, Finland and
Sweden. |
102 |
15.10.77 |
Cunningham (NSW) |
West SJ (ALP) |
Connor RFX (ALP) |
Died |
103 |
23.09.78 |
Werriwa (NSW) |
Kerin JC (ALP) |
Whitlam EG (ALP) |
Resigned |
104 |
23.06.79 |
Grayndler (NSW) |
McLeay LB (ALP) |
Stewart FE (ALP) |
Died |
105 |
21.02.81 |
Boothby (SA) |
Hall S (LP) |
McLeay JE (LP) |
Resigned. Appointed Consul-General in Los Angeles. |
106 |
21.02.81 |
Curtin (WA) |
Rocher AC (LP) |
Garland RV (LP) |
Resigned. Appointed High Commissioner to Great Britain. |
107 |
21.02.81 |
McPherson (Qld) |
White PND (LP) |
Robinson EL (LP) |
Died |
108 |
11.04.81 |
Wentworth (NSW) |
Coleman WP (LP) |
Ellicott RJ (LP) |
Resigned. Appointed to Federal Court. |
109 |
13.03.82 |
Lowe (NSW) |
Maher MJ (ALP) |
McMahon W (LP) |
Resigned |
110 |
04.12.82 |
Flinders (Vic) |
Reith PK (LP) |
Lynch PR (LP) |
Resigned |
111 |
07.05.83 |
Wannon (Vic) |
Hawker DPM (LP) |
Fraser JM (LP) |
Resigned |
112 |
28.05.83 |
Bruce (Vic) |
Aldred KJ (LP) |
Snedden BM (LP) |
Resigned |
113 |
05.11.83 |
Moreton (Qld) |
Cameron DM (LP) |
Killen DJ (LP) |
Resigned |
114 |
18.02.84 |
Corangamite (Vic) |
McArthur FS (LP) |
Street AA (LP) |
Resigned |
115 |
18.02.84 |
Hughes (NSW) |
Tickner RE (ALP) |
Johnson LR (ALP) |
Resigned. Appointed High Commissioner to NZ. |
116 |
18.02.84 |
Richmond (NSW) |
Blunt CW (NP) |
Anthony JD (NP) |
Resigned |
117 |
08.02.86 |
Scullin (Vic) |
Jenkins HA (ALP) |
Jenkins HA (ALP) |
Resigned. Appointed Ambassador to Spain. |
118 |
06.02.88 |
Adelaide (SA) |
Pratt MP (LP) |
Hurford CJ (ALP) |
Resigned. Appointed Consul-General in New York. |
119 |
26.03.88 |
Port Adelaide (SA) |
Sawford RW (ALP) |
Young MJ (ALP) |
Resigned |
120 |
09.04.88 |
Groom (Qld) |
Taylor WL (LP) |
McVeigh DT (NP) |
Resigned |
121 |
08.10.88 |
Oxley (Qld) |
Scott LJ (ALP) |
Hayden WG (ALP) |
Resigned. Appointed Governor-General. |
122 |
15.04.89 |
Gwydir (NSW) |
Anderson JD (NP) |
Hunt RJD (NP) |
Resigned |
123 |
11.05.91 |
Menzies (Vic) |
Andrews KJ (LP) |
Brown NA (LP) |
Resigned |
124 |
11.04.92 |
Wills (Vic) |
Cleary PR (Ind) |
Hawke RJL (ALP) |
Resigned |
125 |
29.01.94 |
Werriwa (NSW) |
Latham M (ALP) |
Kerin JC (ALP) |
Resigned |
126 |
12.03.94 |
Fremantle (WA) |
Lawrence C (ALP) |
Dawkins J (ALP) |
Resigned |
127 |
19.03.94 |
Bonython (SA) |
Evans M (ALP) |
Blewett N (ALP) |
Resigned. Appointed High Commissioner to the UK. |
128 |
26.03.94 |
Mackellar (NSW) |
Bishop B (LP) |
Carlton J (LP) |
Resigned |
129 |
26.03.94 |
Warringah (NSW) |
Abbott T (LP) |
MacKellar M (LP) |
Resigned |
130 |
19.11.94 |
Kooyong (Vic) |
Georgiou P (LP) |
Peacock AS (LP) |
Resigned |
131 |
25.03.95 |
Canberra (ACT) |
Smyth B (LP) |
Kelly R (ALP) |
Resigned |
132 |
08.04.95 |
Wentworth (NSW) |
Thomson A (LP) |
Hewson J (LP) |
Resigned |
133 |
15.06.96 |
Blaxland (NSW) |
Hatton M (ALP) |
Keating P (ALP) |
Resigned |
134 |
19.10.96 |
Lindsay (NSW) |
Kelly J (LP) |
Kelly J (LP) |
Election voided |
135 |
01.02.97 |
Fraser (ACT) |
Dargavel S (ALP) |
Langmore J (ALP) |
Resigned |
136 |
06.11.99 |
Holt (Vic) |
Byrne A (ALP) |
Evans G (ALP) |
Resigned |
137 |
12.08.00 |
Isaacs (Vic) |
Corcoran A (ALP) |
Wilton G (ALP) |
Died |
138 |
17.03.01 |
Ryan (Qld) |
Short L (ALP) |
Moore J (LP) |
Resigned |
139 |
14.07.01 |
Aston (Vic) |
Pearce C (LP) |
Nugent P (LP) |
Died |
140 |
19.10.02 |
Cunningham (NSW) |
Organ M (Grn) |
Martin S (ALP) |
Resigned |
141 |
19.05.05 |
Werriwa (NSW) |
Hayes C (ALP) |
Latham M (ALP) |
Resigned |
142 |
28.06.08 |
Gippsland (Vic) |
Chester D (NP) |
McGauran P (NP) |
Resigned |
143 |
06.09.08 |
Lyne (NSW) |
Oakeshott R (Ind) |
Vaile M (NP) |
Resigned |
144 |
06.09.08 |
Mayo (SA) |
Briggs J (LP) |
Downer A (LP) |
Resigned |
145 |
05.12.09 |
Bradfield (NSW) |
Fletcher P (LP) |
Nelson B (LP) |
Resigned |
146 |
05.12.09 |
Higgins (Vic) |
O’Dwyer K (LP) |
Costello P (LP) |
Resigned |
147 |
08.02.14 |
Griffith (Qld) |
Butler T (ALP) |
Rudd K (ALP) |
Resigned |
148 |
19.09.15 |
Canning (WA) |
Hastie A (LP) |
Randall D (LP) |
Died |
149 |
05.12.15 |
North Sydney (NSW) |
Zimmerman T (LP) |
Hockey J (LP) |
Resigned |
150 |
02.12.17 |
New England (NSW) |
Joyce B (NP) |
Joyce B (NP) |
Election voided |
151 |
16.12.17 |
Bennelong (NSW) |
Alexander J (LP) |
Alexander J (LP) |
Resigned |
152 |
17.03.18 |
Batman (Vic) |
Kearney G (ALP) |
Feeney D (ALP) |
Resigned |
153 |
28.07.18 |
Braddon (Tas) |
Keay J (ALP) |
Keay J (ALP) |
Resigned |
154 |
28.07.18 |
Fremantle (WA) |
Wilson J (ALP) |
Wilson J (ALP) |
Resigned |
155 |
28.07.18 |
Longman (Qld) |
Lamb S (ALP) |
Lamb S (ALP) |
Resigned |
156 |
28.07.18 |
Perth (WA) |
Gorman P (ALP) |
Hammond T (ALP) |
Resigned |
157 |
28.07.18 |
Mayo (SA) |
Sharkie R (CntreAll) |
Sharkie R (CntreAll) |
Resigned |
158 |
20.10.18 |
Wentworth (NSW) |
Turnbull M (LP) |
Phelps K (Ind) |
Resigned |
Note: Seats which changed party at a by-election are
highlighted. By the time of the Grampians by-election of 1917, the Liberal
Party had effectively been subsumed by the Nationalist Party. Hence, this
by-election is not regarded as an occasion when the division changed parties.
For votes received in each contest, see Appendix 2.
Appendix 3: Notes on Commonwealth by-elections, 1901–2018
1. Darling Downs 1901—the first by-election, which followed the
death of William Henry Groom, was won by his son, Littleton Ernest
Groom for the Protectionist Party from one other candidate, an Independent.
2. Tasmania 1902—this by-election was caused by the death of
Frederick Piesse. This has been the only by-election held at-large, due to the
first Tasmanian members being elected from the state as a whole rather than
from individual electorates.
3. East Sydney 1903—the sitting member, Sir George Reid, resigned in
protest against the proposals for the redistribution of New South Wales
divisions, forcing the by-election. Reid won the resulting by-election.
4. Wilmot 1904—former Tasmanian Premier and Constitution-writer,
Sir Edward Braddon, remains the oldest person elected to the House of
Representatives. He was 71 when first elected and 74 when he died, forcing this
by-election.
5. Melbourne 1904—by-election caused by the voiding of the general
election result on the grounds of irregularities by electoral officials. The
opposition Free Trade Party did not stand a candidate.
6. Riverina 1904—by-election caused by the voiding of the general
election result on the grounds of irregularities by electoral officials.
7. Echuca 1907—by-election caused by the voiding of the general
election result on the grounds of irregularities by electoral officials. The
Opposition did not contest the seat.
8. Adelaide 1908—death of former Premier and Constitution-writer,
Charles Cameron Kingston. Neither the Protectionist government nor the
Anti-Socialist opposition contested the seat won by the Labor Party.
9. Wakefield 1909—death of former Premier and Constitution-writer,
Sir Frederick Holder.
10. Kooyong 1910—the winner of this by-election, Sir Robert Best, had
been a Senator during the first decade until his defeat in 1910.
11. Batman 1911—well-known lawyer, Frank Brennan, won this seat for
the Labor Party.
12. North Sydney 1911—Major-General Sir Granville Ryrie, who had seen
military service in South Africa, at Gallipoli and in Egypt, won this seat for
the Liberal Party.
13. Boothby 1911—the Fisher Labor Government lost this seat to the
Liberal Party, but regained it at the 1913 general election.
14. Werriwa 1912—David Robert Hall resigned to take up an appointment
to the New South Wales Legislative Council.
15. Kalgoorlie 1913—the first by-election for which there was just a
single nomination. The Liberal government did not contest this seat won by
Labor.
16. Adelaide 1914—the winner of this by-election, George Yates, soon
left Australia to serve in the World War, though he retained his seat while he
did so.
17. Bendigo 1915—this by-election was caused by the death of the
Minister for External Affairs, John Arthur.
18. Grampians 1915—Sir Charles Salmon, second Speaker of the House of
Representatives (1909-10) returned to the Parliament at this by-election.
19. Dalley 1915—the death of Robert Howe, first secretary of the
Labor Federation of Australia caused this by-election. Not contested by the
Opposition, and only one candidate nominated.
20. Wide Bay 1915—former Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher, resigned to
take up an appointment as Australian High Commissioner to Great Britain. The
Labor Party lost the seat, which it did not win back until 1961.
21. Darwin 1917—former Tasmanian MHA, Charles Howroyd, died five days
after winning the seat at the 1917 general election.
22. Grampians 1917—Sir Charles Salmon's death caused this
by-election. He was replaced by Edmund Jowett, later elected first deputy
leader of the Country Party.
23. Flinders 1918—upon the appointment of Sir William Irvine as Chief
Justice of the Victorian Supreme Court, the by-election for his seat saw the
victory of future Prime Minister Stanley Bruce.
24. Swan 1918—by-election caused by the death of former Premier and Constitution-writer,
Sir John Forrest. The Nationalist Party failed to hold the seat after splitting
the conservative vote with the emerging Country Party, allowing the Labor Party
to win. The Country Party won this seat at the next general election. This was
the last election held using ‘first past the post’ voting.
25. Corangamite 1918—this by-election saw the first use of
preferential voting for a House election of any type. The Victorian Farmers'
Union won the seat from the Nationalists. The defeated Labor candidate was
future Prime Minister, James Scullin.
26. Echuca 1919—this seat was also won by the Victorian Farmers'
Union from the Nationalists. Not contested by the Opposition.
27. Ballaarat 1920—in the 1919 general election, Edwin Kerby had
defeated sitting member David McGrath by a single vote. Upon challenge, the
Court of Disputed Returns declared void the general election result on the
ground of irregularities by electoral officials. McGrath won the resulting
by-election.
28. Kalgoorlie 1920—Labor's Hugh Mahon remains the only member or
senator to be expelled. Although Mahon recontested for the Labor Party, the
Nationalist government won—the only time a government has taken a seat from the
opposition at a by-election. Labor won Kalgoorlie back at the 1922 general
election.
29. Maranoa 1921—the Country Party won its first by-election taking
the seat from the Labor Party.
30. West Sydney 1921—former Queensland Premier, Thomas Ryan, had been
invited by the ALP Conference to contest this New South Wales division at the
1919 general election. Less than two years later he died causing this
by-election.
31. Parramatta 1921—former Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Cook, caused
the by-election by accepting appointment as Australian High Commissioner to
Great Britain.
32. Yarra 1922—by-election caused by the death of the Labor Leader of
the Opposition, Frank Tudor. The by-election was won by future Prime Minister,
James Scullin.
33. Eden-Monaro 1926—this by-election was caused by the death of Sir
Austin Chapman, former Minister for Defence, Postmaster-General and Minister
for Trade and Customs.
34. Dalley 1927—by-election won by former Queensland Premier, Edward
Theodore.
35. Warringah 1927—by-election caused by the resignation of Sir
Granville Ryrie to accept the position of Australian High Commissioner to Great
Britain.
36. Martin 1928—Frederick Pratten replaced his uncle, the late
Herbert Pratten, in this by-election.
37. Wide Bay 1928—by-election in which Bernard Corser (CP) replaced
his father Edward Corser (Nat). Not contested by the Opposition, and only one
candidate nominated.
38. Balaclava 1929—by-election to replace William Watt, former
Victorian Premier, Commonwealth Treasurer and Speaker. His replacement was
(Sir) Thomas White, son-in-law of Alfred Deakin and later a Menzies Government
minister. Not contested by the Opposition.
39. Franklin 1929—by-election caused by death of the independent
William McWilliams, previously the first parliamentary leader of the Country
Party. His replacement, Charles Frost, was later a minister under both Prime
Ministers Curtin and Chifley.
40. Parkes 1931—by-election caused by the appointment of Edward
McTiernan to the High Court.
41. East Sydney 1931—by-election won by Edward Ward for the ALP. Ward
lost the seat to John Clasby (UAP) at the 1932 general election.
42. East Sydney 1932—sitting member John Clasby (UAP) died before
taking his seat and former member Edward Ward won the by-election, now as a
Lang Labor candidate. Ward is the only person to win two by-elections.
43. Flinders 1933—former Prime Minister, Stanley Bruce, caused the
by-election when he was appointed Resident Minister in England.
44. Newcastle 1935—by-election at which David Oliver Watkins replaced
his father, David Watkins.
45. Fawkner 1935—by-election won by future Prime Minister, Harold
Holt, for the UAP.
46. Kennedy 1936—by-election at which David Riordan replaced his
uncle, William Riordan.
47. Darling Downs 1936—by-election won by future Prime Minister and
Country Party leader, Arthur Fadden, for the Country Party.
48. Gwydir 1937—by-election following the appointment of Charles
Abbott to the position of Administrator of the Northern Territory. Three
Country Party candidates nominated.
49. Wakefield 1938—by-election at which the ALP won the seat from the
UAP, following the death of Charles Hawker in a plane crash. The UAP retained
the seat at the 1940 general election.
50. Griffith 1939—by-election following death of Francis Baker.
51. Wilmot 1939—by-election caused by the death of Prime Minister,
Joseph Lyons. The field included three UAP and two ALP candidates. The ALP won
the seat from the UAP, but lost it in the 1940 general election.
52. Corio 1940—John Dedman (ALP) won this seat from the UAP after
Richard Casey was appointed Australian Ambassador to the United States of
America.
53. Kalgoorlie 1940—by-election caused by the death of former
Minister for Defence, Albert Green.
54. Swan 1940—by-election won by former Senator Thomas Marwick.
55. Boothby 1941—by-election won by (Sir) Archie (Grenfell) Price,
Master of St Mark's College, University of Adelaide, and noted Australian
geographer. He was not related to his predecessor, John Price.
56. Fremantle 1945—by-election caused by the death of Prime Minister,
John Curtin. The by-election was won by Kim Beazley senior.
57. Wimmera 1946—after a battle between seven contenders, including
two from the Country Party and one described as 'Independent Country Party',
(Sir) Winton Turnbull narrowly won this by-election.
58. Henty 1946—by-election to replace Arthur Coles, former managing
director of GJ Coles & Co., Lord Mayor of Melbourne and independent,
who had shared the balance of power after the 1941 election with Alex Wilson.
This was the first by-election won by the re-formed Liberal Party. It was won
by Henry Gullett, son of Sir Henry who had held the seat between 1925 and 1940.
59. Balaclava 1951—Percy Joske retained this seat for the Liberal
Party following the appointment of Thomas White as High Commissioner in London.
60. Macquarie 1951—by-election held following the death of the former
Prime Minister, Ben Chifley. The ALP retained the seat despite a small (0.4 per
cent) swing to the LP/CP Coalition Government.
61. Lyne 1952—the Country Party, which stood two candidates in this
by-election, retained the seat with Phil Lucock the successful candidate
despite a large swing to the ALP (8.8 per cent).
62. Flinders 1952—the Liberal Party lost the seat to the ALP as the
result of a large (11.0 per cent) swing against the LP/CP Coalition Government.
The successful candidate, Keith Ewert, lost the seat at the next general
election.
63. Werriwa 1952—the ALP achieved its largest by-election swing in
the post-war period (12.4 per cent) at this by-election. The successful ALP
candidate was future Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam.
64. Bradfield 1952—no ALP candidate contested this safe Liberal seat,
previously held by former Prime Minister and longest serving member of the
House of Representatives, William ‘Billy’ Hughes.
65. Dalley 1953—the Liberal Party did not contest this safe ALP seat,
retained for the ALP by Arthur Greenup.
66. Corangamite 1953—Ewen Mackinnon retained this seat for the
Liberal Party despite a 6.5 per cent swing against the Coalition Government.
67. Lang 1953—Frederick Stewart retained this seat for the ALP
following the death of Daniel Mulcahy.
68. Gwydir 1953—two Country Party candidates contested this
by-election together with candidates from the ALP and Liberal Party. The seat
was won by the Country Party's Archibald Allan.
69. Cook 1955—the Liberal Party did not contest this safe ALP seat,
retained for Labor by Jim Cope. Typically of inner-city electorates there was a
low voter turnout (76.0 per cent) at this by-election.
70. Cunningham 1956—Victor Kearney retained this safe seat for the
ALP, in the only uncontested by-election since the Second World War.
71. Barker 1956—following the death of long-term member and Speaker
of the House of Representatives, Archie Cameron, the Liberal Party retained
this seat despite a 9.9 per cent swing against the government.
72. Wentworth 1956—despite a record (over the period 1949 to the
present day) first preference swing against the Liberal Party of 30.7 per cent,
Leslie Bury retained this seat for the Liberals following the appointment of
Eric Harrison as High Commissioner in London.
73. Richmond 1957—four Country Party candidates contested this
by-election, including the eventual winner, Doug Anthony, the son of the former
member, Hubert Lawrence (Larry) Anthony.
74. Parramatta 1958—Garfield Barwick retained this seat for the
Liberal Party following the appointment of former member Oliver Beale as
Ambassador to the United States of America.
75. Hunter 1960—the Liberal Party did not stand a candidate for this
safe ALP seat, formerly held by Opposition Leader Herbert Evatt who died in
office.
76. La Trobe 1960—seat retained for the Liberal Party by John Jess
following the resignation of the Minister for External Affairs, Richard Casey.
77. Balaclava 1960—Percy Joske resigned to become a judge of the Commonwealth
Industrial Court and was also appointed a judge of the ACT Supreme Court. The
seat was retained for the Liberal Party by Raymond Whittorn.
78. Bendigo 1960—this marginal seat was retained for the ALP by Noel
Beaton following the death of sitting member, Percy Clarey.
79. Calare 1960—seat won by John England for the Country Party from
the Liberal Party. This has been the only occasion when the Country Party has
won a seat from the Liberal Party at a by-election.
80. Higinbotham 1960—Don Chipp just retained this seat for the
Liberal Party following the death of Thomas (Frank) Timson.
81. Batman 1962—Captain Sam Benson retained this safe seat for the
Labor Party following the death of sitting member, Alan Bird. Benson
subsequently retained Batman as an independent at the 1966 general election.
82. Grey 1963—retained for the ALP by Jack Mortimer following the
death of Edgar Russell.
83. East Sydney 1963—this by-election resulted in the second lowest
voter turnout (71.9 per cent) since the introduction of compulsory voting. The
ALP retained the seat. The Liberal Party did not stand a candidate.
84. Denison 1964—Athol Townley was re-elected at the 1963 general
election but died before the opening of the Parliament. The seat was retained
for the Liberal Party by Adrian Gibson.
85. Angas 1964—Alexander Downer senior resigned to become High
Commissioner in London. The seat was retained for the Liberal Party by Geoffrey
Giles.
86. Parramatta 1964—Garfield Barwick resigned to become Chief Justice
of the High Court. The seat was retained for the Liberal Party by Nigel Bowen.
87. Robertson 1964—Roger Dean resigned to become Administrator of the
Northern Territory. The seat was retained for the Liberal Party by Crawford
Bridges-Maxwell.
88. Riverina 1965—Hugh Roberton resigned to become Ambassador to
Ireland. The seat was retained for the Country Party by Adam Armstrong.
89. Dawson 1966—the ALP candidate, Rex Patterson, achieved a large
swing (11.9 per cent) against the LP/CP Coalition Government to win the seat
from the Country Party.
90. Kooyong 1966—the Liberal Party candidate, Andrew Peacock,
retained this safe Liberal seat in the by-election following the resignation of
Prime Minister, Robert Menzies.
91. Corio 1967—a large swing against the LP/CP Coalition Government
(11.1 per cent) resulted in the ALP candidate, Gordon Scholes, winning the seat
from the Liberal Party, following the retirement of popular sporting
personality, Hubert Opperman.
92. Capricornia 1967—following the death of sitting member George
Shaw, this seat was retained by the ALP by Doug Everingham.
93. Higgins 1968—this by-election was held following the presumed
death of Prime Minister Harold Holt. The seat was retained for the Liberal
Party by new Prime Minister (and ex-Senator) John Gorton.
94. Curtin 1969—the sitting member, Minister for External Affairs,
Paul Hasluck, resigned to become Governor-General. The seat was retained for
the Liberal Party by Ransley Garland, despite a 7.1 per cent swing against
the Coalition Government.
95. Bendigo 1969—Noel Beaton resigned because of ill health. The seat
was retained for the ALP by David Kennedy.
96. Gwydir 1969—Allan Armstrong resigned to become Secretary-General
of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The seat was retained for the
Country Party by Ralph Hunt, despite a 7.7 per cent swing against the Coalition
Government.
97. Australian Capital Territory 1970—despite a large swing against
it, the ALP retained this seat held for 18 years by popular member, Jim Fraser.
The Australia Party candidate, Alan Fitzgerald, received 17.5 per cent of the first
preference votes.
98. Chisholm 1970—Tony Staley retained this seat for the Liberal
Party. The ALP candidate was Francis (Frank) Costigan, later Royal Commissioner
investigating the activities of the Federated Ship Painters' and Dockers'
Union, and tax evasion matters.
99. Murray 1971—Bruce Lloyd retained this seat for the Country Party
following the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and
Industry, John McEwen.
100. Parramatta
1973—Nigel Bowen resigned to become a judge of the NSW Court of Appeal.
Philip Ruddock retained the seat for the Liberal Party. Twelve candidates
contested the by-election, a record to that time.
101. Bass 1975—the
second largest swing recorded against any government to that time (14.6 per
cent) occurred at this by-election held following the appointment of former
Deputy Prime Minister, Lance Barnard, to be Ambassador to Norway, Finland and
Sweden. The Liberal Party candidate, Kevin Newman, won the seat from the ALP.
102. Cunningham
1977—following the death of sitting member, Reginald (Rex) Connor, this
seat was retained by the ALP by Stewart West.
103. Werriwa 1978—the
ALP candidate, John Kerin, achieved a large swing (11.3 per cent) against the
LP/NP Coalition Government in this by-election, held following the resignation
of former Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam.
104. Grayndler
1979—retained for the ALP by Leo McLeay following the death of
Frank Stewart.
105. Boothby 1981—retained
for the Liberal Party by Steele Hall, former Premier of South Australia and
Senator, following the resignation of John McLeay, who became Consul-General in
Los Angeles.
106. Curtin 1981—Ransley Garland
resigned to become High Commissioner in London. The seat was retained for the
Liberal Party by Allan Rocher.
107. McPherson
1981—the Liberal Party candidate, Peter White, achieved a two-party
preferred swing to the LP/NP Coalition Government of 16.2 per cent, the largest
swing to any government since 1949. The National Party candidate (future
Senator Glen Sheil) outpolled the ALP candidate.
108. Wentworth
1981—the former leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party, Peter Coleman,
comfortably retained the seat despite a 6.2 per cent swing to the ALP
candidate, Robert Tickner. The voter turnout (69.5 per cent) was the lowest
since the introduction of compulsory voting in 1924.
109. Lowe 1982—this
marginal Liberal Party seat became vacant following the resignation of former
Prime Minister, Sir William McMahon. The ALP candidate, Michael Maher, won the
seat from the Liberal Party with an 8.5 per cent swing.
110. Flinders 1982—the
Liberal Party retained this marginal seat despite a 3.3 per cent swing against
the LP/NP Coalition Government. However, new member, Peter Reith, was unable to
take up his seat in the House of Representatives as the Parliament was
dissolved before he could be sworn in and he was defeated at the subsequent
general election.
111. Wannon 1983—the
seat was retained for the Liberal Party by David Hawker, following the
resignation of sitting member, former Prime Minister, Malcolm Fraser.
112. Bruce 1983—the
seat was retained for the Liberal Party by Kenneth Aldred, following the
resignation of sitting member, former Opposition Leader and Speaker Billy
Snedden.
113. Moreton 1983¾the Liberal Party retained this marginal
Liberal seat with a small swing in its favour. The successful candidate, Don
Cameron, had lost the neighbouring seat of Fadden at the previous general
election.
114. Corangamite
1984—the seat was retained for the Liberal Party by Fergus Stewart
McArthur. Labor candidate Gavan O'Connor subsequently became Member for Corio.
115. Hughes 1984—the
seat was retained for ALP by Robert Tickner, following the resignation of
Leslie Johnson, who became High Commissioner to New Zealand.
116. Richmond 1984—the
seat was retained for the National Party by Charles Blunt, following the
resignation of former Deputy Prime Minister, Doug Anthony.
117. Scullin 1986—the
seat was retained for ALP by Henry Alfred Jenkins who succeeded his father Dr
Henry Alfred Jenkins.
118. Adelaide 1988—the
ALP lost this seat with a swing of 8.4 per cent against the ALP Government. The
successful Liberal Party candidate, Michael Pratt, lost the seat at the next
general election.
119. Port Adelaide
1988—an 11.1 per cent swing against the ALP Government was insufficient for
the Liberal Party to win the seat. The ALP's Rod Sawford was the winning
candidate.
120. Groom 1988—the
Liberal Party candidate, Bill Taylor, won the seat previously held by the
National Party.
121. Oxley 1988—the
prospective appointment of former Opposition Leader, Bill Hayden, as
Governor-General caused the vacancy in this safe ALP seat. The ALP candidate,
Les Scott, was successful despite an 11.8 per cent swing against the ALP
Government.
122. Gwydir 1989—John
Anderson retained this seat for the National Party following the resignation of
sitting member Ralph Hunt. Anderson defeated two independent candidates to win
the seat.
123. Menzies 1991—Kevin
Andrews retained this seat for the Liberal Party following the resignation of
sitting member Neil Brown.
124. Wills 1992—at
that time a record number of 22 candidates (equalled in 2009 in Bradfield) contested
this ALP seat vacated by the former Prime Minister, Bob Hawke. Prominent local
identity, Phil Cleary, won the seat to become the only independent candidate to
win a Commonwealth by-election. The by-election result was voided by the Court
of Disputed Returns. Mr Cleary was in contravention of section 44(iv) of the Constitution and the Liberal and Labor candidates contravened section 44(i). A subsequent
by-election was not held because of the impending general election.
125. Werriwa 1994—the
ALP retained this safe seat despite a swing against the ALP Government of 6.3
per cent. The successful candidate was Mark Latham.
126. Fremantle
1994—former Western Australian Premier, Carmen Lawrence, retained this seat
for the ALP with a swing of 1.0 per cent to the government. Lawrence’s success
was the first by-election win by a woman candidate.
127. Bonython 1994—despite
a swing of 7.8 per cent against the ALP, Martyn Evans retained this seat for
the government.
128. Mackellar
1994—Liberal candidate, ex-Senator Bronwyn Bishop, easily retained this
safe Liberal Party seat. Prominent writer, Bob Ellis (Ind), received 23.1 per
cent of the first preference vote in the absence of a Labor Party candidate.
129. Warringah
1994¾this seat was retained for the
Liberal Party by Tony Abbott. The ALP did not stand a candidate in this safe
seat.
130. Kooyong 1994—the
seat was retained for the Liberal Party by Petro Georgiou, following the
resignation of sitting member and former Leader of the Opposition, Andrew
Peacock. In the absence of an ALP candidate the Greens candidate, Peter Singer,
received 28.0 per cent of the vote.
131. Canberra 1995—after
initially considering not to contest this fairly safe ALP seat, the Liberal Party
ultimately decided to enter the race and won the seat from the government with
a record swing of 16.1 per cent. The successful candidate, Brendan Smyth, lost
the seat at the following general election.
132. Wentworth
1995—despite being classified as a marginal Liberal seat the ALP did not
contest this by-election caused by former Leader of the Opposition, John
Hewson. The winning Liberal candidate was Andrew Thomson.
133. Blaxland 1996—the
seat was retained for the ALP by Michael Hatton, following the resignation of
former Prime Minister, Paul Keating. The government did not contest this safe
seat.
134. Lindsay 1996—the
1996 general election result for Lindsay was voided by the Court of Disputed
Returns under section 44(iv) of the Constitution because Jackie Kelly, the
successful Liberal candidate at the 1996 election, was a serving officer in the
RAAF at the time of nomination. She was also alleged to be a dual citizen (New
Zealand) but this was not required to be tested by the Court. At the
by-election Ms Kelly won with a swing of 5.0 per cent to the government.
135. Fraser 1997—the
seat was retained for the ALP by Steve Dargavel, following the resignation of
sitting member, John Langmore. At the subsequent general election, the ACT's
representation in the House of Representatives was reduced to two seats.
Dargavel did not contest ALP pre-selection so that Bob McMullan, Member for
Canberra, could contest Fraser.
136. Holt 1999—the
seat was retained for the ALP by Anthony Byrne, following the resignation of
sitting member, Gareth Evans.
137. Isaacs
2000—this
was the first by-election since McPherson 1981 which was caused by the suicide
of the sitting member, Greg Wilton. The LP did not contest this fairly safe
Labor seat. Retained for the ALP by Ann Corcoran.
138. Ryan
2001—the
ALP candidate, Leonie Short, won this fairly safe Liberal seat following the
retirement of John Moore. The swing of 9.7 per cent against the government was
just sufficient for Short to succeed. She lost the seat in the following
general election.
139. Aston 2001—a
field of fifteen candidates contested the by-election in this marginal
government seat. It was retained for the Liberal Party by Chris Pearce,
following the death of sitting member, Peter Nugent.
140. Cunningham
2002—Greens candidate, Michael Organ, won this safe Labor seat following
the resignation of sitting member, Stephen Martin. For the first time since
Maranoa in 1921 an Opposition-held seat was lost in a by-election. The winning
candidate received 23.0 per cent of the vote, the lowest winning first
preference vote of any Commonwealth by-election. This was the first by-election
victory by a minor party candidate since Echuca in 1919. The ALP regained the
seat at the 2004 general election.
141. Werriwa 2005—Mark
Latham had won Werriwa for the ALP in a by-election in 1994. It was his
resignation from the seat soon after his resignation as Leader of the
Opposition that caused this by-election. Sixteen candidates contested the
by-election, the third-highest total since 1901, with the seat being retained
by the ALP.
142. Gippsland
2008—Peter McGauran (NP) had held Gippsland for 25 years, the longest term
of the Federation electorate’s eight members to that time. The by-election was
contested by National, Liberal, Labor and Green candidates, but Darren Chester
continued the Country/National Party hold of the seat that dated back to 1922.
143. Lyne 2008—first
contested in 1949, Lyne had been held by four Country/National MPs, including
Mark Vaile, the party leader between 2005 and 2007. Former National, and later
independent MLA, Rob Oakeshott, (1996–2008), was elected as an independent with
a first preference vote of 63.8 per cent. The Labor Party did not contest the
by-election.
144. Mayo 2008—former
Liberal Party leader and later Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer,
had been the first and only Member for Mayo when he retired after serving 23
years. Labor did not contest the by-election which was won for the Liberal
Party by Jamie Briggs.
145. Bradfield
2009—former Howard government minister and Liberal Party leader, Brendan
Nelson, retired to take up Ambassadorships to the European Communities, Belgium
and Luxembourg and posts as Representative to NATO and Special Representative
to WHO. Labor did not stand a candidate in the by-election which was contested
by an equal record number of 22 candidates. The blue ribbon Liberal seat was
easily retained by Paul Fletcher.
146. Higgins 2009—the
resignation of former Howard government Treasurer, Peter Costello, triggered
only the second by-election to be held in this fairly safe Liberal Party seat
(the first being in 1968 after Prime Minister Harold Holt was presumed dead).
Labor did not contest this by-election which was won by Costello’s former
advisor, Kelly O’Dwyer.
147. Griffith 2014—former
Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, resigned after leading the ALP government to a loss
at the 2013 election in his second stint as Prime Minister. Terri Butler
retained the marginal seat for the ALP despite a two-party preferred swing
against the ALP of 1.3 per cent.
148. Canning 2015—Don
Randall, the member for Canning since 2001 and former member for Swan
1993–1998, died suddenly. The subsequent by-election was being seen as a litmus
test of the Abbott led Coalition government; however, Malcolm Turnbull became Prime
Minister four days before the poll. Andrew Hastie retained the seat for the
Liberals and the 6.6 per cent swing against the government was not as high as
the double digit swing predicted by the polls.
149. North Sydney
2015—this safe seat was vacated by former Abbott government Treasurer, Joe
Hockey. A controversial pre-selection process saw former Hockey staffer, Trent
Zimmerman, represent the Liberal Party. The ALP chose not to contest the poll.
A field of 13 candidates stood and Zimmerman needed preferences to win the seat
after a 12.5 per cent first preference swing against the Liberals.
150. New England
2017—due to contravention of section 44(i) of the Constitution, the
Court of Disputed Returns declared invalid the 2016 election of Barnaby Joyce,
National Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister. After renouncing his New
Zealand citizenship Joyce successfully re-contested for this seat and, despite the
third largest field of candidates in a by-election, gained a substantial 12.6
per cent swing on first preferences.
151. Bennelong
2017—Liberal John Alexander resigned from this fairly safe seat after
declaring himself a dual citizen. After renouncing his British citizenship
Alexander re-contested but, although successful, the two-party preferred swing
of 4.8 per cent against the Coalition turned this into a marginal seat.
152. Batman 2018—Labor
member David Feeney resigned before the Court of Disputed Returns could rule on
his dual-citizenship status. Ged Kearney, nurse and President of the Australian
Council of Trade Unions, was preselected by the ALP to run against the Greens’
Alex Bhathal, who had unsuccessfully contested Batman in five of the six
Federal elections since 2001. With the Government choosing not to contest the
by-election, and the ALP only holding the seat by a one per cent margin over
the Greens, this was seen as a possible win for the Greens. However, a 3.4 per
cent swing to the ALP (two-candidate basis) saw the ALP retain Batman.
153. Braddon 2018—one
of five by-elections—the most by-elections ever held on a single day—on this
date. Labor member, Justine Keay, resigned because her dual citizen situation
was similar to Senator Katy Gallagher, who had been found ineligible to be
elected at the 2016 election by the High Court under section 44(i) of the Constitution.
Justine Keay re-contested for the ALP and retained her marginal seat with a
slight, 0.1 per cent, swing from the Liberal Party.
154. Fremantle 2018—one
of five by-elections—the most by-elections ever held on a single day—on this
date. Labor member, Josh Wilson, resigned because his dual citizen situation
was similar to Senator Katy Gallagher, who had been found ineligible to be
elected at the 2016 election by the High Court under section 44(i) of the Constitution.
Mr Wilson re-contested for the ALP but the Liberal Party chose not to field a
candidate in this fairly safe seat. In the final contest Josh Wilson defeated
the LDP by a 46.7 per cent margin.
155. Longman 2018—one
of five by-elections—the most by-elections ever held on a single day—on this
date. Labor member, Susan Lamb, resigned because her dual citizen situation was
similar to Senator Katy Gallagher, who had been found ineligible to be elected
at the 2016 election by the High Court under section 44(i) of the Constitution.
Susan Lamb re-contested for the ALP and retained this very marginal seat gaining
a 3.7 per cent two-party preferred swing. The 9.4 per cent first preference
swing against the LNP candidate was cited amongst the reasons for the Liberal
Party to depose Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (see Wentworth 2018, below).
156. Perth 2018—one
of five by-elections—the most by-elections ever held on a single day—on this
date. Tim Hammond, who had only been the Labor member for Perth since 2016, resigned
for personal reasons. The Liberal Party chose not to contest this marginal seat
and Patrick Gorman—WA Labor’s state secretary—retained the seat for Labor with
a 26.2 per cent margin over the Greens.
157. Mayo 2018—one
of five by-elections—the most by-elections ever held on a single day—on this
date. Centre Alliance member, Rebekha Sharkie, resigned because her dual
citizen situation was similar to Senator Katy Gallagher, who had been found
ineligible to be elected at the 2016 election by the High Court under section
44(i) of the Constitution. Rebekha Sharkie re-contested this seat she
won from the Liberal Party at the 2016 election. The Liberals fielded high
profile candidate and daughter of Alexander Downer, Georgina Downer, but a
swing of 2.6 per cent to Rebekha Sharkie saw her retain this seat for the Centre
Alliance (formerly known as the Nick Xenophon Team).
158. Wentworth
2018—Malcolm Turnbull resigned from Parliament after being deposed as prime
minister. Wentworth, which Turnbull had returned to a safe seat for the Liberal
Party, was contested by 16 candidates including high profile Independent,
Kerryn Phelps. The substantial, but not record (see Wentworth 1956), first
preference vote swing of 19.2 per cent against the Liberals was too much to
recover and Phelps won with a 2.4 per cent margin. The loss for the Liberals meant
the loss of the Coalition government’s one seat majority in the House of
Representatives, producing a hung Parliament.
Appendix 4:
By-election timing, 1901–2018
Division |
Previous
Election |
Date
Vacated |
By-election
date |
Next
Election |
Elapsed Time (days) |
Reason |
Vacated to
by-election |
After
previous
election |
Before next
election |
Darling Downs (Qld) |
30.03.01 |
08.08.01 |
14.09.01 |
16.12.03 |
37 |
168 |
823 |
Died |
Tasmania |
29.03.01 |
06.02.02 |
26.03.02 |
16.12.03 |
48 |
362 |
630 |
Died |
East Sydney (NSW) |
29.03.01 |
18.08.03 |
04.09.03 |
16.12.03 |
17 |
889 |
103 |
Resigned |
Wilmot (Tas) |
16.12.03 |
02.02.04 |
26.02.04 |
12.12.06 |
24 |
72 |
1020 |
Died |
Melbourne (Vic) |
16.12.03 |
10.03.04 |
30.03.04 |
12.12.06 |
20 |
105 |
987 |
Election voided |
Riverina (NSW) |
16.12.03 |
13.04.04 |
18.05.04 |
12.12.06 |
35 |
154 |
938 |
Election voided |
Echuca (Vic) |
12.12.06 |
10.06.07 |
10.07.07 |
13.04.10 |
30 |
210 |
1008 |
Election voided |
Adelaide (SA) |
12.12.06 |
11.05.08 |
13.06.08 |
13.04.10 |
33 |
549 |
669 |
Died |
Wakefield (SA) |
12.12.06 |
23.07.09 |
28.08.09 |
13.04.10 |
36 |
990 |
228 |
Died |
Kooyong (Vic) |
13.04.10 |
26.07.10 |
24.08.10 |
31.05.13 |
29 |
133 |
1011 |
Resigned |
Batman (Vic) |
13.04.10 |
18.12.10 |
08.02.11 |
31.05.13 |
52 |
301 |
843 |
Died |
North Sydney (NSW) |
13.04.10 |
04.02.11 |
11.03.11 |
31.05.13 |
35 |
332 |
812 |
Died |
Boothby (SA) |
13.04.10 |
08.10.11 |
11.11.11 |
31.05.13 |
34 |
577 |
567 |
Died |
Werriwa (NSW) |
13.04.10 |
01.04.12 |
01.06.12 |
31.05.13 |
61 |
780 |
364 |
Resigned |
Kalgoorlie (WA) |
31.05.13 |
25.11.13 |
22.12.13 |
05.09.14 |
27 |
205 |
257 |
Died |
Adelaide (SA) |
31.05.13 |
02.12.13 |
10.01.14 |
05.09.14 |
39 |
224 |
238 |
Died |
Bendigo (Vic) |
05.09.14 |
09.12.14 |
06.02.15 |
05.05.17 |
59 |
154 |
819 |
Died |
Grampians (Vic) |
05.09.14 |
01.01.15 |
20.02.15 |
05.05.17 |
50 |
168 |
805 |
Died |
Dalley (NSW) |
05.09.14 |
02.04.15 |
06.05.15 |
05.05.17 |
33 |
243 |
880 |
Died |
Wide Bay (Qld) |
05.09.14 |
26.10.15 |
11.12.15 |
05.05.17 |
46 |
462 |
511 |
Resigned |
Darwin (Tas) |
05.05.17 |
10.05.17 |
30.06.17 |
13.12.19 |
51 |
56 |
896 |
Died |
Grampians (Vic) |
05.05.17 |
15.09.17 |
27.10.17 |
13.12.19 |
42 |
175 |
777 |
Died |
Flinders (Vic) |
05.05.17 |
05.04.18 |
11.05.18 |
13.12.19 |
36 |
371 |
581 |
Resigned |
Swan (WA) |
05.05.17 |
02.09.18 |
26.10.18 |
13.12.19 |
54 |
539 |
413 |
Died |
Corangamite (Vic) |
05.05.17 |
23.10.18 |
14.12.18 |
13.12.19 |
52 |
588 |
364 |
Died |
Echuca (Vic) |
05.05.17 |
14.08.19 |
20.09.19 |
13.12.19 |
37 |
868 |
84 |
Died |
Ballaarat (Vic) |
13.12.19 |
02.06.20 |
10.07.20 |
16.12.22 |
38 |
210 |
889 |
Election voided |
Kalgoorlie (WA) |
13.12.19 |
12.11.20 |
18.12.20 |
16.12.22 |
36 |
371 |
728 |
Expelled |
Maranoa (Qld) |
13.12.19 |
03.06.21 |
30.07.21 |
16.12.22 |
57 |
595 |
504 |
Died |
West Sydney (NSW) |
13.12.19 |
01.08.21 |
03.09.21 |
16.12.22 |
33 |
630 |
469 |
Died |
Parramatta (NSW) |
13.12.19 |
11.11.21 |
10.12.21 |
16.12.22 |
29 |
728 |
371 |
Resigned |
Yarra (Vic) |
13.12.19 |
10.01.22 |
18.02.22 |
16.12.22 |
39 |
798 |
301 |
Died |
Eden-Monaro (NSW) |
14.11.25 |
12.01.26 |
06.03.26 |
17.11.28 |
53 |
113 |
987 |
Died |
Dalley (NSW) |
14.11.25 |
18.01.27 |
26.02.27 |
17.11.28 |
39 |
469 |
630 |
Resigned |
Warringah (NSW) |
14.11.25 |
13.04.27 |
21.05.27 |
17.11.28 |
38 |
553 |
546 |
Resigned |
Martin (NSW) |
14.11.25 |
07.05.28 |
16.06.28 |
17.11.28 |
40 |
945 |
154 |
Died |
Wide Bay (Qld) |
14.11.25 |
31.07.28 |
03.09.28 |
17.11.28 |
34 |
1024 |
75 |
Died |
Balaclava (Vic) |
17.11.28 |
05.07.29 |
03.08.29 |
12.10.29 |
29 |
259 |
70 |
Resigned |
Franklin (Tas) |
12.10.29 |
22.10.29 |
14.12.29 |
19.12.31 |
53 |
63 |
735 |
Died |
Parkes (NSW) |
12.10.29 |
19.12.30 |
31.01.31 |
19.12.31 |
43 |
476 |
322 |
Resigned |
East Sydney (NSW) |
12.10.29 |
05.02.31 |
07.03.31 |
19.12.31 |
30 |
511 |
287 |
Died |
East Sydney (NSW) |
19.12.31 |
15.01.32 |
06.02.32 |
15.09.34 |
22 |
49 |
952 |
Died |
Flinders (Vic) |
19.12.31 |
06.10.33 |
11.11.33 |
15.09.34 |
36 |
693 |
308 |
Resigned |
Newcastle (NSW) |
15.09.34 |
08.04.35 |
01.06.35 |
23.10.37 |
54 |
259 |
875 |
Died |
Fawkner (Vic) |
15.09.34 |
25.06.35 |
17.08.35 |
23.10.37 |
53 |
336 |
798 |
Died |
Kennedy (Qld) |
15.09.34 |
15.10.36 |
12.12.36 |
23.10.37 |
58 |
819 |
315 |
Died |
Darling Downs (Qld) |
15.09.34 |
06.11.36 |
19.12.36 |
23.10.37 |
43 |
826 |
308 |
Died |
Gwydir (NSW) |
15.09.34 |
28.03.37 |
08.05.37 |
23.10.37 |
41 |
966 |
168 |
Resigned |
Wakefield (SA) |
23.10.37 |
25.10.38 |
10.12.38 |
21.09.40 |
46 |
413 |
651 |
Died |
Griffith (Qld) |
23.10.37 |
28.03.39 |
20.05.39 |
21.09.40 |
53 |
574 |
490 |
Died |
Wilmot (Tas) |
23.10.37 |
07.04.39 |
27.05.39 |
21.09.40 |
50 |
581 |
483 |
Died |
Corio (Vic) |
23.10.37 |
30.01.40 |
02.03.40 |
21.09.40 |
32 |
861 |
203 |
Resigned |
Kalgoorlie (WA) |
21.09.40 |
02.10.40 |
16.11.40 |
21.08.43 |
45 |
56 |
1008 |
Died |
Swan (WA) |
21.09.40 |
15.11.40 |
21.12.40 |
21.08.43 |
36 |
91 |
973 |
Died |
Boothby (SA) |
21.09.40 |
23.04.41 |
24.05.41 |
21.08.43 |
31 |
245 |
819 |
Died |
Fremantle (WA) |
21.08.43 |
5.07.45 |
18.08.45 |
28.09.46 |
44 |
728 |
406 |
Died |
Wimmera (Vic) |
21.08.43 |
31.12.45 |
09.02.46 |
28.09.46 |
40 |
903 |
231 |
Resigned |
Henty (Vic) |
21.08.43 |
11.02.46 |
30.03.46 |
28.09.46 |
47 |
952 |
182 |
Resigned |
Balaclava (Vic) |
28.04.51 |
20.06.51 |
28.07.51 |
29.05.54 |
38 |
53 |
1036 |
Resigned |
Macquarie (NSW) |
28.04.51 |
13.06.51 |
28.07.51 |
29.05.54 |
45 |
46 |
1036 |
Died |
Lyne (NSW) |
28.04.51 |
28.01.52 |
22.03.52 |
29.05.54 |
54 |
275 |
798 |
Died |
Flinders (Vic) |
28.04.51 |
26.08.52 |
18.10.52 |
29.05.54 |
53 |
486 |
588 |
Died |
Werriwa (NSW) |
28.04.51 |
01.10.52 |
29.11.52 |
29.05.54 |
59 |
522 |
546 |
Died |
Bradfield (NSW) |
28.04.51 |
28.10.52 |
20.12.52 |
29.05.54 |
53 |
549 |
525 |
Died |
Dalley (NSW) |
28.04.51 |
21.03.53 |
09.05.53 |
29.05.54 |
49 |
693 |
385 |
Died |
Corangamite (Vic) |
28.04.51 |
10.06.53 |
29.08.53 |
29.05.54 |
80 |
774 |
273 |
Died |
Lang (NSW) |
28.04.51 |
13.07.53 |
29.08.53 |
29.05.54 |
47 |
807 |
273 |
Died |
Gwydir (NSW) |
28.04.51 |
15.11.53 |
19.12.53 |
29.05.54 |
34 |
932 |
161 |
Died |
Cook (NSW) |
29.05.54 |
26.03.55 |
21.05.55 |
10.12.55 |
56 |
301 |
203 |
Died |
Cunningham (NSW) |
10.12.55 |
17.02.56 |
11.04.56 |
22.11.58 |
54 |
69 |
955 |
Died |
Barker (SA) |
10.12.55 |
09.08.56 |
13.10.56 |
22.11.58 |
65 |
243 |
770 |
Died |
Wentworth (NSW) |
10.12.55 |
17.10.56 |
08.12.56 |
22.11.58 |
52 |
312 |
714 |
Resigned |
Richmond (NSW) |
10.12.55 |
12.07.57 |
14.09.57 |
22.11.58 |
64 |
580 |
434 |
Died |
Parramatta (NSW) |
10.12.55 |
10.02.58 |
08.03.58 |
22.11.58 |
26 |
793 |
259 |
Resigned |
Hunter (NSW) |
22.11.58 |
10.02.60 |
09.04.60 |
09.12.61 |
59 |
445 |
609 |
Resigned |
La Trobe (Vic) |
22.11.58 |
10.02.60 |
09.04.60 |
09.12.61 |
59 |
445 |
609 |
Resigned |
Balaclava (Vic) |
22.11.58 |
02.06.60 |
16.07.60 |
09.12.61 |
44 |
558 |
511 |
Resigned |
Bendigo (Vic) |
22.11.58 |
01.05.60 |
16.07.60 |
09.12.61 |
76 |
526 |
511 |
Died |
Calare (NSW) |
22.11.58 |
28.09.60 |
05.11.60 |
09.12.61 |
38 |
676 |
399 |
Resigned |
Higinbotham (Vic) |
22.11.58 |
16.10.60 |
10.12.60 |
09.12.61 |
55 |
694 |
364 |
Died |
Batman (Vic) |
09.12.61 |
21.07.62 |
01.09.62 |
30.11.63 |
42 |
224 |
455 |
Died |
Grey (SA) |
09.12.61 |
31.03.63 |
01.06.63 |
30.11.63 |
62 |
477 |
182 |
Died |
East Sydney (NSW) |
09.12.61 |
31.07.63 |
28.09.63 |
30.11.63 |
59 |
599 |
63 |
Died |
Denison (Tas) |
30.11.63 |
24.12.63 |
15.02.64 |
26.11.66 |
53 |
24 |
1015 |
Died |
Angas (SA) |
30.11.63 |
23.04.64 |
20.06.64 |
26.11.66 |
58 |
145 |
889 |
Resigned |
Parramatta (NSW) |
30.11.63 |
24.04.64 |
20.06.64 |
26.11.66 |
57 |
146 |
889 |
Resigned |
Robertson (NSW) |
30.11.63 |
30.09.64 |
05.12.64 |
26.11.66 |
66 |
305 |
721 |
Resigned |
Riverina (NSW) |
30.11.63 |
21.01.65 |
27.02.65 |
26.11.66 |
37 |
418 |
637 |
Resigned |
Dawson (Qld) |
30.11.63 |
09.01.66 |
26.02.66 |
26.11.66 |
48 |
771 |
273 |
Died |
Kooyong (Vic) |
30.11.63 |
17.02.66 |
02.04.66 |
26.11.66 |
44 |
810 |
238 |
Resigned |
Corio (Vic) |
26.11.66 |
10.06.67 |
22.07.67 |
25.10.69 |
42 |
196 |
826 |
Resigned |
Capricornia (Qld) |
26.11.66 |
02.08.67 |
30.09.67 |
25.10.69 |
59 |
249 |
756 |
Died |
Higgins (Vic) |
26.11.66 |
19.12.67 |
24.02.68 |
25.10.69 |
67 |
388 |
609 |
Presumed dead |
Curtin (WA) |
26.11.66 |
10.02.69 |
19.04.69 |
25.10.69 |
68 |
807 |
189 |
Resigned |
Bendigo (Vic) |
26.11.66 |
09.04.69 |
07.06.69 |
25.10.69 |
59 |
865 |
140 |
Resigned |
Gwydir (NSW) |
26.11.66 |
30.04.69 |
07.06.69 |
25.10.69 |
38 |
886 |
140 |
Resigned |
Aust Cap Territory
(ACT) |
25.10.69 |
01.04.70 |
30.05.70 |
02.12.72 |
59 |
158 |
917 |
Died |
Chisholm (Vic) |
25.10.69 |
31.07.70 |
19.09.70 |
02.12.72 |
50 |
279 |
805 |
Died |
Murray (Vic) |
25.10.69 |
01.02.71 |
20.03.71 |
02.12.72 |
47 |
464 |
623 |
Resigned |
Parramatta (NSW) |
02.12.72 |
11.07.73 |
22.09.73 |
18.05.74 |
73 |
221 |
238 |
Resigned |
Bass (Tas) |
18.05.74 |
02.06.75 |
28.06.75 |
13.12.75 |
26 |
380 |
168 |
Resigned |
Cunningham (NSW) |
13.12.75 |
22.08.77 |
15.10.77 |
10.12.77 |
54 |
618 |
56 |
Died |
Werriwa (NSW) |
10.12.77 |
31.07.78 |
23.09.78 |
18.10.80 |
54 |
233 |
756 |
Resigned |
Grayndler (NSW) |
10.12.77 |
16.04.79 |
23.06.79 |
18.10.80 |
68 |
492 |
483 |
Died |
Boothby (SA) |
18.10.80 |
22.01.81 |
21.02.81 |
05.03.83 |
30 |
96 |
742 |
Resigned |
Curtin (WA) |
18.10.80 |
22.01.81 |
21.02.81 |
05.03.83 |
30 |
96 |
742 |
Resigned |
McPherson (Qld) |
18.10.80 |
07.01.81 |
21.02.81 |
05.03.83 |
45 |
81 |
742 |
Died |
Wentworth (NSW) |
18.10.80 |
17.02.81 |
11.04.81 |
05.03.83 |
53 |
122 |
693 |
Resigned |
Lowe (NSW) |
18.10.80 |
04.01.82 |
13.03.82 |
05.03.83 |
68 |
443 |
357 |
Resigned |
Flinders (Vic) |
18.10.80 |
22.10.82 |
04.12.82 |
05.03.83 |
43 |
734 |
91 |
Resigned |
Wannon (Vic) |
05.03.83 |
31.03.83 |
07.05.83 |
01.12.84 |
37 |
26 |
574 |
Resigned |
Bruce (Vic) |
05.03.83 |
21.04.83 |
28.05.83 |
01.12.84 |
37 |
47 |
553 |
Resigned |
Moreton (Qld) |
05.03.83 |
15.08.83 |
05.11.83 |
01.12.84 |
82 |
163 |
392 |
Resigned |
Corangamite (Vic) |
05.03.83 |
18.01.84 |
18.02.84 |
01.12.84 |
31 |
319 |
287 |
Resigned |
Hughes (NSW) |
05.03.83 |
19.12.83 |
18.02.84 |
01.12.84 |
61 |
289 |
287 |
Resigned |
Richmond (NSW) |
05.03.83 |
18.01.84 |
18.02.84 |
01.12.84 |
31 |
319 |
287 |
Resigned |
Scullin (Vic) |
01.12.84 |
20.12.85 |
08.02.86 |
11.07.87 |
50 |
384 |
518 |
Resigned |
Adelaide (SA) |
11.07.87 |
31.12.87 |
06.02.88 |
24.03.90 |
37 |
173 |
777 |
Resigned |
Port Adelaide (SA) |
11.07.87 |
08.02.88 |
26.03.88 |
24.03.90 |
47 |
212 |
728 |
Resigned |
Groom (Qld) |
11.07.87 |
29.02.88 |
09.04.88 |
24.03.90 |
40 |
233 |
714 |
Resigned |
Oxley (Qld) |
11.07.87 |
17.08.88 |
08.10.88 |
24.03.90 |
52 |
403 |
532 |
Resigned |
Gwydir (NSW) |
11.07.87 |
24.02.89 |
15.04.89 |
24.03.90 |
50 |
594 |
343 |
Resigned |
Menzies (Vic) |
24.03.90 |
25.02.91 |
11.05.91 |
13.03.93 |
75 |
338 |
672 |
Resigned |
Wills (Vic) |
24.03.90 |
20.02.92 |
11.04.92 |
13.03.93 |
51 |
698 |
336 |
Resigned |
Werriwa (NSW) |
13.03.93 |
22.12.93 |
29.01.94 |
02.03.96 |
38 |
284 |
763 |
Resigned |
Fremantle (WA) |
13.03.93 |
04.02.94 |
12.03.94 |
02.03.96 |
36 |
328 |
721 |
Resigned |
Bonython (SA) |
13.03.93 |
11.02.94 |
19.03.94 |
02.03.96 |
36 |
335 |
714 |
Resigned |
Mackellar (NSW) |
13.03.93 |
14.01.94 |
26.03.94 |
02.03.96 |
71 |
307 |
707 |
Resigned |
Warringah (NSW) |
13.03.93 |
18.02.94 |
26.03.94 |
02.03.96 |
36 |
342 |
707 |
Resigned |
Kooyong (Vic) |
13.03.93 |
17.09.94 |
19.11.94 |
02.03.96 |
63 |
553 |
469 |
Resigned |
Canberra (ACT) |
13.03.93 |
30.01.95 |
25.03.95 |
02.03.96 |
54 |
688 |
343 |
Resigned |
Wentworth (NSW) |
13.03.93 |
28.02.95 |
08.04.95 |
02.03.96 |
39 |
717 |
329 |
Resigned |
Blaxland (NSW) |
02.03.96 |
23.04.96 |
15.06.96 |
03.10.98 |
53 |
52 |
840 |
Resigned |
Lindsay (NSW) |
02.03.96 |
11.09.96 |
19.10.96 |
03.10.98 |
38 |
193 |
714 |
Election voided |
Fraser (ACT) |
02.03.96 |
06.12.96 |
01.02.97 |
03.10.98 |
57 |
279 |
609 |
Resigned |
Holt (Vic) |
03.10.98 |
30.09.99 |
06.11.99 |
10.11.01 |
37 |
362 |
735 |
Resigned |
Isaacs (Vic) |
03.10.98 |
14.06.00 |
12.08.00 |
10.11.01 |
59 |
620 |
455 |
Died |
Ryan (Qld) |
03.10.98 |
05.02.01 |
17.03.01 |
10.11.01 |
40 |
856 |
238 |
Resigned |
Aston (Vic) |
03.10.98 |
24.04.01 |
14.07.01 |
10.11.01 |
81 |
1015 |
119 |
Died |
Cunningham (NSW) |
10.11.01 |
16.08.02 |
19.10.02 |
09.10.04 |
64 |
279 |
721 |
Resigned |
Werriwa (NSW) |
09.10.04 |
21.01.05 |
19.03.05 |
24.11.07 |
57 |
161 |
980 |
Resigned |
Gippsland (Vic) |
24.11.07 |
09.04.08 |
28.06.08 |
21.08.10 |
80 |
217 |
784 |
Resigned |
Lyne (NSW) |
24.11.07 |
30.07.08 |
06.09.08 |
21.08.10 |
38 |
287 |
714 |
Resigned |
Mayo (SA) |
24.11.07 |
14.07.08 |
06.09.08 |
21.08.10 |
54 |
287 |
714 |
Resigned |
Bradfield (NSW) |
24.11.07 |
19.10.09 |
05.12.09 |
21.08.10 |
47 |
742 |
259 |
Resigned |
Higgins (Vic) |
24.11.07 |
19.10.09 |
05.12.09 |
21.08.10 |
47 |
742 |
259 |
Resigned |
Griffith (Qld) |
07.09.13 |
22.11.13 |
08.02.14 |
02.07.16 |
78 |
154 |
875 |
Resigned |
Canning (WA) |
07.09.13 |
21.07.15 |
19.09.15 |
02.07.16 |
60 |
742 |
287 |
Died |
North Sydney (NSW) |
07.09.13 |
23.10.15 |
05.12.15 |
02.07.16 |
43 |
819 |
210 |
Resigned |
New England (NSW) |
02.07.16 |
27.10.17 |
02.12.17 |
.. |
36 |
518 |
.. |
Election voided |
Bennelong (NSW) |
02.07.16 |
11.11.17 |
16.12.17 |
.. |
35 |
532 |
.. |
Resigned |
Batman (Vic) |
02.07.16 |
01.02.18 |
17.03.18 |
.. |
44 |
623 |
.. |
Resigned |
Braddon (Tas) |
02.07.16 |
10.05.18 |
28.07.18 |
.. |
79 |
756 |
.. |
Resigned |
Fremantle (WA) |
02.07.16 |
10.05.18 |
28.07.18 |
.. |
79 |
756 |
.. |
Resigned |
Longman (Qld) |
02.07.16 |
10.05.18 |
28.07.18 |
.. |
79 |
756 |
.. |
Resigned |
Perth (WA) |
02.07.16 |
10.05.18 |
28.07.18 |
.. |
79 |
756 |
.. |
Resigned |
Mayo (SA) |
02.07.16 |
11.05.18 |
28.07.18 |
.. |
78 |
756 |
.. |
Resigned |
Wentworth (NSW) |
02.07.16 |
31.08.18 |
20.10.18 |
.. |
50 |
840 |
.. |
Resigned |
Appendix 5: Sources on
by-elections in Australia
General studies
Australian
Electoral Office, Commonwealth by-elections 1901–82, Australian
Government Publishing Service, Canberra, 1983.
Bennett S, House
of Representatives by-elections 1901–2002, Current issues brief, 15,
2002–03, Department of the Parliamentary Library, Canberra, 2003.
Bennett S, Winning and losing: Australian
national elections, Melbourne University Press, Melbourne, 1996.
Economou N, A new constituency
or a glitch in the system? A note on recent AAFI federal by-election results, People
and Place, 2(2), 1994, pp. 30–35.
Economou N, The
trouble-maker’s ballot box? A note on the evolving role of the Australian
federal by-election, Australian Journal of Political Science, 34(2),
July 1999, pp. 239–247.
Electoral Commission of South
Australia, South Australian
by-elections, 1851–2013 (Legislative Council and House of Assembly),
Research series, Adelaide, 2014.
Feigert F and Norris P, Do
by-elections constitute referenda? A four-country comparison, Legislative
Studies Quarterly, 15(2), May 1990, pp. 183–200.
Feigert F and Norris P, Government
and third-party performance in mid-term by-elections: the Canadian, British and
Australian experience, Electoral Studies, 8(2), August 1989, pp.
117–130.
Goot M, Swings and
roundabouts: New South Wales by-elections 1941 to 1986, Background paper,
1, 1987, New South Wales Parliamentary Library, Sydney, 1987.
Green A, NSW
by-elections, 1965–2005, Background paper, 3, 2005, NSW Parliamentary
Library, Sydney, September 2005.
Green A, Causes
and timing of federal by-elections 1992–2015, Antony Green’s Election
Blog, July 2015.
Hull C, By-elections:
maybe it’s time to get by without, The Canberra Times, 17 January
2002.
Isaacs, V, The
case of the missing premier–A strange parliamentary practice, Australian
Parliamentary Review, 20(1), Autumn 2005, pp. 34–53.
Mackerras M, Shifting
sands of by-elections, The Canberra Times, 25 April 2001.
Miragliotta N and Sharman C, Managing
midterm vacancies: institutional design and partisan strategy in the Australian
Parliament, 1901–2013, Australian Journal of Political Science,
52(3), March 2017, pp. 351-366.
Steketee M, Viable
remedies for voter fatigue, The Australian, 22 March 2001.
Case studies
Commonwealth
Bennett S, The
Cunningham by-election 2002, Research note, 18, 2002–03, Department of
the Parliamentary Library, Canberra, 2002.
Burns C, Parties and people:
a survey based on the La Trobe electorate, Melbourne University Press,
Melbourne, 1961.
Cahill D, The
rise and fall of the Australian Greens: the 2002 Cunningham by-election and its
implications, Australian Journal of Political Science, 43(2), June
2008, pp. 259–275.
Costar B, How to misinterpret by-election results’, Australian
Policy Online, 2 July 2008.
Grattan M, The Kooyong
by-election, 1966, Supplement to Politics, 1(2), November 1966, pp.
3-18.
Green A, Review
of the minor party preference flows at the Canning by-election, Antony
Green’s Election Blog, January 2016.
Green A, Review
of preferences at the North Sydney by-election, Antony Green’s Election
Blog, November 2015.
Hoffman R and Costar B, ‘Not going Green: the Higgins by-election of 2009, Australian
Journal of Political Science, 45(4), December 2010, pp. 693–703.
Hughes CA, ‘The Capricornia
by-election, 1967,’ Australian Quarterly, December 1967, pp. 7–20.
Hughes CA, ‘The Dawson
by-election, 1966,’ Australian Journal of Politics and History, April
1966, pp. 12–23.
Kelly P, ‘The battle for Bass’, in
The unmaking of Gough, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1994, pp. 193–202.
Mayer H and Rydon J, The
Gwydir by-election 1953: a study in political conflict, Australian National
University Social Science Monographs, Canberra, 1954.
Newman G, By-elections
37th Parliament, Research note, 35, 1994–95, Department of the
Parliamentary Library, Canberra, 1995.
[1]. S Barber, House
of Representatives by-elections: 1901-2017,Research paper series, 2017-18, Parliamentary Library,
Canberra, 2018, accessed 15 November 2018.
[2]. Figures from
Chamber Research Office, Department of the House of Representatives.
[3]. The average
age of new members was 45.4 years over the last four Parliaments (42nd to 45th);
however, this only increases the average age of new members since 1977 to just
over 43 years.
[4]. This number
reflects the 43 by-elections where members resigned and did not recontest their
seat. There have been 48 by-elections caused by resignation since 1980 (88.9
per cent) but five of these resignations were the result of members being dual
citizens and, therefore, in contravention of section 44(i) of the Constitution.
These five members all recontested their seats and were successful in returning
to Parliament.
[5]. For example,
in the period 1901–1910, a 45 year old male (female) could expect to live
another 24.8 (27.6) years while, in 2014–16, the additional life expectancy is
37.1 (40.6) years. Sources: ABS, Australian
historical population statistics, 2014, 3105.0.65.001, tables 6.2 and 6.6;
and ABS, Life
tables, States, Territories and Australia, 2014–16, 3302.0.55.001, table
1.9, accessed 15 November 2018.
[6]. Australian Constitution,
section 33, accessed 15 November 2018.
[7]. Commonwealth Electoral
Act 1918 (Cth), accessed 15 November 2018.
[8]. Such a short
period is no longer possible under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918.
[9]. ‘Elections
and the electoral system’, in IE Harris, ed, House
of Representatives practice, 6th edn, Department of the House of
Representatives, Canberra, 2012, pp. 92-94, accessed 15 November 2018.
[10]. A Summers, Gamble
for power: how Bob Hawke beat Malcolm Fraser, the 1983 Federal election,
Nelson, Melbourne, 1983, p. 63.
[11]. ‘Members’ in
IE Harris, ed, House
of Representatives practice, op. cit., pp. 154-157, accessed 15
November 2018.
[12]. ‘Elections
and the electoral system’, in IE Harris, ed, House
of Representatives practice, 6th edn, Department of the House of
Representatives, Canberra, 2012, pp. 92-94, accessed 15 November 2018.
13.. Note: The enrolment figure for the first
by-election in Darling Downs in 1901 is not available, therefore, turnout cannot
be calculated. Also the four by-elections contested by a single candidate are
excluded from the calculations in this section.
[14] Note that the losses of Corangamite in 1918 and
Echuca in 1919 by the Nationalist Party were both to the Victorian Farmers
Union which shortly thereafter formed the Country Party. However, as there was
no formal anti-Labor coalition at this time, these are not included here.
[15]. The most
recently lost seat at a by-election, Wentworth (NSW), is yet to be contested at
a general election.
[16]. Perhaps,
surprisingly, the academic literature on by-elections in Australia is quite sparse,
see Appendix 5.
[17]. No effort is
made to look at two-party preferred figures between the introduction of
preferential voting in 1918 and 1949, due to the difficulty in establishing
such figures for the earlier period. All swing figures used in the paper are
calculated on two-party preferred votes unless where otherwise indicated.
[18]. There were 22
candidates at the Wills by-election and the first preference swing against the
ALP candidate was 19.3 per cent.
[19]. For general
notes on by-elections, see Appendix 3.
[20]. IE Harris,
ed., House
of Representatives practice, op. cit., p. 157.
[21]. Parliamentary Privileges
Act 1987, accessed 16 August 2018.
[22]. P Kelly, The
unmaking of Gough, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, 1994, pp. 234–5.
[23]. M Gordon, A
true believer: Paul Keating, University of Queensland Press, St Lucia,
1996, pp. 297–301.
[24]. E Page, Truant
surgeon: the inside story of forty years of Australian political life,
Angus and Robertson, Sydney, 1963, pp. 284–6.
[25]. G
Freudenberg, A certain grandeur: Gough Whitlam in politics, Rev. and
updated ed, Penguin, Melbourne, 2009, pp. 35–9.
[26]. Summers, Gamble
for power, op. cit., pp. 13, 63.
[27]. L Taylor,
‘Poll result a blow to Bishop Libs’, The Australian, 29 March 1994.
[28]. Citizenship
saga: Labor bid to send nine more MPs to High Court fails but ALP backbencher
David Feeney referred, ABC News, 6 December 2017, accessed 15 November
2018.
[29]. In
the matter of Questions referred to the Court of Disputed Returns pursuant to
Section 376 of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (Cth) concerning Senator
Katy Gallagher [2018] HCA 17, accessed 15 November 2018.
[30]. M Denholm, 'By-elections
a leadership test, says Turnbull, but not Shorten', accessed 15 November 2018.
For copyright reasons some linked items are only available to members of Parliament.
© Commonwealth of Australia
Creative Commons
In essence, you are free to copy and communicate this work in its current form for all non-commercial purposes, as long as you attribute the work to the author and abide by the other licence terms. The work cannot be adapted or modified in any way. Content from this publication should be attributed in the following way: Author(s), Title of publication, Series Name and No, Publisher, Date.
To the extent that copyright subsists in third party quotes it remains with the original owner and permission may be required to reuse the material.
Inquiries regarding the licence and any use of the publication are welcome to webmanager@aph.gov.au.
This work has been prepared to support the work of the Australian Parliament using information available at the time of production. The views expressed do not reflect an official position of the Parliamentary Library, nor do they constitute professional legal opinion.
Any concerns or complaints should be directed to the Parliamentary Librarian. Parliamentary Library staff are available to discuss the contents of publications with Senators and Members and their staff. To access this service, clients may contact the author or the Library‘s Central Enquiry Point for referral.