History in the making: 10 by-elections that packed a punch
With all eyes on Dunkley, The Australian takes a look back at 10 by-elections that made a difference
Nationalist Edwin Kerby had won the closest election victory in Australian history, defeating Labor MP Charles McGrath by one vote at the 1919 election. McGrath successfully challenged the result over electoral irregularities and then won the by-election with a swing of 6.1 per cent.
Nationalist Edwin Kerby had won the closest election victory in Australian history, defeating Labor MP Charles McGrath by one vote at the 1919 election. McGrath successfully challenged the result over electoral irregularities and then won the by-election with a swing of 6.1 per cent.
1920, federal, Kalgoorlie
Five months later came the first of only two federal by-elections at which the government has won an opposition-held seat. The expulsion of Labor MP Hugh Mahon from parliament triggered the by-election, which Nationalist candidate George Foley won with a 3.5 per cent swing.
1975, federal, Bass
Labor’s defeat in a by-election triggered by the resignation of former deputy prime minister Lance Barnard is widely regarded as a the beginning of the end for the Whitlam government, which was dismissed from office five months later by governor-general John Kerr. Liberal Kevin Newman won the seat with a 14.3 per cent swing.
1992, federal, Wills
Bob Hawke’s resignation from parliament a year after he was deposed by Paul Keating as prime minister led to a shock result in the ultra-safe seat of Wills. Labor’s vote crashed but the main beneficiary was independent Phil Cleary, a former Australian football player and coach, who claimed a third of the first preferences and swept to victory. The High Court ruled Cleary ineligible to be an MP over of a section 44 breach because he was employed by the crown, albeit on unpaid leave. But he stood at the election in early 1993 and was elected again.
1996, Queensland, Mundingburra
Labor’s defeat in a by-election triggered when the Court of Disputed Returns declared void the previous year’s ultra-close election result in the Townsville-based electorate, brought down the Goss government. Liberal Frank Tanti’s win left Labor the Coalition each with 44 seats, allowing Nationals leader Rob Borbidge to form government with the support of independent Liz Cunningham.
1997, Victoria, Mitcham
A bellwether seat that only once broke the trend of voting in the government of the day’s candidate – at the 1997 by-election. Halfway through the second term of the Liberal Kennett government, Labor’s Tony Robinson picked up a 16 per cent swing to claim the seat and revive the fortunes of the ALP, which went on to win the general election less than two years later.
2001, federal, Aston
John Howard’s government was on the slide. The introduction of the GST the year before was blamed for landslide defeats for the Coalition in WA and Queensland state elections, the federal Liberals had lost the seat of Ryan in a by-election four months earlier and Labor was ahead in Newspoll. Despite a swing of 3.7 per cent, Liberal candidate Chris Pearce narrowly retained the seat vacated by the death of Peter Nugent.
2018, federal, Wentworth
The resignation from parliament of deposed Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull triggered a by-election in his once safe seat. Independent Kerryn Phelps, a former Australian Medical Association president, stood as an independent and narrowly defeated new Liberal candidate Dave Sharma. Sharma beat Phelps a year later in a rematch at the general election but was defeated by another independent, Allegra Spender, in the teal wave at the 2022 election.
2022, NSW, Bega
Another by-election change of hands that would be echoed at a general election soon after. Labor’s Michael Holland swept to victory with a 12 per cent swing after the resignation of Andrew Constance to contest the seat of Gilmore at the federal election three months later, which he failed to win. The Perrottet government slipped further into minority with the loss of Bega and lost power 13 months later.
2023, federal, Aston
The Albanese government becomes the first federal government in 103 years to win a by-election in an opposition-held seat. Labor’s Mary Doyle won the eastern Melbourne seat vacated by Liberal MP Alan Tudge after it was revealed he had intimate relations with his media adviser, with a swing of 6.4 per cent.
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