2015 South-West Coast state by-election explained

Country:Victoria
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Election Date:31 October 2015
Previous Election:2014 Victorian state election
Previous Year:2014
Next Election:2018 Victorian state election
Next Year:2018
Seats For Election:Electoral district of South-West Coast in the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Candidate1:Roma Britnell
Party1:Liberal Party of Australia
Popular Vote1:15,486
Percentage1:40.0%
Swing1:17.0pp
Candidate2:Roy Reekie
Party2:Independent politician
Popular Vote2:6,512
Percentage2:16.8%
Swing2:16.8pp
Candidate4:Michael Neoh
Party4:National Party of Australia
Popular Vote4:5,581
Percentage4:14.4%
Swing4:14.4pp
Candidate5:Jim Doukas
Party5:Country
Popular Vote5:4,005
Percentage5:10.3%
Swing5:8.0pp
1Blank:TPP
2Blank:TPP swing
1Data1:60.4%
2Data1:0.4pp
1Data2:39.4%
2Data2:39.4pp
MP
Before Election:Denis Napthine
Before Party:Liberal Party of Australia
After Election:Roma Britnell
After Party:Liberal Party of Australia

A by-election for the seat of South-West Coast in the Victorian Legislative Assembly was held on 31 October 2015. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of former Premier Denis Napthine on 3 September 2015. Former Transport Minister Terry Mulder resigned his seat representing the adjacent district of Polwarth on the same day as Napthine.[1] The by-election for Polwarth was held on the same day.

Candidates

11 candidates in ballot paper order
PartyCandidatewidth=75%Background
 IndependentRodney Van De HoefWarrnambool engineer.[2]
 LiberalRoma BritnellDairy farmer. Vice President of the United Dairyfarmers of Victoria.[3]
 IndependentRoy ReekieLabor candidate for Warrnambool in 1999 and South-West Coast in 2002, 2006 and 2014. Narrowly lost 2002 on a 49.3 percent two-party vote.[4]
 CountryJim DoukasShire of Moyne councillor.[5]
 NationalMichael NeohMayor of Warrnambool.[6]
 IndependentPete SmithIndependent Liberal. Dairy industry executive, advisor to BlueScope Steel, AWB and Australia Post, army press officer, naval officer.[7]
 GreensThomas CampbellGreens candidate for South-West Coast in 2014.[8]
 IndependentSwampy MarshWarrnambool dairy and chicken farmer.[9] [10] Subject of the 2015 film Oddball.[11]
 Animal JusticeJennifer GambleWarrnambool nurse. Animal Justice candidate for Western Victoria Region in 2014.[12]
 ChristiansLillian Len
 IndependentMichael McCluskeyFormer veterinarian. Independent candidate for South-West Coast in 2014.[13] [14]

The Labor government did not contest the by-elections in the safe Liberal seats of South-West Coast and Polwarth.[15]

How-to-vote cards

How-to-vote cards are distributed to voters at polling stations to provide information with how the candidate suggests preferences be allocated. Candidates and parties suggesting preferences are shown in each column of the table below. Michael McCluskey ran an open card at this by-election.

Van De Hoef[16] Liberal[17] ReekieCountry[18] NationalSmithGreensMarshAJPChristiansMcCluskey
Van de Hoef1111044No card7975
Liberal1111192811103
Reekie261732639
Country3341511292
National425101910114
Smith553665457
Greens68211718211
Marsh7106286148
Animal Justice8778945110
Christians94831010781
McCluskey109951138661

Polling

+South-West Coast polling
DatePrimary vote
LIBReekieNATOTH
23 October 2015[19] 37%24%18%21%

Result

Roma Britnell retained the seat on preferences for the Liberals. Roy Reekie was second in the primary count.[20]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Former Victorian premier Denis Napthine, senior MP Terry Mulder both retire from politics triggering by-elections. 4 September 2015. ABC News. 31 August 2015.
  2. News: Sinnott. Alex. Eleventh hour bid by poll aspirants. 2 October 2015. The Standard. 2 October 2015.
  3. News: Sinnott. Alex. Britnell tipped to enter the political fray. 20 September 2015. The Australian Dairyfamer. 3 September 2015.
  4. News: Judd. Bridget. Denis Napthine refuses to endorse Liberal candidate Donna Petrovich for his former seat. 7 September 2015. ABC News. 7 September 2015.
  5. http://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/polwarth-by-election-2015/ 2015 Polwarth by-election: ABC
  6. News: Sinnot. Alex. Neoh opens mayoral chair. 11 September 2015. Warrnambool Standard.
  7. News: Ind Lib could split Vic by-election vote. 25 September 2015. Nine News.
  8. News: Warrnambool Mayor Michael Neoh still keen on South-West Coast candidacy despite preselection hiccup. 11 September 2015. ABC News. 11 September 2015.
  9. News: Jefferson. Andrew. Warrnambool farmer Swampy Marsh refuses to stop selling unpasteurised milk at market. 26 September 2015. Herald Sun. 14 June 2015.
  10. News: Egg-straordinary bid for South West Coast. 28 September 2015. The Standard. 22 September 2015.
  11. News: Oddball election set for region. 4 October 2015. Mayne Gazette. 23 September 2015.
  12. News: Sinnott. Alex. Warrnambool Animal Justice Party candidate wants jumps racing banned. 2 October 2015. The Standard. 11 November 2014.
  13. News: Sinnott. Alex. 'Independent Liberal' says the party's over. 26 September 2015. The Standard. 25 September 2015.
  14. News: Sinnott. Alex. Michael McCluskey's burning political interest. 26 September 2015. The Standard.
  15. News: Sullivan. Kath. Labor won't contest by-elections in South-West Coast and Polwarth. 4 September 2015. The Weekly Times. 3 September 2015.
  16. Web site: State District By-elections 2015 Registered How To Vote Cards by Independent - Victorian Electoral Commission. www.vec.vic.gov.au. 2015-10-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20141207224639/http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Elections/HTVC/HTVCForIndependent.html. 2014-12-07. dead.
  17. Web site: State District By-elections 2015 South-West Coast District Registered How To Vote Cards - Victorian Electoral Commission. www.vec.vic.gov.au. 2015-10-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20151023044440/http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Elections/HTVC/HTVCForSouth-WestCoastDistrict.html. 2015-10-23. dead.
  18. Web site: HTVdoukasprepoll.pdf. 2015-10-18. Australian Country Party. Australian Country Party. https://web.archive.org/web/20151024032021/http://countryparty.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/HTVdoukasprepoll.pdf. 2015-10-24. dead.
  19. News: Sinnott. Alex. Close poll. 24 October 2015. The Standard. 24 October 2015.
  20. http://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/polwarth-by-election-2015/commentary/ 2015 Polwarth by-election commentary