2022 Monaro state by-election explained

Election Name:2022 Monaro state by-election
Country:Australia
Type:Parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:2019 New South Wales state election
Previous Year:2019
Election Date:12 February 2022
Next Election:2023 New South Wales state election
Next Year:2023
Turnout:83.4%
Registered:57,982
Seats For Election:Electoral district of Monaro in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Candidate1:Nichole Overall
Party1:National Party of Australia
Popular Vote1:21,728
Candidate2:Bryce Wilson
Party2:Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)
Popular Vote2:15,102
1Blank:Percentage
1Data1:45.96%
1Data2:31.95%
2Blank:Swing
2Data1: 6.35pp
2Data2: 4.78pp
3Blank:2CP
3Data1:55.21%
3Data2:44.80%
4Blank:2CP change
4Data1:6.41pp
4Data2:6.41pp
MP
Before Election:John Barilaro
Before Party:National
After Election:Nichole Overall
After Party:National
Flag Image:Flag_of_New_South_Wales.svg

A by-election was held in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Monaro on 12 February 2022 upon the resignation of Deputy Premier of New South Wales and Nationals MP John Barilaro.

Background

The retiring member is former Deputy Premier of New South Wales John Barilaro. He previously served as the Minister for Regional Development (later renamed Minister for Regional New South Wales), Minister for Small Business, and Minister for Skills in the first Berejiklian and second Baird governments, from October 2014 until March 2019; and as the Minister for Regional Tourism in the first Baird government. In October 2021, he announced his resignation as Deputy Premier, Leader of the National Party and member for Monaro, saying it was "the right time for me to hand the reins over".

The Monaro by-election was held on the same day as by-elections for the districts of Bega, Strathfield and Willoughby. The writs for election were issued on 21 January 2022. Nominations for candidates closed seven days later at noon on 27 January, with the ballot paper draw commencing in the morning of 28 January.[1]

The NSW Electoral Commission pre-emptively sent postal ballots to all voters registered on the state electoral roll for the relevant districts, under a regulation in a COVID amendment to the Electoral Act. Postal votes will be checked against in-person voting rolls to prevent double voting. The iVote online voting system was not used at these elections after the system failed during the NSW local government elections in December 2021.[2]

Candidates

Candidates
(in ballot paper order)[3]
PartyCandidateBackgroundNotes
 IndependentAndrew ThalerTrucker
 NationalsNichole OverallJournalist and author[4]
 Sustainable AustraliaJames Holgate
 Animal Justice PartyFrankie SeymourAnimal rights activist[5]
 GreensCatherine MooreFormer Palerang Councillor [6]
 LaborBryce WilsonQueanbeyan-Palerang Councillor[7] [8]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Monaro State by-election . NSW Electoral Commission . 11 February 2022.
  2. News: Green . Antony . Antony Green explains how living with COVID could affect elections, starting tomorrow . 11 February 2022 . ABC News . 10 February 2022 . en-AU.
  3. Web site: Nominated candidates for the 2022 Monaro state by-election . NSW Electoral Commission . 28 January 2022.
  4. News: Green . Antony . Monaro By-election . 16 January 2022 . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . en.
  5. News: January 25, 2022. Animal activist to run in fight for Monaro. Canberra CityNews. live. January 26, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220126234931/https://citynews.com.au/2022/animal-activist-to-run-in-monaro-by-election/. January 26, 2022.
  6. Web site: 2022-01-19. Greens announce by-election candidate. 2022-01-20. Canberra CityNews. en-AU.
  7. Web site: Reardon. Adriane. 2022-01-07. Queanbeyan-based councillor Bryce Wilson announces tilt as NSW Labor's Monaro by-election candidate. 2022-01-16. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. en.
  8. Web site: Minns . Chris . If you think it's hard to find a RAT in Sydney - try and find one in the regions. I visited Alex who runs Googong Pharmacy today, with @brycepwilson - our Monaro candidate. Alex has been flooded with people in need of tests who can't find them. They must be free and available. . Twitter . 15 January 2022.