2024 Ipswich West state by-election explained

Country:Queensland
Type:parliamentary
Election Date:16 March 2024
Seats For Election:Electoral district of Ipswich West in the Queensland Legislative Assembly
Registered:39,136
Turnout:31,579 (80.7% 6.1)
Previous Election:2020 Queensland state election
Previous Year:2020
Next Election:2024 Queensland state election
Next Year:2024
Candidate1:Darren Zanow
Party1:Liberal National Party of Queensland
Popular Vote1:11,676
Percentage1:39.5%
Swing1: 18.4
Party2:Australian Labor Party (Queensland Branch)
Popular Vote2:10,349
Percentage2:35.0%
Swing2: 15.1
1Blank:TPP
2Blank:TPP swing
1Data1:53.5%
2Data1: 17.9
1Data2:46.5%
2Data2: 17.9
MP
Before Election:Jim Madden
Before Party:Labor
After Election:Darren Zanow
After Party:Liberal National Party of Queensland

A by-election for the electoral district of Ipswich West in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland was held on 16 March 2024 following the resignation of Labor MP Jim Madden. The by-election was held on the same day as the Inala by-election and the statewide local government elections.[1]

Madden resigned on 26 January 2024 to contest Division 4 of Ipswich City Council at the March local government elections.[2]

Although the seat was considered safe for the Labor Party, Liberal National candidate Darren Zanow won the by-election after a 17.9% two-party-preferred swing.[3]

Following the by-election, Zanow was diagnosed with Microvascular Ischemic Disease, an incurable brain disease, on 16 April 2024 − the day he was formally sworn into parliament.[4] He made his diagnosis public on 12 July and announced he would not contest the 2024 Queensland state election in October.[5]

Background

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Labor MP Jim Madden, who had served as a member for Ipswich West since 2015 after he defeated sitting Liberal National MP Sean Choat, the first major party non-Labor MP to represent the seat since Nationals MP Albert Hales (who served between 1974 and 1977).

Madden previously announced that he would not contest the 2024 state election, but resigned whilst still in office shortly after the resignation of former Premier and Inala MP Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Previous election results

Candidates

PartyCandidateBackground
Legalise CannabisMelody Lindsay
Liberal NationalDarren ZanowBusinessman in the construction industry[6]
One NationMark Bone
LaborWendy BourneFormer President of the Rosewood & District Kindergarten and member of the party's right faction.[7] [8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ipswich West by-election, 2024 . Ben . Raue . The Tally Room. 14 June 2023 .
  2. News: Johnson . Hayden . 2024-01-27 . Labor MP Jim Madden resigns to run for Ipswich City Council . subscription . 2024-01-27 . . . Brisbane.
  3. News: Duncan . Evans . Aisling . Brennan . The Queensland Labor government has suffered big swings against it in two key by-elections . . 17 March 2024 . 17 March 2024 . live . 17 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240317003637/https://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/politics/the-queensland-labor-government-has-suffered-big-swings-against-it-in-two-key-byelections/news-story/cd4cea8ffa3082f1d091946fccc02907.
  4. Web site: Hevesi . Bryant . Ipswich West LNP MP Darren Zanow announces he will not contest October state election due to devastating diagnosis . Sky News Australia . 12 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240712034219/https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/ipswich-west-lnp-mp-darren-zanow-announces-he-will-not-contest-october-state-election-due-to-devastating-diagnosis/news-story/e6e1a6f9dbc3db7e1ca45c32f3c54a6a . 12 July 2024 . 12 July 2024.
  5. Web site: Stewart . Rachel . Ipswich West MP Darren Zanow diagnosed with incurable brain disease and will step down at state election . ABC News . 12 July 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240712031831/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-07-12/ipswich-west-mp-incurable-brain-disease-darren-zanow/104090260 . 12 July 2024 . 12 July 2024.
  6. Web site: Darren Zanow - LNP for Ipswich West . 2024-03-14 . en-AU.
  7. Web site: First Palaszczuk, now Madden; two Queensland by-elections in March . subscription . The Australian.
  8. Web site: Wendy Bourne Labor Candidate for Ipswich West . 16 March 2024 . 17 March 2024 . . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240316134329/https://queenslandlabor.org/wendy-bourne/.