List of Australian federal by-elections explained

This is a list of by-elections for the Australian House of Representatives from its creation in 1901 until the present day.

Casual vacancies in the House of Representatives arise when a member dies, is disqualified or resigns, or for some other reason the seat becomes vacant. Members normally resign by tendering resignation to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Casual vacancies are filled by by-elections. The Speaker has a discretion as to when to call a by-election and may not call one at all, for example, if a general election is imminent. At least 33 days must elapse between the issue by the Speaker of a writ and the date of a by-election, and the Speaker cannot issue the writ until receipt of a formal letter of resignation. A by-election must take place on a Saturday.

A supplementary election is held in an electorate following a scheduled general election if the election is not held.

List of federal by-elections

In the following table, gains for the Australian Labor Party are highlighted in red, for the Liberal Party of Australia and its predecessors (including the Protectionist Party) in blue, for the National Party of Australia and its predecessors in dark green, the Australian Greens in light green and for others in grey. Seats that were retained by the respective parties remain white.

Brackets around a date indicate that the candidate was unopposed when nominations closed. These candidates were declared "elected unopposed" with effect from the date of the closing of nominations, as there was no need to hold a by-election.

47th Parliament (2022–present)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Cook	13 April 2024	Resignation	Scott Morrison			Liberal	Simon Kennedy			Liberal
Dunkley	2 March 2024	Death	Peta Murphy			Labor	Jodie Belyea			Labor
Fadden	15 July 2023	Resignation	Stuart Robert			Liberal National				Liberal National
Aston	1 April 2023	Resignation	Alan Tudge			Liberal	Mary Doyle			Labor
46th Parliament (2019–2022)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Groom	28 November 2020	Resignation	John McVeigh			Liberal National				Liberal National
Eden-Monaro	4 July 2020	Resignation	Mike Kelly			Labor	Kristy McBain			Labor
45th Parliament (2016–2019)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Wentworth	20 October 2018	Resignation	Malcolm Turnbull			Liberal	Kerryn Phelps			Independent
Braddon	28 July 2018	Resignation (ineligibility)	Justine Keay			Labor	Justine Keay			Labor
Fremantle	28 July 2018	Resignation (ineligibility)	Josh Wilson			Labor	Josh Wilson			Labor
Longman	28 July 2018	Resignation (ineligibility)	Susan Lamb			Labor	Susan Lamb			Labor
Mayo	28 July 2018	Resignation (ineligibility)	Rebekha Sharkie			Centre Alliance	Rebekha Sharkie			Centre Alliance
Perth	28 July 2018	Resignation	Tim Hammond			Labor	Patrick Gorman			Labor
Batman	17 March 2018	Resignation (ineligibility)	David Feeney			Labor	Ged Kearney			Labor
Bennelong	16 December 2017	Resignation	John Alexander			Liberal	John Alexander			Liberal
New England	2 December 2017	Disqualification	Barnaby Joyce			National	Barnaby Joyce			National
44th Parliament (2013–2016)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
North Sydney	5 December 2015	Resignation	Joe Hockey			Liberal	Trent Zimmerman			Liberal
Canning	19 September 2015	Death	Don Randall			Liberal	Andrew Hastie			Liberal
Griffith	8 February 2014	Resignation	Kevin Rudd			Labor				Labor
43rd Parliament (2010–2013)
No by-elections held
42nd Parliament (2007–2010)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Higgins	5 December 2009	Resignation	Peter Costello			Liberal				Liberal
Bradfield	5 December 2009	Resignation	Brendan Nelson			Liberal				Liberal
Lyne	6 September 2008	Resignation	Mark Vaile			National	Rob Oakeshott			Independent
Mayo	6 September 2008	Resignation	Alexander Downer			Liberal				Liberal
Gippsland	28 June 2008	Resignation	Peter McGauran			National				National
41st Parliament (2004–2007)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Werriwa	19 March 2005	Resignation	Mark Latham			Labor				Labor
40th Parliament (2001–2004)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Cunningham	19 October 2002	Resignation	Stephen Martin			Labor				Greens
39th Parliament (1998–2001)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Aston	14 July 2001	Death	Peter Nugent			Liberal				Liberal
Ryan	17 March 2001	Resignation	John Moore			Liberal				Labor
Isaacs	12 August 2000	Death^[1]	Greg Wilton			Labor				Labor
Holt	6 November 1999	Resignation	Gareth Evans			Labor				Labor
38th Parliament (1996–1998)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Fraser	1 February 1997	Resignation	John Langmore			Labor				Labor
Lindsay	19 October 1996	Disqualification	Jackie Kelly			Liberal				Liberal
Blaxland	15 June 1996	Resignation	Paul Keating			Labor				Labor
37th Parliament (1993–1996)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Wentworth	8 April 1995	Resignation	John Hewson			Liberal				Liberal
Canberra	25 March 1995	Resignation	Ros Kelly			Labor				Liberal
Kooyong	19 November 1994	Resignation	Andrew Peacock			Liberal				Liberal
Mackellar	26 March 1994	Resignation	Jim Carlton			Liberal				Liberal
Warringah	26 March 1994	Resignation	Michael MacKellar			Liberal				Liberal
Bonython	19 March 1994	Resignation	Neal Blewett			Labor				Labor
Fremantle	12 March 1994	Resignation	John Dawkins			Labor				Labor
Werriwa	28 January 1994	Resignation	John Kerin			Labor				Labor
36th Parliament (1990–1993)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Wills	11 April 1992	Resignation	Bob Hawke			Labor				Independent
Menzies	11 May 1991	Resignation	Neil Brown			Liberal				Liberal
35th Parliament (1987–1990)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Gwydir	15 April 1989	Resignation	Ralph Hunt			National				National
Oxley	8 October 1988	Resignation (appointed Governor-General)	Bill Hayden			Labor				Labor
Groom	9 April 1988	Resignation	Tom McVeigh			National				Liberal
Port Adelaide	26 March 1988	Resignation	Mick Young			Labor				Labor
Adelaide	6 February 1988	Resignation	Chris Hurford			Labor				Liberal
34th Parliament (1984–1987)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Scullin	8 February 1986	Resignation	Harry Jenkins Sr.			Labor				Labor
33rd Parliament (1983–1984)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Corangamite	18 February 1984	Resignation	Tony Street			Liberal				Liberal
Hughes	18 February 1984	Resignation	Les Johnson			Labor				Labor
Richmond	18 February 1984	Resignation	Doug Anthony			National				National
Moreton	5 November 1983	Resignation	James Killen			Liberal				Liberal
Bruce	28 May 1983	Resignation	Billy Snedden			Liberal				Liberal
Wannon	7 May 1983	Resignation	Malcolm Fraser			Liberal				Liberal
32nd Parliament (1980–1983)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Flinders	4 December 1982	Resignation	Phillip Lynch			Liberal				Liberal
Lowe	13 March 1982	Resignation	William McMahon			Liberal				Labor
Wentworth	11 April 1981	Resignation	Bob Ellicott			Liberal				Liberal
Boothby	21 February 1981	Resignation	John McLeay			Liberal				Liberal
Curtin	21 February 1981	Resignation	Victor Garland			Liberal				Liberal
McPherson	21 February 1981	Death	Eric Robinson			Liberal				Liberal
31st Parliament (1977–1980)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Grayndler	23 June 1979	Death	Frank Stewart			Labor				Labor
Werriwa	23 September 1978	Resignation	Gough Whitlam			Labor				Labor
30th Parliament (1975–1977)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Cunningham	25 October 1977	Death	Rex Connor			Labor				Labor
29th Parliament (1974–1975)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Bass	28 June 1975	Resignation	Lance Barnard			Labor				Liberal
28th Parliament (1972–1974)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Parramatta	22 September 1973	Resignation	Nigel Bowen			Liberal				Liberal
27th Parliament (1969–1972)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Murray	20 March 1971	Resignation	John McEwen			Country				Country
Chisholm	19 September 1970	Death	Wilfrid Kent Hughes			Liberal				Liberal
Australian Capital Territory	30 May 1970	Death	Jim Fraser			Labor				Labor
26th Parliament (1966–1969)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Bendigo	7 June 1969	Resignation	Noel Beaton			Labor				Labor
Gwydir	7 June 1969	Resignation	Ian Allan			Country				Country
Curtin	19 April 1969	Resignation	Paul Hasluck			Liberal	Victor Garland			Liberal
Higgins	24 February 1968	Death (presumed drowning)	Harold Holt			Liberal				Liberal
Capricornia	30 September 1967	Death	George Gray			Labor				Labor
Corio	22 July 1967	Resignation	Hubert Opperman			Liberal				Labor
25th Parliament (1963–1966)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Kooyong	2 April 1966	Resignation	Robert Menzies			Liberal				Liberal
Dawson	26 February 1966	Death	George Shaw			Country				Labor
Riverina	27 February 1965	Resignation	Hugh Roberton			Country				Country
Robertson	5 December 1964	Resignation	Roger Dean			Liberal				Liberal
Angas	20 June 1964	Resignation	Alick Downer			Liberal				Liberal
Parramatta	20 June 1964	Resignation	Garfield Barwick			Liberal				Liberal
Denison	15 February 1964	Death	Athol Townley			Liberal				Liberal
24th Parliament (1961–1963)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
East Sydney	28 September 1963	Death	Eddie Ward			Labor	Len Devine			Labor
Grey	1 June 1963	Death	Edgar Russell			Labor				Labor
Batman	1 September 1962	Death	Alan Bird			Labor				Labor
23rd Parliament (1958–1961)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Higinbotham	10 December 1960	Death	Frank Timson			Liberal				Liberal
Calare	5 November 1960	Resignation	John Howse			Liberal				Country
Balaclava	16 July 1960	Resignation	Percy Joske			Liberal				Liberal
Bendigo	16 July 1960	Death	Percy Clarey			Labor				Labor
Hunter	9 April 1960	Resignation	H. V. Evatt			Labor				Labor
La Trobe	9 April 1960	Resignation	Richard Casey			Liberal				Liberal
22nd Parliament (1955–1958)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Parramatta	8 March 1958	Resignation	Howard Beale			Liberal				Liberal
Richmond	15 September 1957	Death	Larry Anthony			Country				Country
Wentworth	8 December 1956	Resignation	Eric Harrison			Liberal				Liberal
Barker	13 October 1956	Death	Archie Cameron			Liberal				Liberal
Cunningham	(11 April 1956)	Death	Billy Davies			Labor				Labor
21st Parliament (1954–1955)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Cook	21 May 1955	Death	Tom Sheehan			Labor				Labor
20th Parliament (1951–1954)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Gwydir	19 December 1953	Death	Thomas Treloar			Country				Country
Corangamite	29 August 1953	Death	Allan McDonald			Liberal				Liberal
Lang	29 August 1953	Death	Dan Mulcahy			Labor				Labor
Dalley	9 May 1953	Death	Sol Rosevear			Labor				Labor
Bradfield	20 December 1952	Death	Billy Hughes			Liberal				Liberal
Werriwa	29 November 1952	Death	Bert Lazzarini			Labor				Labor
Flinders	18 October 1952	Death	Rupert Ryan			Liberal				Labor
Lyne	22 March 1952	Death	Jim Eggins			Country				Country
Balaclava	28 July 1951	Resignation	Thomas White			Liberal				Liberal
Macquarie	28 July 1951	Death	Ben Chifley			Labor				Labor
19th Parliament (1949–1951)
No by-elections held
18th Parliament (1946–1949)
No by-elections held
17th Parliament (1943–1946)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Henty	30 March 1946	Resignation	Arthur Coles			Independent				Liberal
Wimmera	9 February 1946	Resignation	Alexander Wilson			Independent				Country
Fremantle	18 August 1945	Death	John Curtin			Labor				Labor
16th Parliament (1940–1943)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Boothby	24 May 1941	Death	John Price			United Australia				United Australia
Swan	21 December 1940	Death	Henry Gregory			Country				Country
Kalgoorlie	16 November 1940	Death	Albert Green			Labor				Labor
15th Parliament (1937–1940)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Corio	2 March 1940	Resignation	Richard Casey			United Australia				Labor
Wilmot	27 May 1939	Death	Joseph Lyons			United Australia				Labor
Griffith	20 May 1939	Death	Frank Baker			Labor				Labor
Wakefield	10 December 1938	Death (aircraft crash)	Charles Hawker			United Australia				Labor
14th Parliament (1934–1937)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Gwydir	8 May 1937	Resignation	Aubrey Abbott			Country				Labor
Darling Downs	19 December 1936	Death	Littleton Groom			United Australia				Country
Kennedy	12 December 1936	Death	Darby Riordan			Labor				Labor
Fawkner	17 August 1935	Death	George Maxwell			United Australia				United Australia
Newcastle	1 June 1935	Death	David Watkins			Labor				Labor
13th Parliament (1931–1934)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Flinders	11 November 1933	Resignation	Stanley Bruce			United Australia				United Australia
East Sydney	6 February 1932	Death	John Clasby			United Australia				Lang Labor
12th Parliament (1929–1931)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
East Sydney	7 March 1931	Death	John West			Labor				Labor
Parkes	31 January 1931	Resignation	Edward McTiernan			Labor				Nationalist
Franklin	14 December 1929	Death	William McWilliams			Independent				Labor
11th Parliament (1928–1929)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Balaclava	3 August 1929	Resignation	William Watt			Nationalist				Nationalist
10th Parliament (1925–1928)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Wide Bay	(3 September 1928)	Death	Edward Corser			Nationalist				Country
Martin	16 June 1928	Death	Herbert Pratten			Nationalist				Nationalist
Warringah	21 May 1927	Resignation	Granville Ryrie			Nationalist				Nationalist
Dalley	26 February 1927	Resignation	William Mahony			Labor				Labor
Eden-Monaro	6 March 1926	Death	Austin Chapman			Nationalist				Nationalist
9th Parliament (1922–1925)
No by-elections held
8th Parliament (1919–1922)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Yarra	18 February 1922	Death	Frank Tudor			Labor				Labor
Parramatta	10 December 1921	Resignation	Joseph Cook			Nationalist				Nationalist
West Sydney	3 September 1921	Death	T. J. Ryan			Labor				Labor
Maranoa	30 July 1921	Death	Jim Page			Labor				Country
Kalgoorlie	18 December 1920	Expulsion	Hugh Mahon			Labor				Nationalist
Ballaarat	10 July 1920	Disqualification (void election)	Edwin Kerby			Nationalist				Labor
7th Parliament (1917–1919)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Echuca	20 September 1919	Death	Albert Palmer			Nationalist				Victorian Farmers
Corangamite	14 December 1918	Death	Chester Manifold			Nationalist				Victorian Farmers
Swan	26 October 1918	Death	John Forrest			Nationalist				Labor
Flinders	11 May 1918	Resignation	William Irvine			Nationalist				Nationalist
Grampians	27 October 1917	Death	Carty Salmon			Nationalist				Nationalist
Darwin	30 June 1917	Death	Charles Howroyd			Nationalist				Nationalist
6th Parliament (1914–1917)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Wide Bay	11 December 1915	Resignation	Andrew Fisher			Labor				Liberal
Dalley	(6 May 1915)	Death	Robert Howe			Labor				Labor
Grampians	20 February 1915	Death	Edward Jolley			Labor				Liberal
Bendigo	6 February 1915	Death	John Arthur			Labor				Labor
5th Parliament (1913–1914)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Adelaide	10 January 1914	Death	Ernest Roberts			Labor				Labor
Kalgoorlie	22 December 1913	Death	Charlie Frazer			Labor				Labor
4th Parliament (1910–1913)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Werriwa	1 June 1912	Resignation	David Hall			Labor				Labor
Boothby	11 November 1911	Death	Lee Batchelor			Labour				Liberal
North Sydney	11 March 1911	Death	George Edwards			Liberal				Liberal
Batman	8 February 1911	Death	Henry Beard			Labour				Labour
Kooyong	24 August 1910	Resignation	William Knox			Liberal				Liberal
3rd Parliament (1906–1910)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Wakefield	28 August 1909	Death	Frederick Holder			Independent				Liberal
Adelaide	13 June 1908	Death	Charles Kingston			Protectionist				Labour
Echuca	10 July 1907	Disqualification (void election)	Albert Palmer			Anti-Socialist				Anti-Socialist
2nd Parliament (1903–1906)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
Riverina	18 May 1904	Disqualification (void election)	Robert Blackwood			Free Trade				Protectionist
Melbourne	30 March 1904	Disqualification (void election)	Malcolm McEacharn			Protectionist				Labour
Wilmot	26 February 1904	Death	Edward Braddon			Free Trade				Free Trade
1st Parliament (1901–1903)
Division	Date	Cause	Former member	Party		Winner	Party
East Sydney	4 September 1903	Resignation (protest)	George Reid			Free Trade				Free Trade
Tasmania	26 March 1902	Death	Frederick Piesse			Free Trade				Free Trade
Darling Downs	14 September 1901	Death	William Henry Groom			Protectionist				Protectionist

State by-elections

• New South Wales state by-elections
• Northern Territory by-elections
• Queensland state by-elections
• South Australian state by-elections
• Tasmania state by-elections
• Victorian state by-elections
• Western Australian state by-elections

Sources

• House of Representatives by-elections: 1901–2018. Appendix 1: House of Representatives by-elections, 1901–2018. Parliament Library. Stephen. Barber. 8 May 2019. 23-26.

See also

• Chronology of Australian federal parliaments

Notes and References

1. Wilton committed suicide