List of Western Australian state by-elections explained

The list of Western Australia state by-elections includes every by-election held in the Australian state of Western Australia. By-elections occur whenever there is a vacancy in the Legislative Assembly (or, historically, the Legislative Council), although an imminent state election may allow the vacancy to remain until the dissolution of parliament.

Section 67 of the Electoral Act 1907 requires the Speaker to issue a writ for a by-election to fill the vacancy. This can either take place after a resolution of the House if Parliament is in session, or simply upon the cause being established by the Speaker acting alone if the Parliament is in adjournment for more than seven days.^[1]

Causes

A by-election occurs whenever there is a vacancy in the Legislative Assembly. Vacancies can occur for the following reasons, according to Section 38 of the Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899.^[2]

The member:

Is no longer eligible to sit—for example, leaving the State.^[3] This historically occurred more frequently when times were less economically stable, and people would move to another state or country where they could work or conduct business.
Has been convicted for an offence for which the penalty was imprisonment for life, or for more than five years (Section 32). This last happened to John Marquis Hopkins when he was convicted for fraud in 1910, necessitating a by-election in his seat of Beverley.
Becomes an undischarged bankrupt. This last happened in 1936 when Independent candidate Thomas Hughes won East Perth against the incumbent member in the 1936 election. However it was found that he was an undischarged bankrupt at the time of the nomination and poll (although had since resolved his affairs), and the election was declared void. He won the resulting by-election.
Is elected to either the Federal Parliament or the parliament of another state or territory (Section 34). In practice, this is never necessary, as the other Parliament usually requires resignation from the Western Australian parliament in order to nominate as a candidate. This last occurred in the Legislative Assembly in 2001 when Hendy Cowan, the member for Merredin, resigned to unsuccessfully contest a seat in the Australian Senate.
Is appointed as a judge or magistrate in a Western Australian court or as a chairman (or in some cases member) of another state board or tribunal (Section 34). This provision has never been acted upon, although numerous members have resigned over time to take up such an appointment—for example, Ron Davies resigned in Victoria Park in 1986 to become Agent-General for Western Australia in London, whilst Deputy Premier Herb Graham resigned in Balcatta in 1973 to become chairman of the Licensing Board.
"Holds an office or place in the service of the Crown" at the time at which they take up their seat (Section 36-37). This has never been used at state level, although it has occurred in other States and in the Federal Parliament (for example, the circumstances leading to the federal Lindsay by-election in 1996.)
Becomes "of unsound mind".
Pledges allegiance to a foreign power after their election. This does not apply to members who are already dual citizens at the time of their election, unlike the equivalent section in the Federal Constitution.
Fails to attend the House for one entire session without the permission of the House. The last time this caused a by-election was in 1915 when Joseph Gardiner, the Labor member for Roebourne, disappeared, necessitating a by-election in which an Opposition candidate was victorious, wiping out the Government's one-seat majority.

Additional reasons not within Section 38 include death, resignation, or the voiding of results by a Court of Disputed Returns.^[4] The last time a by-election took place for this reason was in 1983, when Gavan Troy, the Labor candidate, narrowly defeated incumbent Liberal member Tom Herzfeld in Mundaring. The seat was won by Troy by a larger margin at the resulting by-election.

Ministerial by-elections

Until a constitutional amendment in 1947,^[5] it was necessary for members who were appointed as a Minister to resign their seat and contest their seat at a ministerial by-election. This was because the Ministers became members of the Executive Council, which reported to the Governor of Western Australia and was therefore deemed an "office of profit" under the Crown. Most ministerial by-elections were a formality with the Minister being re-elected unopposed, but on two occasions, in 1901 and 1917, Ministers were defeated at the by-elections, in the former case directly causing the fall of the Morgans Ministry.

List of Legislative Assembly by-elections

2020–2029

Parl.	By-election	Date	Incumbent	Party		Winner	Party		Vacated	Cause	Retained
41st	Rockingham	29 July 2023	Mark McGowan			Labor	Magenta Marshall			Labor	8 June 2023	Resignation	Yes
41st	North West Central	17 September 2022	Vince Catania			National	Merome Beard			National	8 August 2022	Resignation	Yes

2010–2019

Parl.	By-election	Date	Incumbent	Winner	Party	Cause	Retained
40th	Darling Range	23 June 2018	Barry Urban	Independent	Alyssa Hayden	Liberal	8 May 2018	Resignation	No
40th	Cottesloe	17 March 2018	Colin Barnett	Liberal	David Honey	Liberal	5 February 2018	Resignation	Yes
39th	Vasse	18 October 2014	Troy Buswell	Liberal	Libby Mettam	Liberal	3 September 2014	Resignation	Yes
38th	Armadale	2 October 2010	Alannah MacTiernan	Labor	Tony Buti	Labor	19 July 2010	Resignation (Contesting HoR)	Yes

2000–2009

Parl.	Date	Incumbent	Winner	Party	Cause	Retained
38th	28 November 2009	Alan Carpenter	Labor	Peter Tinley	Labor	2 October 2009	Resignation	Yes
38th	16 May 2009	Jim McGinty	Labor	Adele Carles	Greens	3 April 2009	Resignation	No
37th	23 February 2008	Trevor Sprigg	Liberal	Christian Porter	Liberal	17 January 2008	Death	Yes
37th	3 February 2007	Norm Marlborough	Labor	Paul Papalia	Labor	10 November 2006	Resignation	Yes
37th	11 March 2006	Dr Geoff Gallop	Labor	Ben Wyatt	Labor	16 January 2006	Resignation	Yes
36th	24 November 2001	Hendy Cowan	National	Brendon Grylls	National	17 October 2001	Resignation (contesting Senate)	Yes
36th	9 June 2001	Richard Court	Liberal	Sue Walker	Liberal	23 February 2001	Resignation	Yes

1990–1999

Parl.	Date	Incumbent	Winner	Party	Cause	Retained
34th	16 March 1996	Ian Taylor	Labor	Megan Anwyl	Labor	4 February 1996	Resignation (contesting HoR)	Yes
34th	10 September 1994	Gordon Hill	Labor	Rhonda Parker	Liberal	4 August 1994	Resignation	No
34th	19 March 1994	Dr Carmen Lawrence	Labor	Michelle Roberts	Labor	14 February 1994	Resignation (contesting HoR)	Yes
33rd	4 April 1992	Pam Buchanan	Independent	Fred Riebeling	Labor	3 March 1992	Resignation (ill health)	Yes
33rd	20 July 1991	Andrew Mensaros	Liberal	Liz Constable	Independent	May 1991	Resignation (ill health)	No
33rd	13 April 1991	Jeff Carr	Labor	Bob Bloffwitch	Liberal	28 February 1991	Resignation	No
33rd	11 August 1990	Bill Hassell	Liberal	Colin Barnett	Liberal	28 June 1990	Resignation	Yes
33rd	26 May 1990	Peter Dowding	Labor	Judy Edwards	Labor	26 April 1990	Resignation	Yes
33rd	26 May 1990	David Parker	Labor	Jim McGinty	Labor	26 April 1990	Resignation	Yes

The Independent member for Ashburton, Pam Buchanan, was elected at the 1989 state election as a member of the Labor Party, but resigned on 1 February 1991 to sit as an Independent. As such, the 1992 by-election is noted as a retain for Labor.

1980–1989

Parl.	Date	Incumbent	Winner	Party	Cause	Retained
32nd	7 May 1988	Cyril Rushton	Liberal	Fred Tubby	Liberal	25 February 1988	Resignation	Yes
32nd	19 March 1988	Mal Bryce	Labor	Eric Ripper	Labor	17 February 1988	Resignation	Yes
32nd	19 March 1988	Brian Burke	Labor	Ted Cunningham	Labor	17 February 1988	Resignation	Yes
32nd	24 October 1987	George Spriggs	Liberal	Bob Greig	Liberal	3 September 1987	Resignation	Yes
32nd	24 October 1987	Ian Laurance	Liberal	Dudley Maslen	Liberal	3 September 1987	Resignation	Yes
32nd	9 May 1987	Arthur Tonkin	Labor	Frank Donovan	Labor	18 March 1987	Resignation	Yes
32nd	9 May 1987	Cambell Nalder	National	Bob Wiese	National	14 March 1987	Death	Yes
32nd	9 May 1987	Terry Burke	Labor	Dr Ian Alexander	Labor	18 March 1987	Resignation	Yes
32nd	7 June 1986	Clive Hughes	Labor	Norm Marlborough	Labor	4 April 1986	Death	Yes
32nd	7 June 1986	Ron Davies	Labor	Dr Geoff Gallop	Labor	16 April 1986	Resignation (appointed as Agent-General)	Yes
31st	17 November 1984	Don Taylor	Labor	Clive Hughes	Labor	31 August 1984	Resignation	Yes
31st	17 November 1984	Ray O'Connor	Liberal	George Cash	Liberal	17 August 1984	Resignation	Yes
31st	8 October 1983	Gavan Troy	Labor	Gavan Troy	Labor	2 September 1983	Voided by Court of Disputed Returns	Yes
30th	13 March 1982	Sir Charles Court	Liberal	Richard Court	Liberal	31 January 1982	Resignation	Yes
30th	13 March 1982	Jack Skidmore	Labor	Gordon Hill	Labor	31 January 1982	Resignation	Yes
30th	20 June 1981	Ted Evans	Labor	Ian Taylor	Labor	30 April 1981	Death	Yes

1970–1979

Parl.	Date	Incumbent	Winner	Party	Cause	Retained
29th	17 December 1977	Alan Ridge	Liberal	Alan Ridge	Liberal	7 November 1977	Voided by Court of Disputed Returns	Yes
28th	1 November 1975	Sir David Brand	Liberal	Reg Tubby	Liberal	21 August 1975	Resignation	Yes
27th	28 July 1973	Herb Graham	Labor	Brian Burke	Labor	30 May 1973	Resignation (appointed to Licensing Court)	Yes
27th	7 April 1973	Maurice Williams	Liberal	John Sibson	Liberal	28 February 1973	Resignation	Yes
27th	16 December 1972	David Reid	Country	Sandy Lewis	Liberal	26 October 1972	Resignation (contesting HoR)	No
27th	13 November 1971	Merv Toms	Labor	Mal Bryce	Labor	8 October 1971	Death	Yes
26th	6 June 1970	Jack Hall	Labor	Wyndham Cook	Labor	14 April 1970	Resignation	Yes

1960–1969

Parl.	By-election	Date	Incumbent	Winner	Party	Cause	Retained
25th		2 September 1967	George Cornell	Country	Ray McPharlin	Country	6 July 1967	Death	Yes
25th		2 September 1967	Tom Hart	Country	Bill Young	Country	30 June 1967	Resignation	Yes
25th		8 May 1965	Gerald Wild	Liberal	Cyril Rushton	Liberal	16 March 1965	Resignation (appointed as Agent-General)	Yes
24th		1 September 1962	George Roberts	Liberal	Maurice Williams	Liberal	22 July 1962	Death	Yes
24th		21 July 1962	Ken Dunn	Liberal	Ken Dunn	Liberal	22 June 1962	Voided by Court of Disputed Returns	Yes
24th		23 June 1962	Sir Ross McLarty	Liberal	Ewart Runciman	Liberal	7 May 1962	Resignation	Yes
23rd	Victoria Park	26 August 1961	Hugh Andrew	Labor	Ron Davies	Labor	1 July 1961	Death	Yes
23rd	South Fremantle	12 March 1960	Dick Lawrence	Labor	Henry Curran	Labor	25 January 1960	Death	Yes

1950–1959

Parl.	By-election	Date	Incumbent	Winner	Party	Cause	Retained
22nd		20 September 1958	John Ackland	Country	Edgar Lewis	Country	29 July 1958	Death	Yes
22nd	Pilbara	24 April 1958†	Aloysius Rodoreda	Labor	Arthur Bickerton	Labor	11 March 1958	Death	Yes
22nd	Warren	25 January 1958	Ernest Hoar	Labor	Joseph Rowberry	Labor	17 December 1957	Resignation (appointed as Agent-General)	Yes
21st	Bunbury	29 October 1955	Frank Guthrie	Labor	George Roberts	Liberal	21 September 1955	Death	No
21st	Kimberley	16 May 1953	Aubrey Coverley	Labor	John Rhatigan	Labor	19 March 1953	Death	Yes
20th	Murchison	8 November 1952	William Marshall	Labor	Everard O'Brien	Labor	19 August 1952	Death	Yes
20th	Leederville	9 February 1952	Alexander Panton	Labor	Ted Johnson	Labor	25 December 1951	Death	Yes
20th	Gascoyne	13 October 1951	Frank Wise	Labor	Noel Butcher	Ind. Lib.	9 July 1951	Resignation (appointed as NT Administrator)	No
20th	Boulder	14 September 1951†	Charlie Oliver	Labor	Arthur Moir	Labor	16 August 1951	Death	Yes
20th	South Fremantle	14 July 1951	Tom Fox	Labor	Dick Lawrence	Labor	20 April 1951	Death	Yes
20th	Maylands	17 February 1951	Harry Shearn	Independent	Edward Oldfield	Liberal	25 January 1951	Death	No

† Won by acclamation; this date is the date of the return of the writ.

1940–1949

Parl.	Date	Incumbent	Winner	Party	Cause	Retained
19th	26 February 1949	David Leahy	Labor	Harry McCulloch	Labor	19 December 1948	Death	Yes
19th	4 December 1948	Hon Philip Collier	Labor	Charlie Oliver	Labor	18 October 1948	Death	Yes
19th	13 March 1948	William Johnson	Labor	John Brady	Labor	26 January 1948	Death	Yes
19th	7 June 1947	William Willmott	Liberal	Stewart Bovell	Liberal	2 May 1947	Death	Yes
19th	2 August 1947	Bill Hegney	Labor	Bill Hegney	Labor	20 June 1947	Voided by petition	Yes
18th	27 October 1945	John Newton	Labor	David Brand	Liberal	27 September 1945	Death (WWII combat)	No
18th	10 February 1945	Howard Raphael	Labor	William Read	Independent	9 December 1944	Death	No
18th	1 July 1944	William Telfer	Labor	William Telfer	Labor	24 May 1944	Voided by Court of Disputed Returns	Yes
18th	29 April 1944	Richard Sampson	Country	Ray Owen	Ind. Country	16 February 1944	Death	No
17th	14 August 1943	Thomas Hughes	Independent	Herb Graham	Labor	15 July 1943	Resignation (contesting HoR)	No
17th	21 November 1942	Charles Latham	Country	Charles Perkins	Country	7 October 1942	Resignation (appointed to Senate)	Yes
17th	9 August 1941	George Lambert	Labor	Lionel Kelly	Ind. Country	30 June 1941	Death	No

At the 1943 election, the Labor candidate for Greenough, John Newton, a farmer from Mingenew who had enlisted in the RAAF as a Flight Lieutenant in 1941 and left for the United Kingdom in 1942, unexpectedly defeated the sitting Country member, William Patrick. On 14 January 1944, he was reported missing after a raid on Germany. On 31 July 1945, a panel of members was appointed to enquire whether a vacancy existed, and on 27 September 1945, the seat was declared vacant. At the resulting by-election on 27 October 1945, Liberal candidate David Brand was successful, becoming the first person to win an Australian election under the new Liberal banner.

1930–1939

Parl.	By-election	Date	Incumbent	Winner	Party	Cause	Retained
17th		9 September 1939	Claude Barker	Independent	Horace Berry	Independent	2 August 1939	Resignation	Yes
17th		20 May 1939	May Holman	Labor	Edward Holman	Labor	20 March 1939	Death (car accident)	Yes
16th		5 May 1938	Selby Munsie	Labor	David Leahy	Labor	12 March 1938	Death	Yes
16th		12 February 1938	Edmund Brockman	Nationalist	William Willmott	Nationalist	4 January 1938	Death	Yes
16th		9 May 1936	Thomas Hughes	Independent	Thomas Hughes	Independent	18 April 1936	Resignation	Yes
15th		31 August 1935	Arnold Piesse	Country	Arthur Watts	Country	21 July 1935	Death	Yes
15th		4 July 1935	Harry Griffiths	Country	Ignatius Boyle	Country	23 March 1935	Death	Yes
15th		4 July 1935	Alick McCallum	Labor	Tom Fox	Labor	16 March 1935	Resignation	Yes
15th		29 July 1933	Aubrey Coverley	Labor	Aubrey Coverley	Labor	3 July 1933	Voided by Court of Disputed Returns	Yes
14th	Brown Hill-Ivanhoe	14 July 1932†	John Lutey	Labor	Frederick Smith	Labor	22 June 1932	Death	Yes
14th		25 June 1932	Thomas Walker	Labor	Emil Nulsen	Labor	10 May 1932	Death	Yes
14th		6 February 1932	Frederick Teesdale	Nationalist	John Church	Nationalist	14 December 1931	Death	Yes

† Won by acclamation; this date is the date of the return of the writ.

1920–1929

Parl.	Date	Incumbent	Winner	Party	Cause	Retained
13th	19 November 1929	Charles Maley	Country	Henry Maley	Country	15 October 1929	Death	Yes
13th	7 November 1928†	Thomas Heron	Labor	Ernest Cowan	Labor	13 October 1928	Death	Yes
13th	3 November 1928†	Bertie Johnston	Country	Victor Doney	Country	3 October 1928	Resignation (contesting Senate)	Yes
12th	3 April 1925†	John Holman	Labor	May Holman	Labor	23 February 1925	Death	Yes
11th	8 December 1923	Peter O'Loghlen	Labor	John Holman	Labor	12 November 1923	Death	Yes
11th	13 January 1923	John Boyland	Independent	James Cunningham	Labor	14 December 1922	Death	No
11th	18 November 1922	Jack Simons	Nationalist	Thomas Hughes	Labor	1 November 1922	Resignation	No
10th	20 December 1920	George Foley	National Labor	Thomas Heron	Labor	18 November 1920	Resignation (contesting HoR)	No

Simons had been elected as a Labor member in the 1921 state election, but had resigned to sit as an independent and subsequently joined the Nationalist Party. He was a candidate in the by-election, but was defeated.† Won by acclamation; this date is the date of the return of the writ.

1910–1919

Parl.	Date	Incumbent		Winner	Party		Vacated	Cause	Retained
10th	31 May 1919	Herbert Robinson		Nationalist	John Scaddan			National Labor	2 May 1919	Death	No
10th	14 September 1918	John Stewart		Nationalist	Thomas Duff			Nationalist	30 August 1918	Resignation	Yes
10th	10 November 1917	Bartholomew Stubbs		Labor	Samuel Brown			Nationalist	26 September 1917	Death (WWI combat)	No
9th	21 July 1917	Sir James Connolly		Nationalist	Robert Pilkington			Nationalist	June 1917	Resignation	Yes
9th	21 July 1917	John Scaddan		National Labor	John Lutey			Labor	28 June 1917	Ministerial by-election	No
9th	14 April 1917	Edward Heitmann		National Labor	Samuel Elliott		Liberal	20 March 1917	Resignation (contesting HoR)	No
9th	7 October 1916	John Lutey		Labor	John Scaddan			Labor	15 September 1916	Resignation	Yes
9th	19 August 1916†	John Scaddan		Labor	John Lutey			Labor	8 August 1916	Resignation	Yes
9th	15 August 1916	Charles McDowall		Labor	George Lambert			Labor	13 July 1916	Death	Yes
9th	9 January 1916†	Bertie Johnston		Independent	Bertie Johnston			Independent	18 December 1915	Resignation	Yes
9th	17 November 1915	Joseph Gardiner		Labor	William Butcher		Liberal	30 September 1915	Absence without leave	No
8th	4 February 1914	Albert Green		Labor	George McLeod			Labor	8 December 1913	Resignation	Yes
8th	15 November 1913	Bronte Dooley		Labor	Samuel Elliott		Liberal	19 October 1913	Death	No
8th	12 November 1913†	Edward Heitmann		Labor	Thomas Chesson			Labor	4 November 1913	Resignation	Yes
8th	3 July 1913	Thomas Moore		Labor	Peter O'Loghlen			Labor	17 June 1913	Resignation	Yes
8th	6 May 1913†	Peter O'Loghlen		Labor	Thomas Moore			Labor	17 April 1913	Resignation (contesting HoR)	Yes
7th	1 March 1911	Sir Newton Moore	Ministerial	William Thomas			Labor	13 February 1911	Resignation (appointed as Agent-General)	No
7th	15 August 1910	John Hopkins	Ministerial	Nat Harper		Ministerial	28 July 1910	Disqualified (jailed for uttering)	Yes
7th	8 July 1910	Dennis Jones		Labor	Peter O'Loghlen			Labor	20 June 1910	Resignation	Yes
7th	28 June 1910†	William Butcher	Ministerial	William Butcher		Ministerial	18 June 1910	Sold land to Crown	Yes
7th	9 June 1910	James Price	Ministerial	William Murphy		Ministerial	21 May 1910	Death	Yes
7th	23 March 1910†	Peter O'Loghlen		Labor	Dennis Jones			Labor	13 March 1910	Resignation (contesting HoR)	Yes

† Won by acclamation; this date is the date of the return of the writ.

The Labor member for Brown Hill-Ivanhoe and former Premier, John Scaddan, resigned from his seat on 8 August 1916 in order to contest the Canning ministerial by-election against new minister Robert Robinson. On 19 August 1916, Labor candidate John Lutey was elected unopposed to fill the vacancy. However, upon Scaddan's narrow loss in Canning, Lutey resigned from the seat on 15 September 1916 before being sworn in to allow Scaddan to regain his seat, which he did at the resulting by-election on 7 October 1916 against two minor-party candidates. In March 1917, Scaddan and several others left the Labor Party and joined the new National Labor Party. This party formed a coalition with the Nationalists who, under Premier Sir Henry Lefroy, formed a Ministry on 28 June 1917. Scaddan was appointed Minister for Railways, and had to contest a ministerial by-election. John Lutey won the seat at the by-election on 21 July 1917.

On 18 December 1915, the Labor member for Williams-Narrogin, Bertie Johnston, resigned from the Labor Party and from Parliament. He was returned unopposed as an Independent at the close of nominations for the resulting by-election on 9 January 1916. In mid-1917, he joined the Country Party.

1900–1909

Parl.	By-election	Date	Incumbent		Winner	Party		Vacated	Cause	Retained
7th		12 November 1909†	Frederick Henry Piesse	Ministerial	Arnold Piesse		Ministerial	26 October 1909	Resignation	Yes
7th		17 September 1909	Edward Barnett	Ministerial	William Price		Ministerial	Aug/Sep 1909	Resignation	Yes
7th		20 November 1908	Henry Gregory	Ministerial	Henry Gregory		Ministerial	4 November 1908	Voided by petition	Yes
6th		2 September 1907	Frederick Illingworth	Ministerial	Thomas Draper		NPL (Min.)	13 August 1907	Resignation	Yes
6th		13 November 1906†	Patrick Lynch		Labor	Julian Stuart			Labor	2 November 1906	Resignation (contesting Senate)	Yes
6th		21 November 1906	Henry Carson	Ministerial	Thomas Brown			Labor	26 October 1906	Voided by petition	No
6th		13 November 1906	Joseph Holmes	Ministerial	William Angwin			Labor	24 October 1906	Voided by petition	No
6th		23 July 1906	James Isdell		Independent	Henry Underwood			Labor	27 June 1906	Resignation	No
6th		16 July 1906	Sir Cornthwaite Rason	Ministerial	William Johnson			Labor	27 June 1906	Resignation (appointed as Agent-General)	No
6th		16 July 1906	Arthur Diamond	Ministerial	Arthur Davies		Ministerial	22 June 1906	Death	Yes
6th		9 July 1906	William Eddy	Ministerial	William Eddy		Ministerial	27 April 1906	Voided by petition	Yes
5th		20 October 1904	Walter James	Ministerial	John Hardwick		Ministerial	4 October 1904	Resignation (appointed as Agent-General)	Yes
4th	Nelson	11 December 1903	Sir J. G. Lee-Steere	Ministerial	John Walter		Ministerial	30 November 1903	Death	Yes
4th	North Fremantle	26 August 1903	Denis Doherty	Ministerial	John Ferguson		Ministerial	13 August 1903	Resignation (left State)	Yes
4th	York	6 April 1903	Frederick Monger	Ministerial	R. G. Burges		Ministerial	24 March 1903	Resignation	Yes
4th	Pilbara	18 March 1903	Walter Kingsmill	Opposition	James Isdell			Independent	12 February 1903	Resignation	No
4th	Hannans	15 October 1902†	John Reside		Labor	Thomas Bath			Labor	29 September 1902	Death	Yes
4th	Murray	16 July 1902	William George	Opposition	William Atkins		Independent	1 July 1902	Resignation	No
4th	West Perth	14 July 1902	George Leake	Opposition	Charles Moran		Independent	24 June 1902	Resignation	No
4th	Claremont	11 June 1902	William Sayer	Ministerial	John Foulkes		Opposition	28 May 1902	Resignation	No
4th	North Perth	5 October 1901	Richard Speight	Opposition	George McWilliams		Opposition	19 September 1901	Resignation	Yes
4th	West Kimberley	23 July 1901	Alexander Forrest	Ministerial	Sydney Pigott		Ministerial	20 June 1901	Death	Yes
3rd	Albany	24 July 1900	George Leake	Opposition	John Hassell		Opposition	10 July 1900	Resignation	Yes
3rd	Geraldton	24 July 1900	Richard Robson	Independent	Robert Hutchinson		Opposition	13 June 1900	Resignation	No
3rd	De Grey	28 May 1900†	E. T. Hooley	Ministerial	Leonard Darlot		Ministerial	1 May 1900	Resignation (ill health)	Yes
3rd	Ashburton	24 April 1900†	Septimus Burt	Ministerial	David Forrest		Ministerial	10 April 1900	Resignation	Yes

† Won by acclamation; this date is the date of the return of the writ.

1890–1899

Parl.	By-election	Date	Incumbent		Winner		Vacated	Cause	Retained
3rd	North Murchison	18 September 1899	Henry Kenny	Opposition	Frederick Moorhead	Ministerial	25 August 1899	Death	No
3rd	Geraldton	12 July 1899	George Simpson	Opposition	Richard Robson	Independent	27 June 1899	Resignation	No
3rd	York	26 June 1899†	Frederick Monger	Ministerial	Frederick Monger	Ministerial	15 June 1899	Resignation	Yes
3rd	Gascoyne	26 June 1899†	George Hubble	Ministerial	George Hubble	Ministerial	13 June 1899	Resignation	Yes
2nd	Fremantle	18 July 1896	William Marmion		John Higham		4 July 1896	Death
2nd	North Fremantle	22 May 1895	William Silas Pearse		Matthew Moss		2 May 1895††	Resignation
2nd	Murray	12 January 1895	William Paterson		William George		4 January 1895	Resignation
2nd	Murchison	15 October 1894†	Everard Darlot		E. T. Hooley		18 September 1894	Resignation
1st	East Kimberley	20 April 1893†	William Baker		Francis Connor		7 January 1893	Death
1st	York	27 October 1892†	Stephen Henry Parker		Frederick Monger		5 October 1892	Resignation
1st	South Fremantle	12 October 1892	David Symon		Elias Solomon		13 September 1892	Resignation
1st	Moore	11 August 1892†	George Randell		Henry Lefroy		4 July 1892	Resignation
1st	Perth	12 January 1892	Edward Scott		Thomas Molloy		22 December 1891††	Resignation
1st	Geraldton	10 December 1891†	Edward Vivien Harvey Keane		George Simpson		6 November 1891††	Resignation
1st	Roebourne	16 January 1891†	George Leake		Horace Sholl		30 December 1890	Resignation

† Won by acclamation; this date is the date of the return of the writ.†† This was the date which the writ was issued – the date of the event which caused the by-election is unknown.

Ministerial by-elections

The following Ministers had to resign their seats and recontest them at a ministerial by-election. Most were unopposed; these are noted in italics in the table.

Parl.	Electorate	Date	Member		Winner	Party		Appointed	Ministry	Retained
19th		17 April 1947	Ross McLarty		Liberal				1 April 1947	McLarty-Watts	Yes
19th		17 April 1947	Arthur Watts	Country				1 April 1947	McLarty-Watts	Yes
19th		17 April 1947	Sir Ross McDonald		Liberal				1 April 1947	McLarty-Watts	Yes
19th		17 April 1947	Lindsay Thorn	Country				1 April 1947	McLarty-Watts	Yes
19th		17 April 1947	Victor Doney	Country				1 April 1947	McLarty-Watts	Yes
19th		17 April 1947	Arthur Abbott		Liberal				1 April 1947	McLarty-Watts	Yes
19th		17 April 1947	Harrie Seward	Country				1 April 1947	McLarty-Watts	Yes
18th		17 August 1945	William Marshall	Labor				3 August 1945	Wise	Yes
18th		17 December 1943	John Tonkin	Labor				9 December 1943	Willcock	Yes
17th		5 April 1939	Emil Nulsen	Labor				29 March 1939	Willcock	Yes
17th		5 April 1939	Aubrey Coverley	Labor				29 March 1939	Willcock	Yes
16th		9 April 1938	Alexander Panton	Labor				24 March 1938	Willcock	Yes
16th		4 September 1936	Frederick Smith	Labor				27 August 1936	Willcock	Yes
16th		22 May 1936	Albert Hawke	Labor				13 May 1936	2nd Collier	Yes
15th		11 April 1935	Frank Wise	Labor				26 March 1935	2nd Collier	Yes
15th		2 May 1933	Philip Collier	Labor				24 April 1933	2nd Collier	Yes
15th		2 May 1933	Alexander McCallum	Labor				24 April 1933	2nd Collier	Yes
15th		2 May 1933	John Willcock	Labor				24 April 1933	2nd Collier	Yes
15th		2 May 1933	Selby Munsie	Labor				24 April 1933	2nd Collier	Yes
15th		2 May 1933	Frank Troy	Labor				24 April 1933	2nd Collier	Yes
15th		2 May 1933	Harry Millington	Labor				24 April 1933	2nd Collier	Yes
15th		2 May 1933	James Kenneally	Labor				24 April 1933	2nd Collier	Yes
14th		1 May 1930	Sir James Mitchell	Nationalist				24 April 1930	2nd Mitchell	Yes
14th		1 May 1930	Charles Latham	Country				24 April 1930	2nd Mitchell	Yes
14th		1 May 1930	Thomas Davy	Nationalist				24 April 1930	2nd Mitchell	Yes
14th		1 May 1930	John Scaddan	Nationalist				24 April 1930	2nd Mitchell	Yes
14th		1 May 1930	John Lindsay	Country				24 April 1930	2nd Mitchell	Yes
14th		1 May 1930	Norbert Keenan	Nationalist				24 April 1930	2nd Mitchell	Yes
14th		1 May 1930	Percy Ferguson	Country				24 April 1930	2nd Mitchell	Yes
13th		23 December 1927	Harry Millington	Labor				15 December 1927	1st Collier	Yes
13th		23 December 1927	James Cunningham	Labor				15 December 1927	1st Collier	Yes
13th		9 May 1927	Selby Munsie	Labor				30 April 1927	1st Collier	Yes
12th		1 May 1924	Philip Collier	Labor				16 April 1924	1st Collier	Yes
12th		1 May 1924	William Angwin	Labor				16 April 1924	1st Collier	Yes
12th		1 May 1924	Frank Troy	Labor				16 April 1924	1st Collier	Yes
12th		1 May 1924	John Willcock	Labor				16 April 1924	1st Collier	Yes
12th		1 May 1924	Alexander McCallum	Labor				16 April 1924	1st Collier	Yes
11th		31 August 1922	Richard Sampson	Country				22 August 1922	Mitchell	Yes
11th		27 April 1921	Henry Maley	Country				13 April 1921	1st Mitchell	Yes
10th		10 July 1919	Frank Broun	Country				25 June 1919	1st Mitchell	Yes
10th	West Perth	7 June 1919	Thomas Draper	Nationalist				17 May 1919	1st Mitchell	Yes
10th		24 April 1919	James Mitchell	Nationalist				17 April 1919	Colebatch	Yes
9th		21 July 1917	John Scaddan		National Labor	John Lutey		Labor	28 June 1917	Lefroy	No
9th		11 July 1917	James Gardiner	Nationalist				28 June 1917	Lefroy	Yes
9th		9 August 1916	Frank Wilson	Liberal				27 July 1916	2nd Wilson	Yes
9th		9 August 1916	Sir Henry Lefroy	Liberal				27 July 1916	2nd Wilson	Yes
9th		19 August 1916	James Mitchell	Liberal				27 July 1916	2nd Wilson	Yes
9th		9 August 1916	William George	Liberal				27 July 1916	2nd Wilson	Yes
9th		19 August 1916	Robert Robinson	Liberal				27 July 1916	2nd Wilson	Yes
9th		2 December 1914	William Angwin	Labor				23 November 1914	Scaddan	Yes
8th		17 October 1911	John Scaddan	Labor				7 October 1911	Scaddan	Yes
8th		17 October 1911	Philip Collier	Labor				7 October 1911	Scaddan	Yes
8th		17 October 1911	Thomas Bath	Labor				7 October 1911	Scaddan	Yes
8th	Guildford	17 October 1911	William Johnson	Labor				7 October 1911	Scaddan	Yes
8th	Kanowna	17 October 1911	Thomas Walker	Labor				7 October 1911	Scaddan	Yes
7th	Subiaco	24 September 1910	Henry Daglish	Ministerial				16 September 1910	1st Wilson	Yes
7th	Greenough	8 July 1909	John Nanson	Ministerial				30 June 1909	Moore	Yes
7th		3 June 1909	James Mitchell	Ministerial				14 May 1909	Moore	Yes
6th		25 May 1906	James Price	Ministerial				7 May 1906	Moore	Yes
6th		16 May 1906	Norbert Keenan	Ministerial				7 May 1906	Moore	Yes
5th		14 September 1905	Hector Rason	Ministerial				25 August 1905	Rason	Yes
5th		14 September 1905	Henry Gregory	Ministerial				25 August 1905	Rason	Yes
5th		14 September 1905	Frank Wilson	Ministerial				25 August 1905	Rason	Yes
5th		14 September 1905	Newton Moore	Ministerial				25 August 1905	Rason	Yes
5th		13 September 1905	John Sydney Hicks	Ministerial				25 August 1905	Rason	Yes
5th		22 June 1905	Thomas Bath	Labor				7 June 1905	Daglish	Yes
5th		30 June 1905	Patrick Lynch	Labor				7 June 1905	Daglish	Yes
5th		19 August 1904	Henry Daglish	Labor				10 August 1904	Daglish	Yes
5th		19 August 1904	George Taylor	Labor				10 August 1904	Daglish	Yes
5th		19 August 1904	Robert Hastie	Labor				10 August 1904	Daglish	Yes
5th		19 August 1904	John Holman	Labor				10 August 1904	Daglish	Yes
5th	Kalgoorlie	19 August 1904	William Johnson	Labor				10 August 1904	Daglish	Yes
4th	Boulder	25 February 1903	John Marquis Hopkins	Opposition				17 February 1903	James	Yes
4th	East Perth	8 July 1902	Walter James	Opposition				1 July 1902	James	Yes
4th	Albany	8 July 1902	James Gardiner	Opposition				1 July 1902	James	Yes
4th	West Perth	7 January 1902	George Leake	Opposition				23 December 1901	2nd Leake	Yes
4th	Cue	2 January 1902	Frederick Illingworth	Opposition				23 December 1901	2nd Leake	Yes
4th	Pilbara	23 January 1902	Walter Kingsmill	Opposition				23 December 1901	2nd Leake	Yes
4th	Guildford	7 January 1902	Hector Rason	Opposition				23 December 1901	2nd Leake	Yes
4th	Menzies	2 January 1902	Henry Gregory	Opposition				23 December 1901	2nd Leake	Yes
4th	Coolgardie	6 December 1901	Alf Morgans	Ministerial				21 November 1901	Morgans	Yes
4th	North Murchison	10 December 1901	Frederick Moorhead	Ministerial	John Holman		Labor	21 November 1901	Morgans	No
4th	Toodyay	30 November 1901	Timothy Quinlan	Ministerial				21 November 1901	Morgans	Yes
4th	Murchison	10 December 1901	John Nanson	Ministerial				21 November 1901	Morgans	Yes
4th	Perth	6 December 1901	Frank Wilson	Ministerial	William Purkiss		Ministerial	21 November 1901	Morgans	No
4th	West Perth	12 June 1901	George Leake	Opposition				27 May 1901	1st Leake	Yes
4th	Cue	12 June 1901	Frederick Illingworth	Opposition				27 May 1901	1st Leake	Yes
4th	Pilbara	12 June 1901	Walter Kingsmill	Opposition				27 May 1901	1st Leake	Yes
4th	East Fremantle	12 June 1901	Joseph Holmes	Opposition				27 May 1901	1st Leake	Yes
4th	Menzies	12 June 1901	Henry Gregory	Opposition				27 May 1901	1st Leake	Yes
3rd	West Perth	22 September 1900	Barrington Wood	Ministerial				10 September 1900	Forrest	Yes
3rd	Greenough	5 November 1897	Richard Pennefather	Ministerial				27 October 1897	Forrest	Yes
3rd	Moore	26 May 1897	Henry Lefroy	Ministerial				12 May 1897	Forrest	Yes
2nd	Northam	27 March 1897	George Throssell	Ministerial				13 March 1897	Forrest	Yes
2nd	Williams	18 April 1896	Frederick Henry Piesse	Ministerial				1 April 1896	Forrest	Yes
2nd	De Grey	21 June 1895	Alexander Richardson	Ministerial				4 December 1894	Forrest	Yes
1st	Bunbury	8 January 1891	John Forrest	Ministerial				30 December 1890	Forrest	Yes
1st	Ashburton	8 January 1891	Septimus Burt	Ministerial				30 December 1890	Forrest	Yes
1st	Fremantle	8 January 1891	William Marmion	Ministerial				30 December 1890	Forrest	Yes
1st	Wellington	8 January 1891	Harry Venn	Ministerial				30 December 1890	Forrest	Yes

List of Legislative Council vacancies

See main article: List of Western Australian Legislative Council by-elections and List of Western Australian Legislative Council casual vacancies.

References

By-elections in Western Australia (Parliamentary Library)
Book: Hughes, Colin A.. Colin Hughes

. Colin Hughes. Graham, B. D. . Voting for the South Australian, Western Australian and Tasmanian Lower Houses, 1890-1964. 1976. Australian National University. Canberra. 0-7081-1334-6.

Notes and References

http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/wa/consol_act/ea1907103/s67.html Section 67
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/wa/consol_act/caaa1899307/s38.html Section 38
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/wa/consol_act/ea1907103/s76a.html Section 76A
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/wa/consol_act/ea1907103/s172.html Section 172
Constitution (Re-election of Ministers) Act 1947 (No. 4 of 1947), assented 2 October 1947.