2018 Perth by-election

2018 Perth by-election
← 2016 28 July 2018 (2018-07-28) 2019 →
The Division of Perth (WA) in the House of Representatives
Registered100,655
Turnout64.07% Decrease 23.97
  First party Second party
 
Candidate Patrick Gorman Caroline Perks
Party Labor Greens
Popular vote 22,812 10,908
Percentage 39.33% 18.81%
Swing Increase 1.97 Increase 1.74
2CP 63.10% 36.90%
2CP swing Increase 63.10 Increase 36.90
MP before election

Tim Hammond
Labor

Elected MP

Patrick Gorman
Labor

A by-election for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Perth, took place on Saturday 28 July, 2018 following the resignation of incumbent Labor MP, Tim Hammond.[1]

During the early counting, within 90 minutes of the close of polls, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's psephologist Antony Green's electoral computer had predicted Labor to retain the electorate with an increased margin.[2]

The by-election occurred on the same day as four other by-elections for the House of Representatives, colloquially known as Super Saturday.

Background

Hammond announced on 2 May 2018 of his imminent intention to resign from parliament due to family reasons.[1] Due to the High Court ruling against Senator Katy Gallagher on 9 May 2018 as part of the ongoing parliamentary eligibility crisis, four other MPs in the same situation announced their parliamentary resignations later that day.[3] The Speaker announced on 24 May 2018 that he had scheduled the by-elections to occur on 28 July 2018. Popularly labelled "Super Saturday", the occurrence of five simultaneous federal by-elections is unprecedented in Australian political history.[4] The others are:

Key dates

Key dates in relation to the by-election are:[5]

  • Thursday, 10 May 2018 – Speaker acceptance of resignation
  • Friday, 15 June 2018 – Issue of writ
  • Friday, 22 June 2018 – Close of electoral rolls (8pm)
  • Thursday, 5 July 2018 – Close of nominations (12 noon)
  • Friday, 6 July 2018 – Declaration of nominations (12 noon)
  • Tuesday, 10 July 2018 – Start of early voting
  • Saturday, 28 July 2018 – Polling day (8am to 6pm)
  • Friday, 10 August 2018 – Last day for receipt of postal votes
  • Sunday, 23 September 2018 – Last day for return of writs

Candidates

Candidates (15) in ballot paper order[6]
Party Candidate Background
  Independent Julie Matheson Founder of the federally unregistered Western Australia Party.[6]
  Animal Justice Nicole Arielli Party treasurer.[6]
  Independent Jim Grayden Property manager, former teacher. Son of former Swan MP Bill Grayden. Running as an Independent Liberal[7]
  Liberal Democrats Wesley Du Preez Edith Cowan University graduate in Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations.[6]
  #Sustainable Colin Scott Small business operator and community volunteer.[8]
  Mental Health Ben Mullings Psychologist.[9]
  Labor Patrick Gorman Western Australian Labor state secretary.[10] Aligned with Labor Left.[11]
  People Gabriel Harfouche Party founder. Ran as a Palmer United candidate in Perth at the 2013 federal election.[12]
  Independent Paul Collins Former Stirling councillor. Contested the North Metropolitan Region at the 2013 state election as the sixth Liberal candidate.[6]
  Greens Caroline Perks Public servant for climate change policy.[13]
  Science Aaron Hammond Multi-disciplinary engineer.[14]
  Christians Ellen Joubert Coach and mentor for women and children.[15]
  Liberty Alliance Tony Robinson Party co-founder. Contested the 2017 Bennelong by-election.[16]
  Independent Ian Britza Two-term Liberal MP for Morley elected at 2008 state election, contested 2017 New England federal by-election as a Country candidate.[6]
  CEC Barry Mason Driver for a traffic management company.[6]

The Liberals declined to contest the Perth and Fremantle federal by-elections, but concentrated their resources on the Darling Range state by-election.[17]

Polling

Perth by-election polling
Date Firm Commissioned by Sample Primary vote TCP vote
ALP GRN LDP OTH UND ALP GRN
23 July 2018 ReachTEL Legalise Vaping Australia[18] 695 44.9% 17.0% 13.4% 16.0% 8.7% 68% 32%
2016 election 37.4% 17.1% 1.7% 43.8% − 53.3% −

Results

Further information: Electoral results for the Division of Perth
Perth by-election: 28 July 2018[6][19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labor Patrick Gorman 22,812 39.33 +1.96
Greens Caroline Perks 10,908 18.81 +1.74
Independent Paul Collins 5,516 9.51 +9.51
Liberal Democrats Wesley Du Preez 3,880 6.69 +4.98
Independent Julie Matheson 3,123 5.38 +5.38
Independent Liberal Jim Grayden 2,565 4.42 +4.42
Animal Justice Nicole Arielli 1,815 3.13 +3.13
Independent Ian Britza 1,705 2.94 +2.94
Christians Ellen Joubert 1,474 2.54 +2.54
Science Aaron Hammond 1,002 1.73 +1.73
Mental Health Ben Mullings 930 1.60 +1.60
Sustainable Australia Colin Scott 774 1.33 +1.33
Liberty Alliance Tony Robinson 682 1.18 +1.18
Citizens Electoral Council Barry Mason 596 1.03 +1.03
People's Party Gabriel Harfouche 222 0.38 +0.38
Total formal votes 58,004 89.94 −6.29
Informal votes 6,486 10.06 +6.29
Turnout 64,490 64.07 −23.97
Two-candidate-preferred result
Labor Patrick Gorman 36,601 63.10 +9.77
Greens Caroline Perks 21,403 36.90 +36.90
Labor hold Swing N/A

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Federal Member for Perth Tim Hammond quits politics for family, triggering WA by-election". ABC News. 2 May 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  2. ^ "July 2018 Federal By-elections". abc.net.au.
  3. ^ "Four MPs, one senator gone as citizenship drama claims more victims". ABC News. 9 May 2018 – via www.abc.net.au.
  4. ^ "Date set for by-elections in Perth, Fremantle, Mayo, Longman and Braddon". ABC News. 24 May 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  5. ^ "2018 Perth by-election". Australian Electoral Commission.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h "Perth 2018 By-election". abc.net.au.
  7. ^ "Facebook post". www.facebook.com. [user-generated source]
  8. ^ "2018 Perth by-election: sustainableaustralia.org.au". Archived from the original on 20 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  9. ^ "2018 Perth by-election: amhp.org.au". Archived from the original on 6 September 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  10. ^ Hondros, Nathan (12 May 2018). "Labor anoints 'tireless fighter' Patrick Gorman in Perth". WAtoday.
  11. ^ Butterly, Nick (11 May 2018). "WA Labor's Patrick Gorman to get nod as Perth candidate". The West Australian. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  12. ^ "By-election 2018 endorsed candidates". Australian People's Party.
  13. ^ "Greens name candidate in Perth by-election: News.com.au 10 May 2018".
  14. ^ "Science Party names candidates for 2018 by-elections: 12 June 2018".
  15. ^ 2018 Perth by-election australianchristians.org.au
  16. ^ "Tony Robinson to contest Perth by election". Australian Liberty Alliance. Archived from the original on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2018.
  17. ^ "Senior Liberals give up on federal WA by-elections, admitting they have no hope of winning". ABC News. 14 May 2018 – via www.abc.net.au.
  18. ^ "Super Saturday minus one day – The Poll Bludger". www.pollbludger.net.
  19. ^ scheme=AGLSTERMS. AglsAgent; corporateName=Australian Electoral Commission; address=50 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra. "House of Representatives division information". Australian Electoral Commission.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)