The Victoria Park state by-election, 2006 was a by-election held on 11 March 2006 for the Western Australian Legislative Assembly seat of Victoria Park in the inner southeastern suburbs of Perth.
Background
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Labor member Dr. Geoff Gallop on 16 January 2006. Dr Gallop had represented the area since a by-election on 7 June 1986, [cite book|last=Black|first=David|coauthor=Prescott, Valerie|title=Election statistics, Legislative Assembly of Western Australia, 1890-1996 : listed alphabetically by constituency | publisher=Western Australian Parliamentary History Project|year=1997] and had served as a minister, shadow minister, Opposition Leader (1996–2001) and, finally, as Premier of Western Australia since 2001. Gallop announced his resignation as Premier and from State Parliament effective immediately in order to aid his recovery from depression, and that "in the interests of my health and my family, I've decided to rethink my career." [cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2006/s1548580.htm|title=WA Premier Geoff Gallop resigns|date=16 January 2006|last=Yaxley|first=Louise|work=ABC ("PM" program)|accessdate=2007-10-27]
The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly advised Parliament on 7 March 2006 that he had received a letter from Gallop on 25 January announcing his resignation as the member for Victoria Park, and announced that under section 67(2) of the Electoral Act 1907, he had on 2 February 2006 directed the Acting Electoral Commissioner to proceed with an election in the district. [cite hansard | url= http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/hansard/hans35.nsf/edf12eb560968afa48256c460024a927/4acc68752cb7560ac825728a000861a2?OpenDocument&Date=2006-03-07 | house= Western Australian Legislative Assembly | date= 7 March 2006] The battle for Labor party preselection was hard fought, with 31-year-old DPP lawyer Ben Wyatt defeating former national president of the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union, Helen Creed, at a vote on 1 February 2006 of the 14-member Administrative Committee. The by-election, called for 11 March 2006, attracted a total of eleven candidates, one of the largest in Western Australian electoral history.
The seat of Victoria Park, which elects a single member to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly using a preferential method, was established in 1929 by the Government of Western Australia under the "Redistribution of Seats Act (No 1 of 1929)", which was given assent by the Governor on 15 April 1929. [cite book|title=Statutes of Western Australia, 1929-1930|author=Government of Western Australia|year=1930|pages=1-56|chapter=Redistribution of Seats Act (No 1 of 1929)] The seat is considered a safe Australian Labor Party seat, and has been held by the party between 1930 and 1945, and since the 1953 state election.
Timeline
; 16 January 2006:Dr. Geoffrey Gallop resigns from state parliament.
; 2 February 2006:Writ issued by speaker of the Legislative Assembly to proceed with an election in the electoral district of Victoria Park.[cite web|url=http://www.waec.wa.gov.au/elections/state_elections/election_results/2006_Victoria_Park_By-Election/key_dates_and_deadlines.php|title=Key dates of the Electoral campaign|author=Western Australian Electoral Commission|accessdate=2007-08-25] ]; 17 February 2006:Close of nominations and draw of ballot papers.; 11 March 2006:Polling day, between the hours of 8am and 6pm.; 14 March 2006:Votes counted, and results declared showing that Ben Wyatt of the Australian Labor Party won the seat. Candidates
The by-election attracted eleven candidates, significantly more than the previous Victoria Park election, which attracted only five candidates. Both major parties fielded a candidate, with the Greens, One Nation, Daylight Saving Party, Family First, Socialist Alliance and the Christian Democratic party also represented, as well as three independents.
One Nation candidate Sue Bateman made national headlines when it emerged that she was running for the seat of Victoria Park. The former One Nation president was accused of being a prolific online racist, using the forum Stormfront. She was also dismissive of Gallop's battle with depression, saying that average Joe did not have the luxury of becoming depressed. [cite news|last=Taylor|first=Paige|title=Ex-One Nation head vies for Gallop’s seat|work=The Australian|date=20 February 2006]
Results
As largely predicted, Ben Wyatt retained the seat for the Labor party, with a swing against him of 4.86%. Wyatt claimed victory within two hours and became one of three Aboriginal parliamentarians in Western Australia. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/message/news/stories/s1598936.htm WA: Aboriginal Labor candidate Ben Wyatt wins WA Victoria park by-election] ]
Voter turnout was low, given that Victoria Park is a safe Labor seat, with only 64% of voters casting their vote: the lowest for a by-election in the state since 1936. [ [http://www.ipaawa.org.au/ipaa/docs/PSF%20130407%20-%20Lyn%20McKay%20(Paper).pdf Low Voter Turnout] ]
Election box begin
title=Victoria Park state by-election, 2006 [ [http://www.waec.wa.gov.au/elections/state_elections/election_results/2006_Victoria_Park_By-Election/District_of_Victoria_Park/District_results.php Victoria Park Election results] ] Election box candidate AU party
party = Labor
candidate = Ben Wyatt
votes = 7,786
percentage = 49.38
change = -7.93Election box candidate AU party
party = Liberal
candidate = Bruce Stevenson
votes = 4,887
percentage = 30.99
change = +3.24Election box candidate AU party
party = Greens
candidate = Dee Margetts
votes = 1,328
percentage = 8.42
change = -0.25Election box candidate AU party
party = Christian Democrats
candidate = Bill Heggers
votes = 551
percentage = 3.49
change = -0.13Election box candidate AU party
party = One Nation
candidate = Sue Bateman
votes = 436
percentage = 2.76
change = +0.10Election box candidate AU party
party = Independent
candidate = Andrew Owens
votes = 217
percentage = 1.38
change = +1.38Election box candidate AU party
party = Daylight Saving
candidate = James Dunn
votes = 156
percentage = 0.99
change = +0.99Election box candidate AU party
party = Family First
candidate = Peter Greaves
votes = 151
percentage = 0.96
change = +0.96Election box candidate AU party
party = Socialist Alliance
candidate = John Tattersall
votes = 131
percentage = 0.83
change = +0.83Election box candidate AU party
party = Independent
candidate = Mike Ward
votes = 83
percentage = 0.53
change = +0.53Election box candidate AU party
party = Independent
candidate = Teresa Van Lieshout
votes = 43
percentage = 0.27
change = +0.27Election box formal
votes = 15,769
percentage = 96.26
change = +1.58Election box informal
votes = 612
percentage = 3.74
change = -1.58Election box turnout
votes = 16,381
percentage = 64.04
change = -23.62Election box candidate AU party
party = Labor
candidate = Ben Wyatt
votes = 9,632
percentage = 61.18
change = -4.86Election box candidate AU party
party = Liberal
candidate = Bruce Stevenson
votes = 6,111
percentage = 38.82
change = +4.86Election box hold AU party
winner = Labor
swing = -4.86
References
