Blaxland by-election, 1996

The 1996 Blaxland by-election was held in the Australian electorate of Blaxland in New South Wales on 15 June 1996. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of the sitting member, the Australian Labor Party's Paul Keating on 23 April 1996. The writ for the by-election was issued on 13 May 1996.

Background

Blaxland had been held since 1969 by Paul Keating, who had been Treasurer under Bob Hawke from 1983, until he defeated Hawke in a leadership challenge in December 1991, becoming Prime Minister of Australia. Keating went on to defeat John Hewson at the 1993 election, but three years later the ALP was defeated in a landslide victory by a resurgent Coalition lead by John Howard at the 1996 election on 2 March. Following the party's election loss, Keating immediately resigned as party leader, and several weeks later, resigned from the Parliament. [Green, Antony: [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2007/guide/blax.htm Seat profile: Blaxland] , Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 29 December 2007.]

Results

Election box begin
title=Blaxland by-election, 1996Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Michael Hatton
party = Labor
votes = 37,804
percentage = 58.83
change = +0.12

Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Peter John Krumins
party = AAFI
votes = 8,759
percentage = 13.63
change = +10.88

Election box candidate AU party
candidate = John Hutchinson
party = Reclaim Australia
votes = 5,771
percentage = 8.98
change = +8.98

Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Vicki Kearney
party = Greens
votes = 3,148
percentage = 4.90
change = +4.90

Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Melodie Rahme
party = Call to Australia
votes = 2,782
percentage = 4.33
change = +4.16

Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Peter Sayegh
party = Independent
votes = 2,334
percentage = 3.63
change = +2.65

Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Neil Baird
party = Independent
votes = 1,499
percentage = 2.33
change = +2.33

Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Bob Reid
party = Independent
votes = 750
percentage = 1.17
change = +1.17

Election box candidate
candidate = Adam Spencer
party =
votes = 499
percentage = 0.78
change = +0.78

Election box candidate
candidate = Marnie Kennedy
party =
votes = 388
percentage = 0.60
change = +0.60

Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Marc Aussie-Stone
party = Independent
votes = 298
percentage = 0.46
change = +0.11

Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Linda Cogger
party = Natural Law
votes = 224
percentage = 0.35
change = +0.10

Election box formal
votes = 64,256
percentage = 92.66
change = -0.72

Election box informal
votes = 5,092
percentage = 7.34
change = +0.72

Election box turnout
votes = 69,348
percentage = 87.00
change = -9.06

Election box candidate AU party
party = Labor
candidate = Michael Hatton
votes = 44,188
percentage = 69.06
change = +6.08

Election box candidate AU party
party = Reclaim Australia
candidate = John Hutchinson
votes = 19,800
percentage = 30.94
change = +30.94

Election box hold AU party
winner = Labor
swing = N/A

Aftermath

The Australian Labor Party retained the seat with an increased majority, with Michael Hatton as their candidate. The Liberal Party of Australia declined to run a candidate, and this saw a rise in the vote for two minor anti-immigration parties: Australians Against Further Immigration and , which came second and third in the popular vote. On a two-party preferred basis, RARI gained their best ever result in an election, gaining over 30% of the vote on preferences.

References

External links

* [http://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/supplementary_by_elections/blaxland.htm Blaxland (NSW) By-Election (15 June 1996)] , Australian Electoral Commission