Gippsland by-election, 2008

A by-election was held for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Gippsland on 28 June 2008.cite news | title=Gippsland by-election due on June 28 | date=5 May 2008 | publisher=AAP | url=http://news.theage.com.au/gippsland-byelection-due-on-june-28/20080505-2b2r.html] It was triggered by the resignation of National Party MP Peter McGauran.cite news | title=McGauran resigns, 'makes way for new blood' | date=4 April 2008 | publisher=ABC | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/04/2207575.htm]

The writ for the by-election was issued on 19 May 2008. Nominations closed at 12 noon on 5 June 2008. The declaration of nominations, including the ballot order, was revealed the following day, 6 June 2008.cite news | title=Date set for Gippsland by-election | date=5 May 2008 | publisher=AEC | url=http://www.aec.gov.au/About_AEC/Media_releases/2008/05_06.htm] The electorate was contested on the same boundaries drawn for Gippsland at the 2007 federal election.

The by-election saw the National Party retain the seat with an increased margin, electing candidate Darren Chester.

Background

At the 2007 federal election, the opposition Labor Party defeated the incumbent Liberal-National coalition government. This marked the first change of government in over 11 years. This meant a transition from the government frontbench to the opposition backbench for several Liberal Party and National Party politicians. It was speculated that a number of former ministers would not serve out their terms but resign their seats earlycite news | title=Byelections galore | author=Tony Wright | date=8 December 2007 | publisher=The Age | url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/byelections-galore/2007/12/07/1196813015582.html?page=fullpage] , and this has in fact occurred (McGauran, Alexander Downer and Mark Vaile have all resigned).

On 4 April 2008, McGauran became the first former Howard government minister returned at the 2007 election to announce his resignation. McGauran first won the seat of Gippsland at the 1983 federal election. He retained the seat at every subsequent election. At the 2007 election, McGauran won the seat for the National Party by a two-party preferred margin of 55.91% to Labor's 44.09%. [http://results.aec.gov.au/13745/Website/HouseDivisionFirstPrefs-13745-213.htm 2007 federal election results - Gippsland] ]

McGauran has reportedly lined up a job in the racing industry with Thoroughbred Breeders Australia.cite news | title=Decide now, Nelson tells MPs pondering future | author=Mark Davis | date=2 April 2008 | publisher=Sydney Morning Herald | url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/decide-now-nelson-tells-mps-pondering-future/2008/04/01/1206850910690.html]

Candidates

Five candidates contested the by-election. They are listed below in ballot order. [http://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/supplementary_by_elections/2008_gippsland/candidates.htm Gippsland candidates] ]

*"Australian Greens" - Malcolm McKelvie, doctor from Yarragon.cite news | title=Candidate for Greens | date=5 May 2008 | publisher=Latrobe Valley Express | url=http://latrobevalley.yourguide.com.au/news/local/general/candidate-for-greens/1237397.html]

*"Liberal Party of Australia" - Rohan Fitzgerald, senior manager with the Central Gippsland Health Service.cite news | title=Liberals select Gippsland candidate | date=15 April 2008 | publisher=AAP | url=http://news.theage.com.au/liberals-select-gippsland-candidate/20080415-26dy.html] He is based in Traralgon.

*"Liberty and Democracy Party" - Ben Buckley, pilot and a councillor of East Gippsland Shire Council. [http://www.egipps.vic.gov.au/Page/Page.asp?Page_Id=788&h=1 Cr Ben Buckley] ] cite news | title=Gippsland by-election officially called | date=20 May 2008 | publisher=ABC | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/05/20/2250221.htm] Buckley is a perennial candidate who contested Gippsland as an independent in 1984, 1990, 1993, 1996, 2001 and 2007, and as a One Nation candidate in 2004. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2008/gippsland/boundaries.htm ABC - 2008 Gippsland By-election] ] He is based in Benambra.

*"Australian Labor Party" - Darren McCubbin, Mayor of Wellington Shire at the time of nomination but has since resigned in order to focus on the campaign.cite news | title=Wellington Mayor resigns to stand for by-election | publisher=ABC | date=5 June 2008 | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/05/2266033.htm] He won preselection over Latrobe City Deputy Mayor David Wilson.cite news | title=Labor to run Mayor in Gippsland | date=18 April 2008 | publisher=ABC | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/18/2220541.htm] He is based in Sale.

*"National Party of Australia" - Darren Chester, chief of staff to Nationals leader in Victoria Peter Ryan. He won preselection over retired army officer Russell Smith.cite news | title=Nationals select candidate for Gippsland | date=13 April 2008 | publisher=Sunday Herald Sun | url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23532188-2862,00.html] He is based in Lakes Entrance.

A joint Coalition candidate?

Following McGauran's resignation announcement, Craig Ingram, independent Victorian MLA for the seat of Gippsland East, told reporters that he was considering contesting the by-election as an independent.cite news | title=Ingram eyes federal seat | author=Misha Schubert | date=5 April 2008 | publisher=The Age | url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/ingram-eyes-federal-seat/2008/04/04/1207249461199.html] Subsequently, Liberal Senator Bill Heffernan made an offer to Ingram to run with the joint endorsement of the Liberal and National parties. Heffernan saw this as the first step in a potential merger between the two parties. However, the idea was rejected by both party organisations; and it is doubtful whether Heffernan had the authority to make such an offer.cite news | title=Libs, Nationals reject joint ticket proposal for Gippsland | date=8 April 2007 | publisher=ABC | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/08/2211029.htm] Soon after that, Ingram announced that he would not be running in any capacity. cite news | title=Candidates jostle for by-election | author=Kate Lancaster | date=10 April 2008 | publisher=Latrobe Valley Express | url=http://latrobevalley.yourguide.com.au/news/local/general/candidates-jostle-for-byelection/1220656.html]

Results

Darren Chester retained the seat for the National Party with an increased margin. [http://results.aec.gov.au/13813/website/HouseDivisionFirstPrefs-13813-213.htm 2008 by-election result - Gippsland] ]

Election box begin
title=Gippsland by-election, 2008

Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Darren Chester
party = Nationals
votes = 32,971
percentage = 39.60
change = -8.77

Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Darren McCubbin
party = Labor
votes = 23,652
percentage = 28.41
change = -8.14

Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Rohan Fitzgerald
party = Liberal
votes = 17,249
percentage = 20.72
change = +20.72

Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Malcolm McKelvie
party = Greens
votes = 5,862
percentage = 7.04
change = +1.50

Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Ben Buckley
party = LDP
votes = 3,518
percentage = 4.23
change = +4.23

Election box formal
votes = 83,252
percentage = 97.12
change = +0.10

Election box informal
votes = 2,465
percentage = 2.88
change = -0.10

Election box total
votes = 85,717
percentage = 89.68
change = -5.98

Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Darren Chester
party = Nationals
votes = 51,611
percentage = 61.99
change = +6.08

Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Darren McCubbin
party = Labor
votes = 31,641
percentage = 38.01
change = -6.08

Election box hold AU party
winner = Nationals
swing = +6.08

References

External links

* [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2008/gippsland/ ABC Gippsland by-election]