2009 Pembroke state by-election

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A by-election was held in the Tasmanian Legislative Council division of Pembroke on 1 August 2009.[1] It was triggered by the resignation of sitting member Allison Ritchie.

Background[]

Ritchie was first elected to the Legislative Council in 2001 at the age of 26, the youngest person ever elected to that chamber. She spent nine and a half weeks as Minister for Planning and Workplace Relations in 2008, but resigned due to ill health.[2] She announced her resignation from parliament amid allegations of nepotism on 20 June 2009.[3]

Candidates[]

The writ for the by-election was issued on 30 June 2009; nominations closed on 9 July.[1] The eight candidates were:

  • Independent — Honey Bacon, widow of former Tasmanian Premier Jim Bacon.
  • Independent — Peter Cooper, a Clarence City Alderman (2008–present).
  • Independent — James Crotty, former Labor candidate and considered the unofficial representative of the Government.[4]
  • Liberal Party — Vanessa Goodwin, a 39-year-old lawyer and criminologist, was previously the Liberal candidate for the state seat of Franklin in 2006 and the federal candidate for the equivalent seat in 2007, achieving a rare swing to the Liberal Party.
  • Tasmanian Greens — Wendy Heatley, a 46-year-old lawyer.
  • Independent — Richard James, a Clarence City Alderman( 1984–89, 1994–present). James previously contested Pembroke in 1995, 1999 and 2007.
  • Independent — John Peers, a Clarence City Alderman (1994–present).
  • Independent — Kit (Sharon) Soo, a public relations consultant.

Results[]

Pembroke state by-election, 2009[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Vanessa Goodwin 7,812 38.55 +38.55
Greens Wendy Heatley 2,604 12.85 –0.56
Independent Richard James 2,285 11.28 –7.10
Independent Honey Bacon 2,110 10.41 +10.41
Independent John Peers 1,942 9.58 +0.32
Independent James Crotty 1,783 8.80 +8.80
Independent Peter Cooper 1,510 7.45 +7.45
Independent Kit (Sharon) Soo 219 1.08 +1.08
Total formal votes 20,265 96.48 –0.26
Informal votes 740 3.52 +0.26
Turnout 21,005 85.05 –2.47
Liberal gain from Labor Swing N/A

Distribution of Preferences[]

The distribution of preferences is shown in detail on the Tasmanian Electoral Commission website.[6] In accordance with the preferential voting system, the following candidates were excluded in the order shown and their votes distributed to remaining candidates or declared exhausted (no more preferences): Soo, Cooper, Crotty, Peers, Bacon.

Vanessa Goodwin attained a quota (an absolute majority of formal votes) when two other candidates were left in the count, meaning that no two-candidate-preferred figure was attained.

Result after Distribution of Preferences[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Vanessa Goodwin 10,143 51.05
Independent Richard James 5,510 27.73
Greens Wendy Heatley 4,215 21.22

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Tasmanian Legislative Council Pembroke 2009". Archived from the original on 2009-08-14. Retrieved 2009-08-02.
  2. ^ Minister resigns from Cabinet, ABC News, November 24, 2008
  3. ^ Allison Ritchie quits Tas Parliament, ABC News, June 20, 2009
  4. ^ ABC Elections
  5. ^ a b "Pembroke by-election results table: Tasmanian Electoral Commission". Archived from the original on 2009-10-02. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
  6. ^ "Pembroke Election Final Result". Archived from the original on 2009-10-02. Retrieved 2009-08-12.

External links[]

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