List of Australian federal by-elections
This is a list of by-elections for the House of Representatives from its creation in 1901 until the present day.
Casual vacancies in the House of Representatives arise when a member dies, is disqualified or resigns, or for some other reason the seat becomes vacant. When a member resigns, he or she would normally tender the resignation to the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Casual vacancies are filled by by-elections. The Speaker has a discretion as to when to call a by-election and may not call one at all, for example, if a general election is imminent. At least 33 days must elapse between the issue by the Speaker of a writ and the date of a by-election, and the Speaker cannot issue the writ until receipt of a formal letter of resignation. A by-election must take place on a Saturday.
List of by-elections[]
In the following table, gains for the Australian Labor Party are highlighted in red, for the Liberal Party of Australia and its predecessors (including the Protectionist Party) in blue, for the National Party of Australia and its predecessors as well as the unrelated Australian Greens in green, and for others in grey.
Brackets around a date indicate that the candidate was unopposed when nominations closed. These candidates were declared "elected unopposed" with effect from the date of the closing of nominations, as there was no need to hold a by-election.
46th Parliament (2019–2022)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Groom | 28 November 2020 | Resignation | John McVeigh | Liberal National | Garth Hamilton | Liberal National | ||
Eden-Monaro | 4 July 2020 | Resignation | Mike Kelly | Labor | Kristy McBain | Labor | ||
45th Parliament (2016–2019)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Wentworth | 20 October 2018 | Resignation | Malcolm Turnbull | Liberal | Kerryn Phelps | Independent | ||
Braddon | 28 July 2018 | Resignation | Justine Keay | Labor | Justine Keay | Labor | ||
Fremantle | 28 July 2018 | Resignation | Josh Wilson | Labor | Josh Wilson | Labor | ||
Longman | 28 July 2018 | Resignation | Susan Lamb | Labor | Susan Lamb | Labor | ||
Mayo | 28 July 2018 | Resignation | Rebekha Sharkie | Centre Alliance | Rebekha Sharkie | Centre Alliance | ||
Perth | 28 July 2018 | Resignation | Tim Hammond | Labor | Patrick Gorman | Labor | ||
Batman | 17 March 2018 | Resignation | David Feeney | Labor | Ged Kearney | Labor | ||
Bennelong | 16 December 2017 | Resignation | John Alexander | Liberal | John Alexander | Liberal | ||
New England | 2 December 2017 | Disqualification | Barnaby Joyce | National | Barnaby Joyce | National | ||
44th Parliament (2013–2016)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
North Sydney | 5 December 2015 | Resignation | Joe Hockey | Liberal | Trent Zimmerman | Liberal | ||
Canning | 19 September 2015 | Death | Don Randall | Liberal | Andrew Hastie | Liberal | ||
Griffith | 8 February 2014 | Resignation | Kevin Rudd | Labor | Terri Butler | Labor | ||
43rd Parliament (2010–2013)[] | ||||||||
No by-elections held | ||||||||
42nd Parliament (2007–2010)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Higgins | 5 December 2009 | Resignation | Peter Costello | Liberal | Kelly O'Dwyer | Liberal | ||
Bradfield | 5 December 2009 | Resignation | Brendan Nelson | Liberal | Paul Fletcher | Liberal | ||
Lyne | 6 September 2008 | Resignation | Mark Vaile | National | Rob Oakeshott | Independent | ||
Mayo | 6 September 2008 | Resignation | Alexander Downer | Liberal | Jamie Briggs | Liberal | ||
Gippsland | 28 June 2008 | Resignation | Peter McGauran | National | Darren Chester | National | ||
41st Parliament (2004–2007)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Werriwa | 19 March 2005 | Resignation | Mark Latham | Labor | Chris Hayes | Labor | ||
40th Parliament (2001–2004)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Cunningham | 19 October 2002 | Resignation | Stephen Martin | Labor | Michael Organ | Greens | ||
39th Parliament (1998–2001)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Aston | 14 July 2001 | Death | Peter Nugent | Liberal | Chris Pearce | Liberal | ||
Ryan | 17 March 2001 | Resignation | John Moore | Liberal | Leonie Short | Labor | ||
Isaacs | 12 August 2000 | Death[1] | Greg Wilton | Labor | Ann Corcoran | Labor | ||
Holt | 6 November 1999 | Resignation | Gareth Evans | Labor | Anthony Byrne | Labor | ||
38th Parliament (1996–1998)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Fraser | 1 February 1997 | Resignation | John Langmore | Labor | Steve Dargavel | Labor | ||
Lindsay | 19 October 1996 | Disqualification | Jackie Kelly | Liberal | Jackie Kelly | Liberal | ||
Blaxland | 15 June 1996 | Resignation | Paul Keating | Labor | Michael Hatton | Labor | ||
37th Parliament (1993–1996)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Wentworth | 8 April 1995 | Resignation | John Hewson | Liberal | Andrew Thomson | Liberal | ||
Canberra | 25 March 1995 | Resignation | Ros Kelly | Labor | Brendan Smyth | Liberal | ||
Kooyong | 19 November 1994 | Resignation | Andrew Peacock | Liberal | Petro Georgiou | Liberal | ||
Mackellar | 26 March 1994 | Resignation | Jim Carlton | Liberal | Bronwyn Bishop | Liberal | ||
Warringah | 26 March 1994 | Resignation | Michael MacKellar | Liberal | Tony Abbott | Liberal | ||
Bonython | 19 March 1994 | Resignation | Neal Blewett | Labor | Martyn Evans | Labor | ||
Fremantle | 12 March 1994 | Resignation | John Dawkins | Labor | Carmen Lawrence | Labor | ||
Werriwa | 28 January 1994 | Resignation | John Kerin | Labor | Mark Latham | Labor | ||
36th Parliament (1990–1993)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Wills | 11 April 1992 | Resignation | Bob Hawke | Labor | Phil Cleary | Independent | ||
Menzies | 11 May 1991 | Resignation | Neil Brown | Liberal | Kevin Andrews | Liberal | ||
35th Parliament (1987–1990)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Gwydir | 15 April 1989 | Resignation | Ralph Hunt | National | John Anderson | National | ||
Oxley | 8 October 1988 | Resignation to become Governor-General | Bill Hayden | Labor | Les Scott | Labor | ||
Groom | 9 April 1988 | Resignation | Tom McVeigh | National | Bill Taylor | Liberal | ||
Port Adelaide | 26 March 1988 | Resignation | Mick Young | Labor | Rod Sawford | Labor | ||
Adelaide | 6 February 1988 | Resignation | Chris Hurford | Labor | Mike Pratt | Liberal | ||
34th Parliament (1984–1987)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Scullin | 8 February 1986 | Resignation | Harry Jenkins Sr. | Labor | Harry Jenkins | Labor | ||
33rd Parliament (1983–1984)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Corangamite | 18 February 1984 | Resignation | Tony Street | Liberal | Stewart McArthur | Liberal | ||
Hughes | 18 February 1984 | Resignation | Les Johnson | Labor | Robert Tickner | Labor | ||
Richmond | 18 February 1984 | Resignation | Doug Anthony | National | Charles Blunt | National | ||
Moreton | 5 November 1983 | Resignation | Sir James Killen | Liberal | Don Cameron | Liberal | ||
Bruce | 28 May 1983 | Resignation | Sir Billy Snedden | Liberal | Ken Aldred | Liberal | ||
Wannon | 7 May 1983 | Resignation | Malcolm Fraser | Liberal | David Hawker | Liberal | ||
32nd Parliament (1980–1983)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Flinders | 4 December 1982 | Resignation | Sir Phillip Lynch | Liberal | Peter Reith | Liberal | ||
Lowe | 13 March 1982 | Resignation | Sir William McMahon | Liberal | Michael Maher | Labor | ||
Wentworth | 11 April 1981 | Resignation | Bob Ellicott | Liberal | Peter Coleman | Liberal | ||
Boothby | 21 February 1981 | Resignation | John McLeay | Liberal | Steele Hall | Liberal | ||
Curtin | 21 February 1981 | Resignation | Victor Garland | Liberal | Allan Rocher | Liberal | ||
McPherson | 21 February 1981 | Death | Eric Robinson | Liberal | Peter White | Liberal | ||
31st Parliament (1977–1980)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Grayndler | 23 June 1979 | Death | Frank Stewart | Labor | Leo McLeay | Labor | ||
Werriwa | 23 September 1978 | Resignation | Gough Whitlam | Labor | John Kerin | Labor | ||
30th Parliament (1975–1977)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Cunningham | 25 October 1977 | Death | Rex Connor | Labor | Stewart West | Labor | ||
29th Parliament (1974–1975)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Bass | 28 June 1975 | Resignation | Lance Barnard | Labor | Kevin Newman | Liberal | ||
28th Parliament (1972–1974)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Parramatta | 22 September 1973 | Resignation | Nigel Bowen | Liberal | Philip Ruddock | Liberal | ||
27th Parliament (1969–1972)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Murray | 20 March 1971 | Resignation | Sir John McEwen | Country | Bruce Lloyd | Country | ||
Chisholm | 19 September 1970 | Death | Sir Wilfrid Kent Hughes | Liberal | Tony Staley | Liberal | ||
Australian Capital Territory | 30 May 1970 | Death | Jim Fraser | Labor | Kep Enderby | Labor | ||
26th Parliament (1966–1969)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Bendigo | 7 June 1969 | Resignation | Noel Beaton | Labor | David Kennedy | Labor | ||
Gwydir | 7 June 1969 | Resignation | Ian Allan | Country | Ralph Hunt | Country | ||
Curtin | 19 April 1969 | Resignation | Paul Hasluck | Liberal | Victor Garland | Liberal | ||
Higgins | 24 February 1968 | Death[2] | Harold Holt | Liberal | John Gorton | Liberal | ||
Capricornia | 30 September 1967 | Death | George Gray | Labor | Doug Everingham | Labor | ||
Corio | 22 July 1967 | Resignation | Hubert Opperman | Liberal | Gordon Scholes | Labor | ||
25th Parliament (1963–1966)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Kooyong | 2 April 1966 | Resignation | Sir Robert Menzies | Liberal | Andrew Peacock | Liberal | ||
Dawson | 26 February 1966 | Death | George Shaw | Country | Rex Patterson | Labor | ||
Riverina | 27 February 1965 | Resignation | Hugh Roberton | Country | Bill Armstrong | Country | ||
Robertson | 5 December 1964 | Resignation | Roger Dean | Liberal | William Bridges-Maxwell | Liberal | ||
Angas | 20 June 1964 | Resignation | Sir Alick Downer | Liberal | Geoffrey Giles | Liberal | ||
Parramatta | 20 June 1964 | Resignation | Sir Garfied Barwick | Liberal | Nigel Bowen | Liberal | ||
Denison | 15 February 1964 | Death | Athol Townley | Liberal | Adrian Gibson | Liberal | ||
24th Parliament (1961–1963)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
East Sydney | 28 September 1963 | Death | Eddie Ward | Labor | Len Devine | Labor | ||
Grey | 1 June 1963 | Death | Edgar Russell | Labor | Jack Mortimer | Labor | ||
Batman | 1 September 1962 | Death | Alan Bird | Labor | Sam Benson | Labor | ||
23rd Parliament (1958–1961)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Higinbotham | 10 December 1960 | Death | Frank Timson | Liberal | Don Chipp | Liberal | ||
Calare | 5 November 1960 | Resignation | John Howse | Liberal | John England | Country | ||
Balaclava | 16 July 1960 | Resignation | Percy Joske | Liberal | Ray Whittorn | Liberal | ||
Bendigo | 16 July 1960 | Death | Percy Clarey | Labor | Noel Beaton | Labor | ||
Hunter | 9 April 1960 | Resignation | H. V. Evatt | Labor | Bert James | Labor | ||
La Trobe | 9 April 1960 | Resignation | Richard Casey | Liberal | John Jess | Liberal | ||
22nd Parliament (1955–1958)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Parramatta | 8 March 1958 | Resignation | Howard Beale | Liberal | Sir Garfield Barwick | Liberal | ||
Richmond | 15 September 1957 | Death | Larry Anthony | Country | Doug Anthony | Country | ||
Wentworth | 8 December 1956 | Resignation | Sir Eric Harrison | Liberal | Les Bury | Liberal | ||
Barker | 13 October 1956 | Death | Archie Cameron | Liberal | Jim Forbes | Liberal | ||
Cunningham | (11 April 1956) | Death | Billy Davies | Labor | Victor Kearney | Labor | ||
21st Parliament (1954–1955)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Cook | 21 May 1955 | Death | Tom Sheehan | Labor | Jim Cope | Labor | ||
20th Parliament (1951–1954)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Gwydir | 19 December 1953 | Death | Thomas Treloar | Country | Ian Allan | Country | ||
Corangamite | 29 August 1953 | Death | Allan McDonald | Liberal | Dan Mackinnon | Liberal | ||
Lang | 29 August 1953 | Death | Dan Mulcahy | Labor | Frank Stewart | Labor | ||
Dalley | 9 May 1953 | Death | Sol Rosevear | Labor | Arthur Greenup | Labor | ||
Bradfield | 20 December 1952 | Death | Billy Hughes | Liberal | Harry Turner | Liberal | ||
Werriwa | 29 November 1952 | Death | Bert Lazzarini | Labor | Gough Whitlam | Labor | ||
Flinders | 18 October 1952 | Death | Rupert Ryan | Liberal | Keith Ewert | Labor | ||
Lyne | 22 March 1952 | Death | Jim Eggins | Country | Philip Lucock | Country | ||
Balaclava | 28 July 1951 | Resignation | Thomas White | Liberal | Percy Joske | Liberal | ||
Macquarie | 28 July 1951 | Death | Ben Chifley | Labor | Tony Luchetti | Labor | ||
19th Parliament (1949–1951)[] | ||||||||
No by-elections held | ||||||||
18th Parliament (1946–1949)[] | ||||||||
No by-elections held | ||||||||
17th Parliament (1943–1946)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Henty | 30 March 1946 | Resignation | Arthur Coles | Independent | Jo Gullett | Liberal | ||
Wimmera | 9 February 1946 | Resignation | Alexander Wilson | Independent | Winton Turnbull | Country | ||
Fremantle | 18 August 1945 | Death | John Curtin | Labor | Kim Beazley | Labor | ||
16th Parliament (1940–1943)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Boothby | 24 May 1941 | Death | John Price | United Australia | Grenfell Price | United Australia | ||
Swan | 21 December 1940 | Death | Henry Gregory | Country | Thomas Marwick | Country | ||
Kalgoorlie | 16 November 1940 | Death | Albert Green | Labor | Herbert Johnson | Labor | ||
15th Parliament (1937–1940)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Corio | 2 March 1940 | Resignation | Richard Casey | United Australia | John Dedman | Labor | ||
Wilmot | 27 May 1939 | Death | Joseph Lyons | United Australia | Lancelot Spurr | Labor | ||
Griffith | 20 May 1939 | Death | Frank Baker | Labor | William Conelan | Labor | ||
Wakefield | 10 December 1938 | Death[3] | Charles Hawker | United Australia | Sydney McHugh | Labor | ||
14th Parliament (1934–1937)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Gwydir | 8 May 1937 | Resignation | Aubrey Abbott | Country | William Scully | Labor | ||
Darling Downs | 19 December 1936 | Death | Sir Littleton Groom | United Australia | Arthur Fadden | Country | ||
Kennedy | 12 December 1936 | Death | Darby Riordan | Labor | Bill Riordan | Labor | ||
Fawkner | 17 August 1935 | Death | George Maxwell | United Australia | Harold Holt | United Australia | ||
Newcastle | 1 June 1935 | Death | David Watkins | Labor | David Watkins | Labor | ||
13th Parliament (1931–1934)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Flinders | 11 November 1933 | Resignation | Stanley Bruce | United Australia | James Fairbairn | United Australia | ||
East Sydney | 6 February 1932 | Death | John Clasby | United Australia | Eddie Ward | Labor (NSW) | ||
12th Parliament (1929–1931)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
East Sydney | 7 March 1931 | Death | John West | Labor | Eddie Ward | Labor | ||
Parkes | 31 January 1931 | Resignation | Edward McTiernan | Labor | Charles Marr | Nationalist | ||
Franklin | 14 December 1929 | Death | William McWilliams | Independent | Charles Frost | Labor | ||
11th Parliament (1928–1929)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Balaclava | 3 August 1929 | Resignation | William Watt | Nationalist | Thomas White | Nationalist | ||
10th Parliament (1925–1928)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Wide Bay | (3 September 1928) | Death | Edward Corser | Nationalist | Bernard Corser | Country | ||
Martin | 16 June 1928 | Death | Herbert Pratten | Nationalist | Graham Pratten | Nationalist | ||
Warringah | 21 May 1927 | Resignation | Sir Granville Ryrie | Nationalist | Archdale Parkhill | Nationalist | ||
Dalley | 26 February 1927 | Resignation | William Mahony | Labor | Ted Theodore | Labor | ||
Eden-Monaro | 6 March 1926 | Death | Sir Austin Chapman | Nationalist | John Perkins | Nationalist | ||
9th Parliament (1922–1925)[] | ||||||||
No by-elections held | ||||||||
8th Parliament (1919–1922)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Yarra | 18 February 1922 | Death | Frank Tudor | Labor | James Scullin | Labor | ||
Parramatta | 10 December 1921 | Resignation | Sir Joseph Cook | Nationalist | Herbert Pratten | Nationalist | ||
West Sydney | 3 September 1921 | Death | T. J. Ryan | Labor | William Lambert | Labor | ||
Maranoa | 30 July 1921 | Death | Jim Page | Labor | James Hunter | Country | ||
Kalgoorlie | 18 December 1920 | Expulsion | Hugh Mahon | Labor | George Foley | Nationalist | ||
Ballaarat | 10 July 1920 | Election declared void | Edwin Kerby | Nationalist | Charles McGrath | Labor | ||
7th Parliament (1917–1919)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Echuca | 20 September 1919 | Death | Albert Palmer | Nationalist | William Hill | Victorian Farmers | ||
Corangamite | 14 December 1918 | Death | Chester Manifold | Nationalist | William Gibson | Victorian Farmers | ||
Swan | 26 October 1918 | Death | Sir John Forrest | Nationalist | Edwin Corboy | Labor | ||
Flinders | 11 May 1918 | Resignation | Sir William Irvine | Nationalist | Stanley Bruce | Nationalist | ||
Grampians | 27 October 1917 | Death | Carty Salmon | Nationalist | Edmund Jowett | Nationalist | ||
Darwin | 30 June 1917 | Death | Charles Howroyd | Nationalist | William Spence | Nationalist | ||
6th Parliament (1914–1917)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Wide Bay | 11 December 1915 | Resignation | Andrew Fisher | Labor | Edward Corser | Liberal | ||
Dalley | (6 May 1915) | Death | Robert Howe | Labor | William Mahony | Labor | ||
Grampians | 20 February 1915 | Death | Edward Jolley | Labor | Carty Salmon | Liberal | ||
Bendigo | 6 February 1915 | Death | John Arthur | Labor | Alfred Hampson | Labor | ||
5th Parliament (1913–1914)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Adelaide | 10 January 1914 | Death | Ernest Roberts | Labor | George Edwin Yates | Labor | ||
Kalgoorlie | (22 December 1913) | Death | Charlie Frazer | Labor | Hugh Mahon | Labor | ||
4th Parliament (1910–1913)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Werriwa | 1 June 1912 | Resignation | David Hall | Labor | Benjamin Bennett | Labor | ||
Boothby | 11 November 1911 | Death | Lee Batchelor | Labour | David Gordon | Liberal | ||
North Sydney | 11 March 1911 | Death | George Edwards | Liberal | Granville Ryrie | Liberal | ||
Batman | 8 February 1911 | Death | Henry Beard | Labour | Frank Brennan | Labour | ||
Kooyong | 24 August 1910 | Resignation | William Knox | Liberal | Sir Robert Best | Liberal | ||
3rd Parliament (1906–1910)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Wakefield | 28 August 1909 | Death | Sir Frederick Holder | Independent | Richard Foster | Liberal | ||
Adelaide | 13 June 1908 | Death | Charles Kingston | Protectionist | Ernest Roberts | Labour | ||
Echuca | 10 July 1907 | Election declared void | Albert Palmer | Anti-Socialist | Albert Palmer | Anti-Socialist | ||
2nd Parliament (1903–1906)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
Riverina | 18 May 1904 | Election declared void | Robert Blackwood | Free Trade | John Chanter | Protectionist | ||
Melbourne | 30 March 1904 | Election declared void | Sir Malcolm McEacharn | Protectionist | William Maloney | Labour | ||
Wilmot | 26 February 1904 | Death | Sir Edward Braddon | Free Trade | Norman Cameron | Free Trade | ||
1st Parliament (1901–1903)[] | ||||||||
Division | Date | Cause | Former member | Party | Winner | Party | ||
East Sydney | 4 September 1903 | Resignation[4] | George Reid | Free Trade | George Reid | Free Trade | ||
Tasmania | 26 March 1902 | Death | Frederick Piesse | Free Trade | William Hartnoll | Free Trade | ||
Darling Downs | 14 September 1901 | Death | William Henry Groom | Protectionist | Littleton Groom | Protectionist |
Notes[]
See also[]
- Chronology of Australian federal parliaments
- Australian federal by-elections
- Lists of by-elections in Australia