1986 Rockdale state by-election

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Rockdale on 2 August 1986. It was triggered by the resignation of sitting Labor MP Brian Bannon. The by-election was won by Labor candidate and Premier Barrie Unsworth.

The Rockdale by-election was held the same day as the Bass Hill by-election.

Background

Barrie Unsworth become Premier of New South Wales on 4 July 1986, by virtue of succeeding Neville Wran as parliamentary leader of the New South Wales Labor Party. Wran resigned the premiership after more than 10 years in the role. At that time, Unsworth was a member of the Legislative Council, whereas premiers are typically members of the Legislative Assembly. Rockdale MP Brian Bannon resigned his seat on 3 July 1986,[1] officially to accept a government job as Chairman of the Homebush States Sports Centre Trust,[2] but in reality to create a vacancy for Unsworth to fill.[3]

Results

Barrie Unsworth's transition from the upper house to the lower house was a very close run thing. Whilst Labor had held Rockdale at all times since the district's re-creation in 1941, it only barely retained the seat at the by-election. Labor suffered a large drop in its vote compared with the 1984 state election. In the finish, Unsworth prevailed by only 54 votes after the distribution of preferences.[2]

1986 Rockdale by-election
Saturday 2 August [2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labor Barrie Unsworth 11,251 46.17 −17.10
Liberal Bob Gemmell 9,896 40.61 +6.53
Independent James McLean 1,720 7.06 +7.06
Socialist Workers Valmai Frances Edwards 725 2.98 +2.98
Independent John Badman 375 1.54 +1.54
Independent Charles Bellchambers 334 1.37 −1.28
Uninflated Movement Nadar Ponnuswamy 67 0.27 +0.27
Total formal votes 24,368 96.50 −0.21
Informal votes 885 3.50 +0.21
Turnout 25,253 79.59 −13.17
Two-party-preferred result
Labor Barrie Unsworth 11,946 50.11 −14.5 [lower-alpha 1]
Liberal Bob Gemmell 11,892 49.89 +14.5 [lower-alpha 1]
Labor hold Swing−14.5 [lower-alpha 1]

See also

Notes
  1. Since the two-party preferred count was not conducted for Rockdale in 1984,[4] the two party preferred swing at the by-election cannot be calculated precisely. ABC election analyst Antony Green estimates a two party preferred swing of 14.5% against the Labor Party.[3]

References
  1. "Mr Brian Joseph Bannon". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  2. Green, Antony. "1986 Rockdale by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  3. "Election Background". www.abc.net.au. Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC). Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  4. Green, Antony. "1984 Rockdale". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
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