2001 Nedlands state by-election

A by-election for the seat of Nedlands in the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia was held on 9 June 2001. It was triggered by the resignation of Richard Court, the sitting Liberal member and a former premier, on 27 April 2001. The Liberal candidate at the by-election, Sue Walker, retained the seat with 53.4 percent of the two-candidate-preferred (2CP) vote, a negative swing of 1.5 points from the 2001 state election. The Greens made the final 2CP count for only the second time in their history (the first being at the 1990 Cottesloe by-election).

Background

Richard Court had held Nedlands for the Liberal Party since winning a 1982 by-election. He replaced his father, Sir Charles Court, and also emulated his father in becoming leader of the Liberal Party (in 1992) and premier (after the 1993 state election). Court's government was defeated at the 2001 state election, and he resigned as leader of the Liberal Party a few weeks later.[1] He resigned from parliament altogether on 27 April 2001, with the writ for the by-election issued on 10 May and the close of nominations on 18 May. Polling day was on 9 June, with the writ returned on 13 June.[2]

Results
Nedlands state by-election, 2001[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Sue Walker 6,887 43.5 –5.7
Labor Simon Corrigan 2,912 18.4 –0.7
Greens Steve Walker 2,214 14.0 +7.3
  Liberals for Forests Robin Collin 1,928 12.2 –6.1
Democrats Ashley Buckle 960 6.1 +2.8
One Nation Bill Edgar 583 3.7 +1.0
Independent Karen McDonald 254 1.6 +1.6
Independent Frank Ash 93 0.6 +0.6
Total formal votes 15,831 97.7 +0.3
Informal votes 372 2.3 –0.3
Turnout 16,203 68.3 –19.8
Two-candidate-preferred result
Liberal Sue Walker 8,439 53.4 –1.5
Greens Steve Walker 7,362 46.6 +46.6
Liberal hold Swing–1.5

Aftermath

Walker held Nedlands until her defeat at the 2008 state election. She sat as an independent for the last months of her term.[4]

See also

References
  1. Richard Fairfax Court, Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  2. NEDLANDS BY-ELECTION SATURDAY 9 JUNE 2001 ELECTION REPORT, Western Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  3. Nedlands By-election 2001, Parliamentary Library of Western Australia. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
  4. "Nedlands MP Sue Walker to run as Independent", news.com.au. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
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