Aston By-Election
July 14, 2001
The Aston by-election was caused by the death of the Liberal member, Peter Nugent, on April 24, 2001.
Nugent first won the seat in 1990, holding it again in the elections of 1993, 1996 and 1998.
In 1998, Nugent's two-party-preferred margin was 4.24%.
The by-election was held in the wake of several months of bad electoral news for the Howard government. The coalition had been soundly defeated in the Western Australian and Queensland State elections in February and had lost the Ryan by-election in March.
The government had implemented a number of policy changes after these defeats. The media and the Opposition accused it of performing "backflips". Opinion polls consistently showed the government trailing the ALP and there was a developing expectation that the government would be defeated in the general election.
Fifteen candidates nominated for the by-election. A draw was held on July 15 to determine positions on the ballot paper.
Some candidates appeared as independents, even though they represented minor political parties, because they have failed to register the names of 500 members of their parties with the Australian Electoral Commission. Registration entitles candidates to have their party designation appear beside their names on the ballot paper.
| Aston By-Election - July 14 |
|---|
Candidate
(blue=website) | Party |
|---|
| Peter O'LOUGHLIN |
Independent - but representing the Lower Excise on Fuel and Beer Party |
| Chris PEARCE |
Liberal |
| Mark WARD |
Independent - but representing People Power |
| Mark SLOAN |
Independent - but representing No GST Party |
| Mick KIR |
Australian Greens |
| Steve RASKOVY |
Independent |
| Doug MITCHELL |
Citizens Electoral Council |
| Luke James Chamberlain |
Liberals For Forests |
| Pierre Harcourt |
Australian Democrats |
| June Scott |
One Nation |
| Garry SCATES |
Independent |
| Josephine COX |
Independent - but representing Socialist Alliance |
| Tim PETHERBRIDGE |
Independent - but representing Hope Party |
| Graeme DUNSTAN |
HEMP |
| Kieran BOLAND |
ALP |
The final results of the by-election were:
| Aston By-Election - July 14 |
| Candidate | Party |
Votes |
% |
Swing |
|---|
| Peter O'LOUGHLIN |
Ind |
1,160 |
1.49 |
+1.49 |
| Chris PEARCE |
Liberal |
31,640 |
40.73 |
-7.76 |
| Mark WARD |
Ind |
125 |
0.16 |
+0.16 |
| Mark SLOAN |
Ind |
619 |
0.80 |
+0.80 |
| Mick KIR |
Greens |
1,876 |
2.41 |
+2.41 |
| Steve RASKOVY |
Ind |
227 |
0.29 |
+0.29 |
| Doug MITCHELL |
CEC |
334 |
0.43 |
+0.43 |
| Luke James Chamberlain |
Liberals For Forests |
679 |
0.87 |
+0.87 |
| Pierre Harcourt |
Australian Democrats |
6,269 |
8.07 |
+0.54 |
| June Scott |
One Nation |
1,369 |
1.76 |
-1.13 |
| Garry SCATES |
Ind |
3,402 |
4.38 |
+4.38 |
| Josephine COX |
Socialist Alliance |
329 |
0.42 |
+0.42 |
| Tim PETHERBRIDGE |
Hope |
232 |
0.30 |
+0.30 |
| Graeme DUNSTAN |
HEMP |
713 |
0.92 |
+0.92 |
| Kieran BOLAND |
ALP |
28,716 |
36.96 |
-1.55 |
| Two Candidate Preferred |
| Kieran Boland |
ALP |
49.43% |
3.67% |
| Chris Pearce |
Liberal |
50.57% |
-3.67% |
Aston By-Election News
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