1987 Heathcote state by-election

Election result for Heathcote, New South Wales, Australia September 2019 September 2019 A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Heathcote on 31 January 1987 following the resignation of sitting Labor party member Rex Jackson amidst a corruption scandal that ultimately led to his imprisonment.Mr Rex Frederick Jackson (1928–2011) 1878 Yes 13 May 2019 Jackson was facing conspiracy charges arising from his role as Minister for Corrective Services and Jackson resigned so that he could use his superannuation payout to meet his legal costs, where the government has ceased paying those costs in March 1985. Jackson said "The Government's put me in a position where I've got no choice. What the Labor Party has done to me is absolutely outrageous".https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119468298 Outraged Jackson quits, causes by-election The Canberra Times 14 August 1986 21 October 2019 1 Trove The Labor government delayed the by-election as long as possible, arguing that it was not possible to hold an election during Jackson's trial or while Parliament was sitting. The Leader of the Opposition, Nick Greiner, rejected this argument, declaring that the election was only delayed in an attempt to allow any bad press from the corruption trial to die down.Delayed Heathcote Poll Set for Jan 31 Dennis Shanahan Sydney Morning Herald 10 November 1986http://www.abc.net.au/elections/nsw/2005/guide/background.htm New South Wales By-Elections Background 2005 Antony Green Antony Green ABC 2 April 2007 The election finally came on 31 January 1987, and was rarely short of drama: Jackson, with criminal charges hanging over his head, entered as a spoiler candidate;Heathcote: Is Rex Planning to Deal Barrie a Wild Card? Mark Coultan Sydney Morning Herald 7 January 1987Jackson Plays His Wild Card Mark Coultan amp Michael Laurence Sydney Morning Herald 9 January 1987Rex Jackson's Revenge Richard Glover amp Larry Schwartz Sydney Morning Herald 17 January 1987 the Liberals found themselves in hot water over an illegally large billboard prominently placed on the electorate's border over the Princes Highway;Liberals Stand Firm in Saga of the Sign Pilita Clark Sydney Morning Herald 3 January 1987 and the ALP were accused of sabotage after vandals cut loose from its moorings a Liberal advertising blimp.ALP Supporters Accused of Heathcote 'Sabotage' Pilita Clark Sydney Morning Herald 17 November 1986Floating Vote-Catcher to Fly Again for Libs Sydney Morning Herald 18 November 1986 The Heathcote by-election was held the same day as the Bankstown by-election. Dates Date Event 27 October 1983 Rex Jackson resigned as Minister for Corrective Services and Minister for Roads. March 1985 NSW Government ceased paying Jackson's legal bills. 13 August 1986 Rex Jackson resigned from parliament. 2 January 1987 Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and close of electoral rolls.https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article231488522 Writ of election: Heathcote New South Wales Government Gazette 4 2 January 1987 21 October 2019 61 Trove 8 January 1987 Nominations 31 January 1987 Polling day 20 February 1987 Return of writ Results 1987 Heathcote state by-election1987 results Heathcote by-election 1984 Heathcote_1 21 October 2019 Labor NSW Ian McManus 10,870 37.4 −18.2 Liberal NSW Allan Andrews 9,173 31.6 −2.2 Independent Rex Jackson 1,862 6.4 +6.4 Independent Brian Tobin 1,780 6.1 +6.1 |- | Greens width:1px |   | style="text-align:left;"| Community Conservation Team | style="text-align:left;"| Jim Powell | style="text-align:right;"| 1,490 | style="text-align:right;"| 5.1 | style="text-align:right;"| +5.1 |- Call to Australia Kevin O'Connor 1,168 4.0 +4.0 Democrats Murray Scott 1,076 3.7 −7.0 Marijuana Nicholas Brash 675 2.3 +2.3 Socialist Workers Robynne Murphy 276 1.0 +1.0 Independent Cheryl Hill 179 0.6 +0.6 |- | CENTRE ALLIANCE width:1px |   | style="text-align:left;"| Centre Unity | style="text-align:left;"| Colin Poulos | style="text-align:right;"| 179 | style="text-align:right;"| 0.6 | style="text-align:right;"| +0.6 |- Unite Australia Alan Smith 168 0.6 +0.6 Independent Noel Carr 141 0.5 +0.5 |- | SOCIALIST width:1px |   | style="text-align:left;"| Illawarra Workers | style="text-align:left;"| Cecil Lloyd | style="text-align:right;"| 18 | style="text-align:right;"| 0.1 | style="text-align:right;"| +0.1 |- Independent Kusala Fitzroy-Mendis 11 0.0 +0.0 Independent Stanley Fitzroy-Mendis 9 0.0 +0.0 29,075 98.0 602 2.0 29,677 88.8 Labor NSW Ian McManus 13,517 52.8 -8.3 Liberal NSW Allan Andrews 12,077 47.2 +8.3 Labor NSW -8.3 Labor party member Rex Jackson resigned. See also Electoral results for the district of Heathcote List of New South Wales state by-elections Notes References expanded Category:1987 elections in Australia Category:New South Wales state by-elections Category:1987 in New South Wales