1988 Wallsend state by-election

Election result for Wallsend, New South Wales, Australia March 2021 March 2021 A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Wallsend on 17 December 1988 because of the death of Ken Booth (Labor NSW).The Hon. Kenneth George Booth (1926–1988) 1855 Yes 16 June 2019 It was won by Labor candidate John Mills in the absence of a Liberal candidate. Mills had been Booth's preferred successor, and although several Labor ministers had lost their seats at the previous election, it was reported that due to "considerable disaffection with the ALP in the region at the last election" and multiple seats lost to independents the party was keen to see Booth elected with "as little fuss as possible".https://www.newspapers.com/image/120563583/ Booth's death forces another by-election Sydney Morning Herald 2 November 1988 1 December 2019 Mills won the seat against three independents with over 55% of the vote, although there was only a "modest" voter turnout of about 80%.https://www.newspapers.com/image/120558134/ ALP Wallsend win ends independents' run Sydney Morning Herald 19 December 1988 1 December 2019 The timing of the by-election had been unusual, just over a week before Christmas, and had been attacked by Opposition Leader Bob Carr as "unheard of" and likely to decrease turnout.By-election timing angers Opposition The Sydney Morning Herald 5 December 1988 Dates Date Event 2 November 1988 Death of Ken Booth. 30 November 1988 Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article231478013 Writ of election: Wallsend New South Wales Government Gazette 177 30 November 1988 13 November 2019 6173 Trove 7 December 1988 Nominations 17 December 1988 Polling day 6 January 1989 Return of writ Results [[1988 Wallsend state by-election|1988 Wallsend by-election]]Saturday 17 December1988 Wallsend by-election 1988 Wallsend_1 29 November 2019 Labor NSW John Mills 15,671 55.8 -3.6 Independent Lindsay Bradley 8,485 30.2 Independent Paul Stocker 2,555 9.1 Independent Philip Laver 1,377 4.9 28,088 97.0 +1.0 870 3.0 -1.0 28,958 87.7 -8.3 Labor NSW John Mills 17,011 63.4 +4.0 Independent Lindsay Bradley 9,817 36.6 Labor NSW +4.0compared to the two-candidate-preferred result for the 1988 Wallsend election. Ken Booth (Labor NSW) died. See also Electoral results for the district of Wallsend List of New South Wales state by-elections Notes References expanded Category:1988 elections in Australia Category:New South Wales state by-elections Category:1988 in New South Wales