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2014 Fisher state by-election
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South Australian by-election
April 2022
May 2023
South Australia parliamentary no 6 December 2014 150x150px Nat Cook Australian Labor Party (South Australian Branch) 5,495 26.7% 9.0 150x150px Heidi Harris Liberal Party of Australia (South Australian Division) 7,413 36.1% 1.0 Independent politician IND 150x150px Dan Woodyatt Independent politician 4,789 23.3% 23.3 TPP TPP swing 50.02% 7.27 49.98% 7.27 Fisher Electoral District SA 2014.png Electoral district of Fisher in the southern metropolitan area of Adelaide. MP Bob Such Independent politician Nat Cook Australian Labor Party (South Australian Branch)
A by-election for the seat of Fisher in the South Australian House of Assembly was held on 6 December 2014. The by-election was triggered by the death of independent MP Bob Such on 11 October 2014. Originally elected to Fisher for the Liberal Party of Australia at the 1989 election, defeating the one-term Australian Labor Party MP Philip Tyler, Such left the party in 2000.Wills Daniel Voters to go to the polls in Bob Such's seat of Fisher on December 6 as Liberal Iain Evans also retires and triggers Davenport by-election http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/voters-to-go-to-the-polls-in-bob-suchs-seat-of-fisher-on-december-6-as-liberal-iain-evans-also-retires-and-triggers-davenport-byelection/story-fnii5yv5-1227096128690 20 October 2014 The Courier-Mail 20 October 2014South Australia set for two by-elections, in Fisher and Davenport state electorates http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-20/two-sa-by-elections-fisher-davenport-sam-duluk-iain-evans-such/5827412 20 October 2014 ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation 20 October 2014
Though the Liberals were favourites to win the traditionally Liberal seat,By-election for Bob Such's seat of Fisher expected to put pressure on Weatherill Government: ABC 13 October 2014 Labor's Nat Cook won the by-election by five votes, a 50.02 percent two-party-preferred vote from a 7.27-point swing away from the Liberals, resulting in a change from minority to majority government.Fisher by-election win for Labor gives Weatherill Government majority in SA: ABC 13 December 2014Labor claims victory in Fisher by-election: The Advertiser 13 December 20142014 Fisher By-election: Antony Green ABC Despite this, the Jay Weatherill Labor government kept crossbench MPs Geoff Brock and Martin Hamilton-Smith in cabinet, giving the government a 26 to 21 parliamentary majority.
ABC psephologist Antony Green described the by-election as a "very poor result for the Liberal Party in South Australia both state and federally", and that a fourth term government gaining a seat at a by-election was unprecedented in Australian history.Likely Shock Labor By-Election Win in SA: The Conversation 4 December 2014 Much of the anti-Liberal swing was attributed to the unpopularity of then Prime Minister Tony Abbott, and additionally, the remark from then Defence Minister David Johnston several days before the Fisher by-election, where he stated he wouldn't trust South Australia's Australian Submarine Corporation to "build a canoe".Defence Minister says he 'wouldn't trust' Australian Submarine Corporation to build a canoe: ABC 25 November 2014Is Tony Abbott the hazard for Liberals in Fisher by-election?: The Advertiser 30 November 2014October 2022 InternetArchiveBot yes Abbott government forced into sub-mission after shock loss in South Australia: Sydney Morning Herald 9 December 2014Federal Libs blamed for big swing to Labor in SA: The New Daily 8 December 2014
Dates
Date Event 8 November 2014 Writ of election issued by the Speaker 18 November 2014 Close of electoral rolls 21 November 2014 Close of nominations 6 December 2014 Polling day, between the hours of 8 am and 6 pm
Candidates
8 candidates in ballot paper order Liberal Party of Australia Heidi Harris Former Lord Melbourne Hotel manager and political adviser to Duncan McFetridge. Liberal candidate for Elder in 2002. Independent Australian Democrats Jeanie Walker Property investing and management, Aboriginal Family Violence Case Manager. Australian Democrats, No Rodeo and independent candidate at prior elections. Australian Labor Party Nat Cook Flinders Medical Centre worker. Founded the Sammy D Foundation after her son died from a one-punch king hit. Independent Leading the Community Rob de Jonge Unsuccessfully sought Liberal preselection.Cakewalk for Labor in Jay's old haunt: InDaily 24 January 2019 City of Onkaparinga councillor for 8 years, recently defeated. Contested Davenport in 2010. Stop Population Growth Now Bob Couch Accountant and other occupations. Upper house candidate at the previous election. Independent Continue Such's Legacy Dan Woodyatt Government lawyer with a background in assisting with the implementation of large capital projects and community initiatives. Endorsed by Such's widow.Polling gives independent candidate Dan Woodyatt strong position in Fisher by-election: The Advertiser 1 December 2014 Greens Malwina Wyra Commerce and Environmental Management Flinders University student. Staffer to Tammy Franks. Candidate in Fisher at the previous election. Independent Honest True Local Dan Golding Involved with Neighbourhood Watch, Scouts, Air Force Cadets, Youth Advisory Council and the SA Tall Ships Association.
Two-party-preferred history
Electoral results for the district of Fisher
The two-party-preferred vote in Fisher while Such was an independent:
Election: 2002200620102014 Liberal: 55.7%40.6%51.9%57.2% Labor: 44.3%59.4%48.1%42.8%
Polling
One opinion poll was conducted and released by the in-house polling group at The Advertiser, Adelaide's main newspaper. Between one and two weeks prior to the by-election, 400 voters were polled in the seat. Voters were randomly selected at the sole pre-poll booth at Happy Valley Shopping Centre, as well as at Aberfoyle Hub. Primary votes saw 34.25 (−0.85) percent to Liberal, 30 percent to Woodyatt, 20.5 (+2.8) percent to Labor, with a collective 15 percent for the remaining five candidates. The Advertiser claimed that a Liberal primary vote below 40 percent and the high vote for Woodyatt with Labor remaining in third place, preferences could have seen Fisher retained by an independent, Woodyatt.
South Australian Newspoll at the time of the by-election recorded a statewide six percent two-party swing from Liberal to Labor.
Result
right|thumb|upright|Labor candidate Nat Cook won the traditionally Liberal seat of Fisher by just nine votes after preferences from a 7.27 percent Liberal to Labor two-party swing, taking Labor from minority to majority government.
2014 Fisher state by-electionResults, 2014 Fisher by-election: Antony Green ABCResults, 2014 Fisher by-election: ECSAPolling booth results, 2014 Fisher by-election: ECSAFinal results, 2014 Fisher by-election: ECSA https://web.archive.org/web/20141213032713/http://www.ecsa.sa.gov.au/elections/2014-by-election-of-fisher/final-results 2014-12-13
Heidi Harris Liberal SA 7,413 36.1 +1.0
Nat Cook Labor SA 5,495 26.7 +9.0
Dan Woodyatt #888888 Independent Continue Such's Legacy 4,789 23.3 +23.3
Dan Golding #888888 Independent Honest True Local 880 4.3 +4.3
Rob de Jonge #888888 Independent Leading the Community 809 3.9 +3.9
Malwina Wyra SA Greens 708 3.4 −1.3
Bob Couch Stop Population Growth Now 270 1.3 +1.3
Jeanie Walker independent democrats 195 0.9 +0.9
20,559 96.1 −1.5
841 3.9 +1.5
21,400
82.9
−10.5
Labor SA Nat Cook 10,284 50.02 +7.27
Liberal SA Heidi Harris 10,275 49.98 −7.27
Labor SA Independent +7.27
right|thumb|upright|Instant-runoff voting method.
Though the Liberals were favourites to win the traditionally Liberal seat, Labor's Nat Cook won the by-election by five votes with Woodyatt preferences, a 50.02 percent two-party-preferred vote from a 7.27 percent swing away from the Liberals, resulting in a change from minority to majority government. Despite this, the Jay Weatherill Labor government kept crossbench MPs Geoff Brock and Martin Hamilton-Smith in cabinet, giving the government a 26 to 21 parliamentary majority. The Liberals were successful in requesting a re-count which occurred on 15 December.Commentary, 2014 Fisher by-election: Antony Green ABChttp://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/2014/12/13/fisher-by-election-live/ Fisher by-election live: The Poll Bludger 13 December 2014 13 December 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141213072155/http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/2014/12/13/fisher-by-election-live/ dead
Labor achieved majority government at a state level one week prior at the 2014 Victorian election.
ABC psephologist Antony Green described the by-election as a "very poor result for the Liberal Party in South Australia both state and federally", and that a fourth term government gaining a seat at a by-election was unprecedented in Australian history. Much of the anti-Liberal swing was attributed to the unpopularity of then Prime Minister Tony Abbott, and additionally, the remark from then Defence Minister David Johnston several days before the by-election, where he stated he wouldn't trust South Australia's Australian Submarine Corporation to "build a canoe".
Former Liberal leader Iain Evans in Davenport resigned from parliament on 30 October 2014 which triggered a 2015 Davenport by-election for 31 January.Iain Evans to quit, Senior Liberal will retire from SA politics and force by-election: ABC 6 June 2014Speaker Michael Atkinson defends decision to separate two SA by-elections: ABC 21 October 2014Departing SA Liberal Iain Evans takes final swipe at parliamentary colleagues: ABC 30 October 2014Davenport by-election date in South Australia set for January 31: ABC 13 November 2014 Just a couple of days before the Davenport by-election, Abbott's infamous knighting of Prince Philip occurred.Davenport by-election: Tony Abbott's decision to knight Prince Philip could affect voters: ABC 29 January 2015Large swing to Labor at SA by-election another warning to PM Abbott: Nine News 2 February 2015 Liberal Sam Duluk won the seat despite a five percent two-party swing, turning the historically safe seat of Davenport in to a two-party marginal seat for the first time.Liberals withstand swing to win by-election in South Australian seat of Davenport: ABC 31 January 2015 ABC psephologist Antony Green described it as "another poor result for the South Australian Liberal Party".2015 Davenport by-election commentary: Antony Green ABC
See also
2015 Davenport state by-election
2018 South Australian state election#Polling
List of South Australian House of Assembly by-elections
References
2
External links
2014 Fisher By-election: Antony Green ABC
2014 Fisher by-election: ECSA
How-To-Vote (HTV) cards, 2014 Fisher By-election: ECSA
Category:2014 elections in Australia
Category:South Australian state by-elections
Category:2010s in South Australia