2008 Murdoch state by-election

By-election in Australia April 2022 The 2008 Murdoch state by-election was a by-election held on 23 February 2008 for the Western Australian Legislative Assembly seat of Murdoch in the southern suburbs of Perth. The by-election was triggered by the death of Liberal member Trevor Sprigg on 17 January 2008.http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/25/2146329.htm https://archive.today/20120716051852/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/25/2146329.htm dead 16 July 2012 Murdoch by-election date disrespectful: Liberals Australian Broadcasting Corporation 25 January 2008 2008-02-24 Sprigg had held the seat since the 2005 state election. A former football star with East Fremantle Football Club, he was a popular local member, and served in Parliament as the Opposition Whip in the Legislative Assembly. On 17 January 2008, while returning from the Gold Coast to attend a Liberal leadership vote, Sprigg died of a heart attack aged 61.http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/18/2141129.htm https://archive.today/20080120170457/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/18/2141129.htm dead 20 January 2008 East Fremantle mourns loss of MP Sprigg Australian Broadcasting Corporation 18 January 2008 2008-02-24 The leadership vote produced a victory for Troy Buswell, and members were to learn of Sprigg's death only after the vote had been taken.http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=54861 Omodei backs down as Libs choose Buswell The West Australian 17 January 2008 2008-02-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20080118012106/http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=54861 2008-01-18 On 24 January 2008, the Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly issued a writ directing the Electoral Commissioner to proceed with an election in the district. http://www.slp.wa.gov.au/gazette/gazette.nsf/0/EB2903B850DCB9D5C82573DF00121393/$file/gg014.pdf Issue of Writ for an Election for the Murdoch Electoral District to elect a Member of the Legislative Assembly EC401 2008:243 29 January 2008 Christian Porter, a 37-year-old law lecturer at the University of Western Australia, won the Liberal preselection ballot on 30 January 2007 against former minister and member for neighbouring Riverton, Graham Kierath.Liberals shun Kierath to run Porter in Murdoch Hatch Daniel The West Australian 31 January 2008 6 The seat of Murdoch, first established in 1976, Electoral Districts Act 1947-1975 - Order in Council 1975:1781-1847 9 June 1976 was considered to be a safe seat for the Liberal Party, with just two other members since its creation—former Leader of the Opposition Barry MacKinnon, and Mike Board. Commentators viewed the by-election as a non-event, and it became clear early that the Labor Party, in government in Western Australia since 2001, had no intention of contesting the seat, and that the media's main interest in the race was to debate Porter's role in a future shadow cabinet.http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/01/2152600.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20110406082441/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/01/2152600.htm dead 6 April 2011 Four candidates will contest Murdoch Australian Broadcasting Corporation 1 February 2008 2008-02-24 Porter went on to win the seat against three non-major-party candidates.http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/24/2170813.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20080302180939/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/02/24/2170813.htm dead 2 March 2008 Liberals retain Murdoch in by-election Australian Broadcasting Corporation 24 February 2008 2008-02-24 Timeline Date Event 17 January 2008 Trevor Sprigg died, vacating the seat of Murdoch. 24 January 2008 Writs were issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly to proceed with a by-election. 1 February 2008 Close of nominations and draw of ballot papers.http://www.waec.wa.gov.au/elections/state_elections/election_results/2008_Murdoch_By-Election/key_dates_and_deadlines.php Murdoch By Election - Key dates and deadlines Western Australian Electoral Commission 2008-02-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20080903022650/http://www.waec.wa.gov.au/elections/state_elections/election_results/2008_Murdoch_By-Election/key_dates_and_deadlines.php 2008-09-03 dead 23 February 2008 Polling day, between the hours of 8am and 6pm. 23 April 2008 The writ was returned and the results formally declared. Candidates The by-election attracted four candidates. Christian Porter, a 37-year-old law lecturer at the University of Western Australia, grandson of former Queensland Liberal MLA Charles Porter who held the seat of Toowong from 1966 until 1980 and son of former Western Australian state director Chilla Porter, won the Liberal preselection ballot against former minister and member for neighbouring Riverton, Graham Kierath. He was tipped, if successful, to become the shadow attorney-general, a role which had been vacant following the departure of Sue Walker (Nedlands) from the Liberal party. Other candidates ran for the Greens, One Nation and Christian Democratic Party:http://www.pollbludger.com/796 Murdoch by-election preview Bowe William Poll Bludger 29 January 2008 2008-02-24Four candidates for Murdoch Melville Times 19 February 2008 3 Hsien Harper (Greens), an organiser for the Australian Services Union who previously ran for Willagee in 2005; Neil Gilmour (One Nation), the party's state president who ran for Division of Curtin in 2001 and the South Metropolitan Legislative Council region in 2005; Ka-ren Chew (CDP), a local solicitor who ran for Division of Tangney, which includes Murdoch and Riverton, in the 2007 federal election. Results As largely predicted, Christian Porter retained the seat for the Liberal Party. As the Labor Party did not run, a swing could not be determined, although the 10-15% increase in the Liberal vote due to Labor voters (35.51% at the 2005 election) choosing the Liberals ahead of the Greens was hailed by Porter in his victory speech at 7:40pm AWDT on election night.http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23265888-5005961,00.html Liberals secure WA by-election win Tullberg Julie 23 February 2008 Herald Sun 2008-02-24 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080226192545/http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23265888-5005961,00.html February 26, 2008 Murdoch by-election, 2008Murdoch Election results Liberal WA Christian Porter 13,121 62.82 +14.43 Greens WA Hsien Harper 5,502 26.34 +19.01 Christian Democrats Ka-ren Chew 1,604 7.68 +4.33 One Nation Neil Gilmour 659 3.16 +2.19 20,886 96.78 +1.42 696 3.22 -1.42 21,582 74.72 -17.12 Liberal WA Christian Porter 14,488 69.39 +13.48 Greens WA Hsien Harper 6,392 30.61 +30.61 Liberal WA N/A References Category:2008 elections in Australia Category:Western Australian state by-elections Category:2000s in Western Australia