2012 Melbourne state by-election

October 2015 October 2015 Victoria parliamentary no 2010 Victorian state election 2010 2014 Victorian state election 2014 21 July 2012 Electoral district of Melbourne in the Victorian Legislative Assembly Primary 150x150px Jennifer Kanis Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch) 9,321 33.38% 2.29 150x150px Cathy Oke Australian Greens Victoria 10,197 36.52% 4.60 TCP TCP swing 51.51% 4.66 48.49% 4.66 MP Bronwyn Pike Labor Jennifer Kanis Labor A by-election was held for the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of Melbourne on 21 July 2012. This was triggered by the resignation of former minister and state Labor MP Bronwyn Pike which she announced on 7 May 2012.http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-22/melbourne-by-election-set-for-july-21/4026394?section=vic Melbourne by-election set for July 21 ABC News abc.net.au 2012-05-22 2012-06-14http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/pike-quits-triggering-vic-byelection-20120507-1y89l.html Pike quits, triggering Vic by-election News.smh.com.au 2012-05-07 2012-06-14http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/byelection-looms-as-veteran-labor-mp-quits-20120507-1y83g.html Byelection looms as veteran Labor MP quits Theage.com.au 2012-05-07 2012-06-14 Melbourne Sixteen candidates contested the by-election, the Liberals declined to nominate a candidate. Jennifer Kanis retained the seat for Labor with a 51.5 per cent (–4.7) two-candidate-preferred vote against Greens candidate Cathy Oke. Dates Date Eventhttp://www.vec.vic.gov.au/current/MelbourneDistrictByElection.html 2012 Melbourne by-election dates Vec.vic.gov.au 2012-06-14 https://web.archive.org/web/20120606030253/http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/current/MelbourneDistrictByElection.html 6 June 2012 dead 28 May 2012 Writ of election issued by the Governor 4 June 2012 Close of electoral rolls 21 June 2012 Close of party nominations 22 June 2012 Close of independent nominations, ballot paper order draw conducted 25 June 2012 Early voting began 21 July 2012 Polling day, between the hours of 8 am and 6 pm Background The federal seat of Melbourne held by Labor was won by the Greens at the August 2010 federal election, where the Liberals preferenced the Greens ahead of Labor. At the November 2010 Victorian state election where the Liberals preferenced Labor ahead of the Greens, the Liberal/National Coalition won 45 seats and Labor won 43 seats in the 88-seat Legislative Assembly, resulting in a one-seat majority for the incoming Coalition government. Labor retained the state seat of Melbourne on a 56.2 per cent two-candidate-preferred vote against the Greens and a 64.4 per cent two-party-preferred vote against the Liberals. On the primary vote, Labor won 35.7 per cent, the Greens won 31.9 per cent, the Liberals won 28.0 per cent, and four other candidates won a combined 4.4 per cent.http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Results/state2010resultMelbourneDistrict.html Melbourne District State Election 2010 Vec.vic.gov.au 2012-06-14 With the Liberals declining to field a candidate, there was an increased chance of the seat changing hands due to changed preference flows, such as at the 2002 Cunningham by-election (Federal) and the 2009 Fremantle by-election (WA State).http://sl.farmonline.com.au/news/state/agribusiness-and-general/political/pike-resignation-leaves-path-open-for-greens/2547934.aspx?storypage=0 Pike resignation 'leaves path open for Greens' Sl.farmonline.com.au 2012-05-08 2012-06-14http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8464084/candidates-step-up-to-replace-pike https://archive.today/20120717124445/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8464084/candidates-step-up-to-replace-pike dead 2012-07-17 Candidates step up to replace Pike News.ninemsn.com.au 2012-06-14 http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/the-battle-for-melbourne-20120512-1yk2a.html The battle for Melbourne Theage.com.au 2012-05-13 2012-06-14http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-21/voting-underway-in-crucial-melbourne-by-election/4145542 Greens tipped to win Melbourne by-election: ABC News 21 July 2012 ABC News Abc.net.au 21 July 2012 2012-07-22 Due to the voting patterns to the Greens across jurisdictions, this state by-election, unusually received national attention.http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/2012/07/18/melbourne-state-by-election/?wpmp_switcher=mobile&comments=100&wpmp_tp=1 Melbourne (State) by-election: July 21 – the Poll Bludger Candidates The 16 candidates in ballot paper order were as follows: Candidate nominationshttp://www.vec.vic.gov.au/current/StateBy2012candidatesMelbourneDistrict.html Melbourne District By-election 2012 Nominations Vec.vic.gov.au 2012-06-14 https://web.archive.org/web/20120629134718/http://vec.vic.gov.au/current/StateBy2012candidatesMelbourneDistrict.html 29 June 2012 dead   Independent Berhan Ahmed Former Labor and Green member, Eritrean-born chairman of the African Think Tank, 2009 Victorian Australian of the Year.https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/immigration/boats-leave-fellow-africans-stranded/news-story/12b8eebe8a030486f5680f5485cfba00 The Australian Boats leave fellow Africans stranded subscription 2012-07-19http://www.att.org.au/berhan2009.html Dr. Berhan Ahmed Victorian Australian of the Year 2009 Att.org.au 2012-07-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20120702172820/http://www.att.org.au/berhan2009.html 2 July 2012 dead   Family First Party Ashley Fenn Victorian Director of Family First, and chairman of not-for-profit housing company Ethan Affordable Housing.http://au.christiantoday.com/article/family-first-states-contrast-in-stance-from-australian-christians-towards-muslim-communities/13724.htm Family First states contrast in stance from Australian Christians towards Muslim communities Au.christiantoday.com 2012-07-22http://www.vic-familyfirst.org.au/ashley-fenn/ Family First : Victoria Vic-familyfirst.org.au 2012-07-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20120717172641/http://www.vic-familyfirst.org.au/ashley-fenn/ 17 July 2012 dead   Independent Gerrit Schorel-Hlavka Self-described constitutionalist and serial candidate.http://www.melbournetimesweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/melbourne-byelection-veteran-campaigner-gerrit-hendrik-schorelhlavka-has-another-crack/2611634.aspx https://archive.today/20121230213122/http://www.melbournetimesweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/melbourne-byelection-veteran-campaigner-gerrit-hendrik-schorelhlavka-has-another-crack/2611634.aspx dead 2012-12-30 Melbourne byelection: Veteran campaigner Gerrit Hendrik Schorel-Hlavka has another crack - Local News - News - General Melbourne Times Weekly 2012-07-03 2012-07-22  Independent David Nolte Liberal Party member and former Melbourne City Councillor (1988–93), ran on a "small-l liberal" platform.Hingston Chris http://www.melbournetimesweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/melbourne-byelection-tunnel-would-increase-traffic/2618268.aspx?storypage=2 https://archive.today/20121230142128/http://www.melbournetimesweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/melbourne-byelection-tunnel-would-increase-traffic/2618268.aspx?storypage=2 dead 2012-12-30 Melbourne byelection: Tunnel would 'increase traffic' - Local News - News - General Melbourne Times Weekly 2012-07-10 2012-07-22 http://www.nolte.com.au/index_files/Page315.htm https://archive.today/20121231070337/http://www.nolte.com.au/index_files/Page315.htm dead 2012-12-31 Policies Nolte.com.au 2012-07-22 http://www.nolte.com.au/index.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20230523070115/https://www.nolte.com.au/index.htm/ dead 23 May 2023 Home Nolte.com.au 2012-07-22   Independent John Perkins Candidate for the unregistered Secular Party of Australia, and party president.http://www.secular.org.au/index.php Secular Party of Australia Secular.org.au 2012-07-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20120628203447/http://www.secular.org.au/index.php 28 June 2012 dead   Labor Party Jennifer Kanis Melbourne City Councillor and anti-discrimination lawyer.http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/ABOUTCOUNCIL/MAYORCOUNCILLORS/Pages/CrJenniferKanis.aspx Councillor Jennifer Kanis - City of Melbourne Melbourne.vic.gov.au 2012-06-08 2012-07-22  Independent David Collyer Candidate for the unregistered Australian Democrats. Campaign manager for Prosper Australia and Democrats candidate for the federal seat of Melbourne in 2010.http://david-collyer.vic-democrats.org.au/2012/06/25/david-collyer-contests-melbourne-byelection-for-democrats/ David Collyer Contests Melbourne Byelection for Democrats | David-collyer.vic-democrats.org.au 2012-06-25 2012-07-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20130409202327/http://david-collyer.vic-democrats.org.au/2012/06/25/david-collyer-contests-melbourne-byelection-for-democrats/ 9 April 2013 dead   Independent Patrick O'Connor Candidate for the unregistered Socialist Equality Party. Member of the party's National Committee and contributor to the World Socialist Web Site.http://www.wsws.org/articles/2012/jun2012/sepa-j15.shtml Socialist Equality Party (Australia) launches Melbourne by-election campaign Wsws.org 2012-06-15 2012-07-22  Democratic Labor Party Michael Murphy Graphic arts designer and businessman,http://www.dlp.org.au/melbourne-district-by-election/ Melbourne District by-election | Democratic Labor Party Dlp.org.au 2012-07-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20120724034512/http://www.dlp.org.au/melbourne-district-by-election/ 24 July 2012 dead and Victorian party secretary.http://www.dlp.org.au/victoria/ Victoria 2012-08-09  Independent Joseph Toscano Anarchist campaigner and serial candidate.https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/inquirer/greens-on-fertile-ground/news-story/2abd09f83e66512cb00429224fb19915 The Australian Greens on fertile ground subscription 2012-07-20  Independent Stephen Mayne Former Liberal Party staffer, founder of independent news website Crikey, and Manningham City Councillor. Ran on an anti-pokies platform, endorsed by independent Senator Nick Xenophon.Benson Eugene http://www.mooneevalleyweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/melbourne-byelection-stephen-mayne-to-stand/2578807.aspx https://archive.today/20121231051005/http://www.mooneevalleyweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/melbourne-byelection-stephen-mayne-to-stand/2578807.aspx dead 2012-12-31 Melbourne byelection: Stephen Mayne to stand - Local News - News - General Moonee Valley Weekly 2012-06-04 2012-07-22 http://www.maynereport.com/articles/2010/07/22-2330-2795.html Stephen Mayne running for Senate on anti-pokies and pro-immigration platform: The Mayne Report 18 August 2010 Maynereport.com 2012-07-22  Independent Kate Borland Public housing advocate.Josh Gordon http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/alp-accuses-greens-of-grubby-deals-20120711-21wb7.html ALP accuses Greens of 'grubby deals' Theage.com.au 2012-07-12 2012-07-22 Melbourne  Independent Adrian Whitehead Climate change activist, former Greens member and election candidate.  Australian Sex Party Fiona Patten Party president and Eros Association CEO.http://www.mooneevalleyweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/melbourne-byelection-sex-party-wont-doorknock/2601390.aspx https://archive.today/20121231012229/http://www.mooneevalleyweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/melbourne-byelection-sex-party-wont-doorknock/2601390.aspx dead 2012-12-31 Melbourne byelection: Sex Party won't door-knock - Local News - News - General Moonee Valley Weekly 2012-06-26 2012-07-22   Australian Greens Cathy Oke Melbourne City Councillor and scientist.http://www.cathyoke.com/ Cathy Oke for Melbourne Cathyoke.com 2012-07-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20120724074514/http://www.cathyoke.com/ 24 July 2012 dead   Australian Christians Maria Bengtsson No information available. Polling From 7 to 10 June 2012, 365 voters (5% MoE) in the seat were telephone polled by Roy Morgan Research. The Greens' two-candidate-preferred vote was at 54 per cent to 46 per cent for Labor. The Greens' primary vote was at 48.5 per cent, Labor on 37.5 per cent, and Mayne on 7 per cent, with "others including Gary Morgan and Kevin Chamberlain" on a collective 7 per cent. Morgan and Chamberlain did not nominate.http://www.roymorgan.com/news/polls/2012/4791/ 2012 Melbourne state by-election poll Roymorgan.com 2012-06-14 https://web.archive.org/web/20120615184824/http://www.roymorgan.com/news/polls/2012/4791/ 15 June 2012 dead On 16 July 2012, 403 voters (5% MoE) in the seat were robocall polled by ReachTel with results published in The Australian. The Greens' primary vote was at 38.1 per cent, Labor on 36.5 per cent, the Sex Party on 6.1 per cent, Mayne on 4.3 per cent, Family First on 3.8 per cent, with the remaining 11 candidates on a collective 11.2 per cent. While no two-candidate vote was produced, preference flows were said to be evenly divided between Labor and the Greens.http://www.reachtel.com.au/blog/preferences-the-key-for-greens-in-melbourne-by-election Preferences the key for The Greens in the Melbourne by-election: ReachTel 18 July 2012 Reachtel.com.au 2012-07-18 2012-07-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20120722034800/http://www.reachtel.com.au/blog/preferences-the-key-for-greens-in-melbourne-by-election 22 July 2012 dead Preferences How-to-vote cards (HTVs) had six candidates recommending voters to preference Labor over the Greens: Ahmed, Family First, Nolte, the DLP, the Sex Party, and the Christians. Six candidates recommended voters preference the Greens over Labor: Perkins, Collyer, Toscano, Mayne, Borland, and Whitehead. Not recommending preferences were Schorel-Hlavka and O'Connor.http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/current/StateBy2012HTVCMelbourneDistrict.html 2012 Melbourne by-election HTVs: VEC website Vec.vic.gov.au 2012-07-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20120629134042/http://vec.vic.gov.au/current/StateBy2012HTVCMelbourneDistrict.html 29 June 2012 dead Results 2012 Melbourne state by-electionhttp://www.vec.vic.gov.au/results/StateBy2012resultMelbourneDistrict.html Melbourne 2012 by-election results: VEC 22 July 2012 24 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120724105149/http://vec.vic.gov.au/Results/StateBy2012resultMelbourneDistrict.html dead http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Results/stateby2012distributionMelbourneDistrict.html Melbourne District By-election 2012 Results Distribution of preference votes Vec.vic.gov.au 2012-07-25 29 April 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130429161543/https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Results/stateby2012distributionMelbourneDistrict.html dead http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Results/state2010resultMelbourneDistrict.html Melbourne 2010 election results Vec.vic.gov.au 2012-07-252012 Melbourne by-election results: Antony Green ABC Greens VIC Cathy Oke 10,197 36.52 +4.60 Labor VIC Jennifer Kanis 9,321 33.38 –2.29 Sex Party Fiona Patten 1,832 6.56 +3.67 Independent Stephen Mayne 1,325 4.74 +4.74 |- | liberal width:1px |   | style="text-align:left;"| Independent Liberal | style="text-align:left;"| David Nolte | style="text-align:right;"| 1,302 | style="text-align:right;"| 4.66 | style="text-align:right;"| +4.66 |- Independent Berhan Ahmed 1,127 4.04 +4.04 Family First Ashley Fenn 841 3.01 +3.01 Democratic Labor Michael Murphy 521 1.87 +1.87 Australian Christians Maria Bengtsson 342 1.22 +1.22 Independent Joseph Toscano 208 0.74 +0.74 Independent Kate Borland 207 0.74 +0.74 Independent Adrian Whitehead 169 0.61 +0.61 |- | socialist equality width:1px |   | style="text-align:left;"| Independent Socialist Equality | style="text-align:left;"| Patrick O'Connor | style="text-align:right;"| 162 | style="text-align:right;"| 0.58 | style="text-align:right;"| +0.58 |- |- | democrats width:1px |   | style="text-align:left;"| Independent Democrat | style="text-align:left;"| David Collyer | style="text-align:right;"| 160 | style="text-align:right;"| 0.57 | style="text-align:right;"| +0.57 |- |- | Secular width:1px |   | style="text-align:left;"| Independent Secular | style="text-align:left;"| John Perkins | style="text-align:right;"| 162 | style="text-align:right;"| 0.58 | style="text-align:right;"| +0.58 |- Independent Gerrit Schorel-Hlavka 66 0.24 +0.24 27,925 90.66 –5.65 2,878 9.34 +5.65 30,803 68.62 –18.31 Labor VIC Jennifer Kanis 14,384 51.51 –4.66 Greens VIC Cathy Oke 13,541 48.49 +4.66 Labor VIC –4.66 Almost two-thirds of preferences went to Labor over the Greens. The two-candidate vote remained level during the polling booth count, however the postal vote count favoured Labor and put the result beyond doubt. The Greens conceded defeat on 24 July. The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) officially declared that Labor had retained the seat on 25 July. Results were final as of 31 July.Victorian Electoral Commission on Twitter (@electionsvic)Tom Arup http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/greens-concede-byelection-despite-bestever-campaign-20120724-22lns.html Greens concede byelection despite 'best-ever' campaign Theage.com.au 2012-07-16 2012-07-25 Melbourne External links 2012 Melbourne by-election distribution of preference votes: VEC https://web.archive.org/web/20130429161543/https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Results/stateby2012distributionMelbourneDistrict.html 29 April 2013 2012 Melbourne by-election HTV cards, 35 registered HTVs: VEC 2012 Melbourne by-election website: VEC @electionsvic VEC account: Twitter 2012 Melbourne by-election: Antony Green ABC Poll Bludger pre-election - post-election See also Electoral results for the district of Melbourne List of Victorian state by-elections References 2 Category:2012 elections in Australia 2012 Category:2012 in Melbourne