1970 Murrumbidgee state by-election

Election result for Murrumbidgee, New South Wales, Australia March 2021 March 2021 The 1970 Murrumbidgee state by-election was held on 14 February 1970 for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Murrumbidgee. It was triggered by the resignation of Al Grassby (Labor NSW) to successfully contest the federal seat of Riverina at the 1969 election.Mr Albert Jaime Grassby (1926-2005) 1858 Yes 13 May 2019 The by-election was held on the same day as two others in Randwick and Upper Hunter and used the same boundaries as the state election.DLP NOW IN FIELD The Murrumbidgee Irrigator 30 January 1970 Leeton, NSW 6 Dates Date Event 18 September 1969 Resignation of Al Grassby. 25 October 1969 1969 Australian federal election 19 January 1970 Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and close of electoral rolls.https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article220054082 Writ of election: Murrumbidgee Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales 8 19 January 1970 2021-03-19 195 Trove 23 January 1970 Day of nomination 14 February 1970 Polling day 10 March 1970 Return of writ Candidates PartyCandidateBackground  Democratic Labor Leslie Michael Kennedy Narrandera farmer, last to announce their candidacy  Liberal Ian Colin Davidge Griffith farmer  Labor Alan Robert Lindsey Gordon Leeton pharmacist, former Shire President  Country Robert Alexander Williamson Yenda farmer Campaign Country campaign The Country Party's Campaign Secretary was Mrs. G. Barwick and the campaign used the slogan "The Man Who Cares".INTRODUCING... ROBIN WILLIAMSON The Murrumbidgee Irrigator Australian Country Party (N.S.W.), authorised by G. Barwick 30 January 1970 7 In a meeting with the Lake Talbot War Memorial Fund Committee, Williamson committed to "tak[ing] a stand and fight[ing] for the right of the Narrandera people to obtain government assistance for improvements to the Lake Talbot Swimming Pool".Williamson will fight for Lake improvements The Murrumbidgee Irrigator 2 February 1970 3 Policy commitments outlined in the campaign included:ACTION! with THE MAN WHO CARES— The Murrumbidgee Irrigator Australian Country Party (N.S.W.) 2 February 1970 10 Speed country water supplies and sewerage. Finance for country industries Fund for Municipal and Shire Councils—Lessen rate burden. Extension free school buses. Increased Teacher College Scholarships. Country events The Country candidate, Robin Williamson, held a luncheon at the Hydro Hotel in Leeton with the state Minister for Public Works, Davis Hughes M.L.A. at 12:30pm on 4 February, inviting "citizens of [the] Leeton, Narrandera, Coleambally, and districts" at a subscription fee of $2.Australian Country Party (N.S.W.) Murrumbidgee Electorate Council The Murrumbidgee Irrigator Australian Country Party, authorised by G. Barwick 30 January 1970 7 Labor campaign The Labor candidate, Lin Gordon, campaigned on fighting for Murrumbidgee, pointing to his track record as a Shire President. Gordon was positioned as a protest vote against "Minister Beale's Dictatorship"Grassby—Murrumbidgee must stand a fighting chance! The Murrumbidgee Irrigator Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch), Authorised A. J. Grassby 2 February 1970 10 Issues outlined by the campaign included: Neglect of school needs Turnover tax on business Wheat rationing favouring giant absentee companies Strangling M.I.A towns by locking up land Ignoring Hay-Maude areas for 5 years Reducing Coleambally by 40 per cent Procrastination over Lake Mejum Labor events Gordon held a number of events across the electorate during the campaign including: Street meeting in Griffith (Wednesday 28 January, noon) Street meeting in Darlington Point (Wednesday 28 January, 5 p.m.) Opening Campaign at Yoogali club (Friday 30 January, 8 p.m.) Gough Whitlam and Al Grassby in Griffith (Saturday 31 January) Liberal campaign The Liberal candidate, Ian Davidge, ran on a platform of giving Murrumbidgee a voice within the Askin Government and his own and the government's record.IAN DAVIDGE is your man for MURRUMBIDGEE The Murrumbidgee Irrigator Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division) 9 February 1970 Leeton, NSW 3 Arguments made by his campaign included: No man has a better record of service, knowledge and experience for the whole electorate No political party or government has a better record of achievement than the one led by the State Premier, Mr. Askin. Democratic Labor campaign The Democratic Labor candidate, Les Kennedy, ran on a platform of "strongly support[ing] the concept of the Lake Mejum Water Conservation Scheme".LES KENNEDY strongly supports the concept of the LAKE MEJUM WATER CONSERVATION SCHEME The Murrumbidgee Irrigator Authorised Les Kennedy, Narranderra 30 January 1970 Leeton, NSW 9 Result [[1970 Murrumbidgee state by-election|1970 Murrumbidgee by-election]]Saturday 14 February1970 Murrumbidgee by-election 1968 Murrumbidgee_1 2021-03-19 Labor nsw Lin Gordon 10,905 53.8 -9.2 Liberal nsw Ian Davidge 6,437 31.7 +20.8 country NSW Robin Williamson 2,351 11.6 -10.8 DLP Les Kennedy 593 2.9 -0.8 20,286 98.4 +0.4 337 1.6 -0.4 20,623 90.2 -4.0 Labor nsw -9.2 Al Grassby (Labor NSW) resigned to successfully contest the 1969 election for Riverina. See also Electoral results for the district of Murrumbidgee List of New South Wales state by-elections References expanded Category:1970 elections in Australia Category:New South Wales state by-elections Category:1970 in New South Wales Category:February 1970 in Australia