1959 Cook's River state by-election

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Cook's River on Saturday, 12 December 1959 and was triggered by the death in office of the Premier of New South Wales, Joseph Cahill.[1][2]

The seat was subsequently retained for the Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch) by his eldest son Thomas James Cahill.[3][4] Despite Cook's River being a safe Labor seat, the Liberal Party fielded a candidate, John Bampton, a soap manufacturer.[5] The Labor primary vote improved by 1.6% compared to the previous year's general election.[1][6] The Communist Party of Australia stood Wal Buckley, an organiser for the Amalgamated Engineering Union, but only gained 4.6% of the vote.[7][8]

Results
1959 Cook's River state by-election [1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Labor Tom Cahill 14,283 72.55 +1.61
Liberal John Bampton 4,488 22.80 -1.45
Communist Walter Buckley 916 4.65 +4.65
Total formal votes 19,687
Informal votes 364 1.82
Turnout 20,051 84.48
Labor hold Swing+1.61

The Labor Party retained the seat on an improved margin, which was nonetheless significant due to the large personal vote for Cahill and sympathy after his death which was then carried by his son.[1]

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See also
  • Electoral results for the district of Cook's River

References
  1. Green, Antony. "1959 results Cook's River by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  2. "Mr John Joseph Cahill (1891 - 1959)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  3. "Mr Thomas James Cahill (1924-1983)". Former Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  4. "Mr. Tom Cahill Wins A.L.P. Preselection Ballot". The Canberra Times. 23 November 1959. p. 8. Retrieved 20 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "Liberals to oppose late Premier's son". The Canberra Times. 24 November 1959. p. 3. Retrieved 20 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. Green, Antony. "1959 results Cook's River election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  7. "Communist candidate opens campaign for Cook's River". Tribune. 2 December 1959. p. 3. Retrieved 20 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Communist vote up in Cook's River". Tribune. 16 December 1959. p. 3. Retrieved 20 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
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