2015 Gippsland South state by-election

A by-election for the seat of Gippsland South in the Victorian Legislative Assembly was held on 14 March 2015. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of former state National Party leader and Deputy Premier, Peter Ryan. Ryan had been a member of the Victorian parliament for over 22 years, and last retained the seat at the 2014 election on a 65.7 percent two-party vote, with a negative 6.9 percentage point swing.[1] The election was contested on the same boundaries used at the previous state election.

Location of Gippsland South in Victoria

The writ for the by-election was issued on 17 February, with the rolls closing at 8pm on Tuesday 24 February. A total of 40,649 people were registered to vote in the by-election.[2] Candidate nominations closed on 27 February.[3] The Labor Party did not nominate a candidate, and the election was contested by both a Liberal and National candidate, a rare occurrence given that the two parties are linked in the Coalition.

The two-party preferred count was initially completed between the Nationals and the Greens, who the VEC predicted to finish first and second respectively. However, Liberal candidate Scott Rossetti polled above Green Andrea Millsom and so a further distribution of preferences was required. The Nationals won the election on the preferences of minor parties and independents, without Green or Liberal preferences being allocated.

The seat was retained by the Nationals, with Danny O'Brien winning the seat after resigning from the Victorian Legislative Council to contest the by-election.[4]

The Greens campaigned strongly on an anti-coal seam gas platform, and encouraged voters from other parties to write "no CSG" on ballot papers to register their displeasure with the practice.[5][6]

Candidates

The eight nominated candidates in ballot paper order are:

Candidate nominations
  Independent Warren Sanders Builder based in Sale.[7]
  Independent Viv Pepper Korumburra resident, campaigned against the proposed buffer zone around the Burra Foods factory.[8]
  Independent Deb Meester Contested Gippsland South at the 2014 Victorian state election for the Australian Country Alliance.[9]
  National Party Danny O'Brien Member of the Victorian Legislative Council for Eastern Victoria Region. Former chief-of-staff to outgoing member Peter Ryan.[10]
  Independent Gerard J. Donohue Korumburra resident. Lodged a petition challenging the Victorian Electoral Commission over the validity of the election writ for the 2014 state election.[11] A member of the United Christian Constitutional Law Group, he has previously challenged the validity of Victoria's constitution on the grounds that the 1855 Constitution Act was never repealed.[12]
  Liberal Democratic Party Jim McDonald Contested the Legislative Council Eastern Victoria Region for the Liberal Democrats at the 2014 Victorian state election.[13]
  Greens Andrea Millsom State public servant, activist, educator and volunteer. Lead Greens candidate for Eastern Victoria Region at the 2014 Victorian election.[14]
  Liberal Party Scott Rossetti Current councillor and ex Mayor of the Shire of Wellington.[15][16]

Results
Gippsland South state by-election, 2015[17]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
National Danny O'Brien 15,120 45.2 −12.0
Liberal Scott Rossetti 8,890 26.6 +26.6
Greens Andrea Millsom 5,258 15.7 +6.1
Independent Deb Meester 1,155 3.5 +3.5
Independent Warren Sanders 1,129 3.4 +3.4
Independent Viv Pepper 1,108 3.3 +3.3
Liberal Democrats Jim McDonald 449 1.3 +1.3
Independent Gerard J. Donohue 330 1.0 +1.0
Total formal votes 33,439 94.5 −0.0
Informal votes 1,951 5.5 +0.0
Turnout 35,390 87.1 −6.9
After distribution of preferences
National Danny O'Brien 17,040 51.0 n/a
Liberal Scott Rossetti 9,528 28.5 n/a
Greens Andrea Millsom 6,871 20.5 n/a
National hold Swingn/a
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References
  1. Savage, Alison (2 February 2015). "Former Victorian Nationals leader Peter Ryan quits politics". ABC News. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  2. http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Results/State2015/GippslandSouthDistrict.html
  3. http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/about/news/2435
  4. Debono, Mark (15 March 2015). "Gippsland South by-election: Nationals maintain decades-long hold with Danny O'Brien elected as next MP". ABC News. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  5. http://www.latrobevalleyexpress.com.au/story/2892152/gippsland-south-by-election-fires-up/#
  6. http://www.sgst.com.au/greens-marking-their-gippsland-territory-3/
  7. Braithwaite, David (2 March 2015). "Sanders critical of Ryan departure". The Gippsland Times. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  8. "Burra buffer fight not over, they say". South Gippsland Sentinel-Times. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  9. "Victorian election 2014: Gippsland South electorate live results". The Weekly Times. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  10. "Gippsland South by-election: Nationals choose Danny O'Brien to contest south-east seat". ABC News. 16 February 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  11. Carlyon, Peta (25 February 2015). "Voters must 'see the sausage sizzle', engage with candidates, PUP lawyer argues in election result challenge". ABC News. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  12. Ross, Jane (25 October 2014). "Justice chase goes on". The Great Southern Star. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  13. Green, Antony. "Eastern Victoria Region". ABC Elections. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  14. "Greens announce Gippsland South candidate". The Greens. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  15. "Liberal Party's candidate for Gippsland South has been announced". Gippsland Today. 19 February 2015. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  16. "Scott Rossetti re-elected Wellington council Mayor". ABC News. 7 November 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  17. Gippsland South District By-election 2015, Victorian Electoral Commission.
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