2017 Northcote state by-election

A by-election for the seat of Northcote in the Victorian Legislative Assembly was held on 18 November 2017. The by-election was triggered by the death of Labor Party MP Fiona Richardson on 23 August 2017.[1] While the seat historically has firmly been in the Labor Party's hands since its inception in 1927, environmental issues, rising house prices and demographic trends have resulted in a stronger Greens vote at recent elections.[2] The Liberal Party elected not to field a candidate.[2]

2017 Northcote state by-election
18 November 2017 (2017-11-18)
The Electoral district of Northcote in the Legislative Assembly of Victoria
Turnout79.0% 11.6
  First party Second party
 
Candidate Lidia Thorpe Clare Burns
Party Greens Labor
Percentage 45.2% 35.4%
Swing 8.9 5.6
2CP 55.6% 44.4%
2CP swing 11.6 11.6
Location of the electoral district of Northcote, in Melbourne's inner northern suburbs
MLA before election

Fiona Richardson
Labor

 Elected MLA

Lidia Thorpe
Greens

The seat was won by the Greens on a swing of more than 11.5%. ABC election expert Antony Green called the seat for the Greens at 8.30 pm on the night of the count.[3] Greens candidate Lidia Thorpe became the first female Aboriginal MP in the Victorian Parliament as a result of the victory and the Greens increased their representation in the Legislative Assembly to three MPs.[3]

Background

The by-election was called following the death of former Labor member for the district and Minister for Women, Fiona Richardson. Having taken medical leave from Parliament on 7 August 2017, she passed away in office on 23 August. This triggered a vacancy in the seat, with writs for election being issued by the Assembly Speaker, Colin Brooks.

Candidates

A total of 12 candidates were declared nominated by the VEC. The Liberal Party decided against fielding a candidate.

12 candidates in ballot paper order
Party Candidate Background
  Independent Russell Hayward Preston resident and executive-level manager in welfare and disability sectors.
  Independent Brian Sanaghan Former Northcote Councillor in 1970s, later expelled for refusing to take oath to Queen.
  Greens Lidia Thorpe Gunnai-Gunditjmara businesswoman.[4]
  Animal Justice Nina Lenk Animal activist and party Northern Metropolitan Manager.
  Laura Chipp Daughter of Don Chipp, former leader of the Australian Democrats.
Endorsed by the unregistered Reason Party (formerly known as the Australian Sex Party).[5]
  Independent Philip Cooper Yorta Yorta elder with 40 years' experience in Aboriginal community affairs.
  Liberal Democrats Dean Rossiter Student at La Trobe University.
  Labor Clare Burns Speech pathologist and union official.[6]
  Independent Joseph Toscano Medical practitioner, broadcaster and anarchist activist.
  Independent Bryony Edwards Previously worked in human services policy making and community development.
  Independent Nevena Spirovska Freelance writer.
  Independent Vince Fontana Former Darebin councillor and mayor.[7]

Results
Northcote state by-election, 2017[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Greens Lidia Thorpe 16,319 45.2 +8.9
Labor Clare Burns 12,779 35.4 −5.6
Independent Vince Fontana 1,864 5.2 +5.2
Liberal Democrats Dean Rossiter 1,497 4.1 +4.1
Independent Laura Chipp 1,152 3.2 +3.2
Animal Justice Nina Lenk 773 2.1 +0.4
Independent Philip Cooper 436 1.2 +1.2
Independent Russell Hayward 360 1.0 +1.0
Independent Joseph Toscano 331 0.9 +0.9
Independent Nevena Spirovska 215 0.6 +0.6
Independent Brian Sanaghan 208 0.6 +0.6
Independent Bryony Edwards 154 0.4 −0.4
Total formal votes 36,088 94.9 −0.9
Informal votes 1,940 5.1 +0.9
Turnout 38,028 79.0 −12.6
Two-candidate-preferred result
Greens Lidia Thorpe 20,137 55.6 +11.6
Labor Clare Burns 16,080 44.4 −11.6
After distribution of preferences
Greens Lidia Thorpe 18,380 50.9 N/A
Labor Clare Burns 14,410 39.9 N/A
Independent Vince Fontana 3,298 9.1 N/A
Greens gain from Labor Swing+11.6

The VEC stops distributing preferences when a candidate reaches over 50 per cent of the vote. An indicative two-candidate-preferred count had Lidia Thorpe (Greens) on 20,137 votes (55.6%) to Clare Burns (Labor) on 16,080 votes (44.4%)—a swing of 11.6 percentage points to the Greens.[9]

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See also

References
  1. Towell, Noel (21 September 2017). "Northcote byelection: Mid-November date set for critical battle in inner north". The Age.
  2. "Northcote by-election could see Greens knock out Labor, ALP polling shows". ABC News. 31 October 2017.
  3. "Northcote by-election: Greens win inner-city seat, Thorpe to become first female Aboriginal MP". ABC News. 18 November 2017.
  4. Towell, Noel; Preiss, Benjamin (11 September 2017). "Northcote byelection: Greens pick their woman for key battle of the north". The Age. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  5. Preiss, Benjamin (8 October 2017). "Laura Chipp hopes to usher in age of reason in Northcote". The Age. Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  6. Preiss, Benjamin (7 September 2017). "Political organiser Clare Burns to stand as Labor candidate in Northcote by-election". The Age. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
  7. Green, Antony. "2017 Northcote by-election – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Retrieved 9 October 2017.
  8. State District By-elections 2017: Northcote District, VEC.
  9. "Northcote District By-election 2017 : Northcote District Two Candidate Preferred Results by Voting Centre". Victorian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
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