1981 Maitland state by-election

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Maitland on 21 February 1981 following the resignation of Milton Morris (Liberal) to unsuccessfully contest the federal seat of Lyne at the 1980 election.[1]

By-elections for the seats of Cessnock, Oxley and Sturt were held on the same day.

Dates edit

Date Event
29 August 1980 Resignation of Milton Morris.[1]
18 October 1980 1980 Australian federal election
22 January 1981 Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and close of electoral rolls.[2]
29 January 1981 Day of nomination
21 February 1981 Polling day
13 March 1981 Return of writ

Result edit

1981 Maitland by-election 
Saturday 21 February [3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Peter Toms 13,014 48.0 -6.3
Labor Allan Walsh 12,201 45.0 -0.7
Independent Daphne Unicomb 1,887 7.0
Total formal votes 27,102 98.8
Informal votes 319 1.2
Turnout 27,421 90.1
Two-party-preferred result
Liberal Peter Toms 13,750 51.5 -2.8
Labor Allan Walsh 12,963 48.5 +2.8
Liberal hold Swing -2.8

Aftermath edit

Peter Toms' career was to be short-lived, as he was defeated by Allan Walsh in the Labor "Wranslide" at the election in September 1981.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "The Hon. Milton Arthur Morris AO (1924–2019)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  2. ^ "Writ of election: Maitland". Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. No. 18. 22 January 1981. p. 425. Retrieved 17 March 2021 – via Trove.
  3. ^ Green, Antony. "1981 Maitland by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 17 March 2021.