1987 Southport state by-election

A by-election was held in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland seat of Southport on 20 June 1987. It was triggered by the death of sitting National Party member Doug Jennings on 9 April 1987, which until the death of Duncan Pegg in 2021, remained the most recent time a sitting Queensland MP has died. The seat was formerly a Liberal seat until 1980, and the by-election took place in the midst of the Joh for Canberra push. However, the campaign dwelled almost entirely on local matters.[1]

Candidates

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The Nationals selected Mick Veivers, a rugby league identity and acknowledged Sir Joh supporter, while the Liberals selected Keith Thompson, a City of Gold Coast alderman. Perennial independent candidate William Aabraham-Steer, who had contested McPherson and Moncrieff at various federal elections, also contested.[1]

Results

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The seat was retained by the National Party with the election of candidate and Australian former rugby league international Mick Veivers.[1]

Southport state by-election, 1987[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
National Mick Veivers 7,164 46.20 −4.72
Liberal Keith Thompson 3,928 25.33 +1.80
Labor Robert Lee 3,806 24.54 +2.26
Independent Jim McDonagh 490 3.16 +3.16
Independent William Aabraham-Steer 118 0.76 +0.76
Total formal votes 15,506 97.93 −0.28
Informal votes 327 2.07 +0.28
Turnout 15,833 74.52 −14.56
Two-party-preferred result
National Mick Veivers 10,530 67.91
Labor Robert Lee 4976 32.09
National hold Swing

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Coaldrake, Peter (December 1987). "Australian Political Chronicle: January–June 1987". Australian Journal of Politics and History. 33 (3): 307. ISSN 0004-9522.
  2. ^ Queensland Legislative Assembly (6 March 1990). Details of polling at general election held on 2 December 1989. p. 67.