1993 Dickson supplementary election

The 1993 Dickson supplementary election was held on 17 April 1993 to elect the next member for Dickson in the Australian House of Representatives, following the death of a candidate during the 1993 federal election campaign.

1993 Dickson supplementary election

← 1990 17 April 1993 1996 →

Division of Dickson (Queensland) in the House of Representatives
  First party Second party Third party
 
Candidate Michael Lavarch Bruce Flegg Trevor St Baker
Party Labor Liberal National
Popular vote 29,515 1,170 6,921
Percentage 43.56% 33.56% 10.21%
Swing Increase 1.08 Increase 3.31 Decrease 1.47

Elected MP

Michael Lavarch
Labor

Dickson was formed in 1992 and had not previously been contested, however it was notionally held by the Labor Party.

Background

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Independent candidate Walter Pegler died on 3 March, 10 days before the federal election.[1] As it was after the close of nominations, the election was declared 'failed' and a supplementary election had to be held.[1]

Following the return of the Labor Party to government, Prime Minister Paul Keating announced the makeup of the Second Keating Ministry. Michael Lavarch was elected to the ministry by the Labor Caucus on 23 March in the portfolio of Attorney-General. However, he was not formally sworn in.[1]

Results

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1993 Dickson supplementary election[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labor Michael Lavarch 29,515 43.56 +1.08
Liberal Bruce Flegg 22,738 33.56 +3.31
National Trevor St Baker 6,921 10.21 −1.47
Greens Desiree Mahoney 3,746 5.53 +5.53
Confederate Action Mal Beard 1,883 2.78 +2.78
Democrats Glen Spicer 1,508 2.23 −13.26
Independent Michael Darby 939 1.39 +1.39
Independent Alan Bawden 333 0.49 +0.49
Leonard Matthews 174 0.26 +0.26
Total formal votes 67,757 98.03 −0.02
Informal votes 1,360 1.97 +0.02
Turnout 69,117 90.21
Two-party-preferred result
Labor Michael Lavarch 34,033 50.26 −2.53
Liberal Bruce Flegg 33,686 49.74 +2.53
Labor notional hold Swing −2.53

Aftermath

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Following his victory, Lavarch was sworn into the ministry on 27 April.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA LEGISLATIVE ELECTION OF 13 MARCH 1993". Psephos: Adam Carr's Electoral Archive.
  2. ^ "By-elections and supplementary elections". Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 17 January 2023.