1986 Pittwater state by-election

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Pittwater on 31 May 1986. It was triggered by the resignation of sitting Liberal MP Max Smith.[1] The by-election was won by Liberal candidate Jim Longley.[2]

Background edit

Labor did not stand a candidate in the by-election, and as a result, this election was almost won by professional surfer and former world surfing champion Nat Young, who ran on a largely environmental ticket.[3][4]

Results edit

1986 Pittwater by-election
Saturday 31 May [2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Jim Longley 10,922 42.8 -15.3
Independent Nat Young 6,177 24.2 +24.2
Independent Robert Grace 5,006 19.6 +19.6
Call to Australia Mark Donnelly 1,451 5.7 +5.7
Democrats Graeme MacLennan 1,290 4.9 +0.7
Nuclear Disarmament Virginia Rigney 643 2.5 +2.5
Independent Brett Monk 62 0.2 +0.2
Total formal votes 25,501 97.5 −0.3
Informal votes 649 2.5 +0.3
Turnout 26,105 78.0 [a]
Two-party-preferred result
Liberal Jim Longley 13,000 53.1 −12.4
Independent Nat Young 11,468 46.9 +46.9
Liberal hold Swing −12.4

See also edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Estimate based on a roll of 33,533 at the 1984 election.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ "Mr Richard Max Smith". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b Green, Antony. "1986 Pittwater by-election". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
  3. ^ Warshaw, Matt (29 April 2011). The History of Surfing. Chronicle Books. ISBN 9781452100944.
  4. ^ "Pittwater 2015". NSW Election 2015. ABC News. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  5. ^ Green, Antony. "1984 Pittwater". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 16 March 2021.