2010 Altona state by-election

A by-election was held for the Victorian Legislative Assembly seat of Altona on 13 February 2010, following the sudden resignation of state Transport Minister Lynne Kosky on 18 January, who cited a family member's health as the reason for her decision to leave politics.[1] Altona is widely considered a safe Labor seat, Kosky won over 60% of the primary vote at the 2006 state election.

The Labor Party's Jill Hennessy, a lawyer who sits on the board of Western Health, won the seat despite a 13 percent swing away from Labor. The Liberals and Greens went up by 11 percent and 2 percent respectively. Hennessy retained the seat in the November 2010 state election.

Candidates

The following candidates nominated; they are listed in ballot-paper order.[2]

  • Independent – Brijender Nain.
  • Independent – Liz Mumby.
  • Socialist Alliance – Margarita Windisch.
  • Liberal Party – Mark Rose, a Wyndham councillor and candidate for Tarneit in the 2006 state election.
  • Greens – David Strangward, a management consultant.
  • Independent – Andrew Rixon.
  • Independent – Brian Shaw.
  • Labor Party – Jill Hennessy, a lawyer who sat on the board of Western Health, and was backed in her preselection bid by Steve Bracks, Joan Kirner, Lynne Kosky and Nicola Roxon. She defeated Hobsons Bay councillor Luba Grigorovitch for Labor endorsement.[3]

Election results

Altona state by-election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labor Jill Hennessy 18,249 47.50 −13.11
Liberal Mark Rose 13,427 34.95 +11.06
Greens David Strangward 4,006 10.43 +2.01
Independent Liz Mumby 693 1.80 +1.80
Independent Brijender Nain 634 1.65 +1.65
Independent Brian Shaw 623 1.62 +1.62
Socialist Alliance Margarita Windisch 607 1.58 +1.58
Independent Andrew Rixon 182 0.47 +0.47
Total formal votes 38,421 95.18 +1.29
Informal votes 1,947 4.82 −1.29
Turnout 40,368 93.69 −9.03
Two-party-preferred result
Labor Jill Hennessy 22,252 57.93 −12.28
Liberal Mark Rose 16,160 42.07 +12.28
Labor hold Swing -12.28

References

  1. ^ "Kosky leaves her station for family reasons". ABC News. 18 January 2010.
  2. ^ "VEC: Altona District By-Election 2010 : Candidates for Altona District". Archived from the original on 1 February 2010. Retrieved 30 January 2010.
  3. ^ 2010 Altona by-election: The Poll Bludger

External links

  • 2010 Altona by-election: The Poll Bludger