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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* List of Queensland state by-elections

## 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.

* v
* t
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By-elections of the 45th Queensland parliament (1986–1989)

1987|

* Southport

1988|

* Barambah
* South Coast

1989|

* Merthyr

List of Queensland state by-elections
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