2014 Stafford state by-election

* * *

|  | 19 July 2014 |

|
|

|  | First party  | Second party  | Third party

|
|
|

|  |  |
Candidate  | Anthony Lynham | Bob Andersen  | Anna Boccabella
Party  | Labor | Liberal National | Greens
Popular vote  | 12,626 | 8,339  | 2,971
Percentage  | 50.6% | 33.4%  | 11.9%
Swing  |  17.1  |  16.8  |  0.6
TPP | 62.0% | 38.0%  |
TPP swing  |  19.1  |  19.1  |

* * *

| MP before election

Chris Davis
Liberal National

| Elected MP

Anthony Lynham
Labor

|

A by-election was conducted for the Queensland Legislative Assembly seat of Stafford on 19 July 2014 following 23 May resignation of LNP MP Chris Davis.[1][2] The LNP won Stafford from Labor at the 2012 election with 57.1 percent of the two-party vote from a 14.4-point two-party swing. The 2014 Redcliffe by-election saw a 17.2-point two-party swing to Labor. Analysts predicted a Labor win with a 10–12-point two-party swing.[3][4] Labor candidate Anthony Lynham won the by-election with a 62 percent two-party vote from a 19.1-point two-party swing.[5]

This election was the first in Australia which required voter identification to be shown prior to receiving a ballot paper.[5]

## Key dates

[edit]

* 19 June 2014: Issue of writ
* 25 June 2014: Close of electoral roll
* 3 July 2014: Close of nominations
* 7 July 2014: Pre-poll voting started
* 19 July 2014: Polling day
* 29 July 2014: Cut-off for return of postal votes
* 4 September 2014: Return of writ[6]

## Nominations

[edit]

The four candidates in ballot paper order were as follows:[6]

Candidate nominations

Party  | Candidate  | Background
| Liberal National Party | Bob Andersen  | Psychologist for Queensland Health.[5]
| Family First Party | Sally-Anne Vincent  | Accountant. Family First candidate for Sandgate in 2006, Murrumba in 2009 and 2012 and Redcliffe in 2014, federal seat of Petrie in 2007 and 2010, and Senate in 2013.[5]
| Queensland Greens | Anne Boccabella  | Small businesswoman. Greens candidate for Brisbane Central in 2012, 2009 and 2007, and independent candidate for Mount Coot-tha in 2001.[5]
| Labor Party | Anthony Lynham | Oral and maxillofacial surgeon at the Royal Brisbane Hospital.[5]

Katter's Australian Party, which received 4.9 percent in 2012, did not re-contest Stafford at the by-election.[5] Clive Palmer initially said the Palmer United Party would run in the by-election,[7] but then said it was undecided whether the party would field a candidate.[8] A candidate was not fielded.[9]

## Result

[edit]

Queensland state by-election, 2014: Stafford[10][11] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
|

| Labor | Anthony Lynham | 12,626  | 50.6  | +17.1
| Liberal National | Bob Andersen  | 8,339  | 33.4  | −16.8
| Greens | Anne Boccabella  | 2,971  | 11.9  | +0.6
| Family First | Sally-Anne Vincent  | 997  | 4.0  | +4.0
Total formal votes  | 24,933  | 98.1  | −0.0
Informal votes  | 485  | 1.9  | +0.0
Turnout | 25,418  | 81.5  | −9.8
Two-party-preferred result
| Labor | Anthony Lynham | 14,562  | 62.0  | +19.1
| Liberal National | Bob Andersen  | 8,925  | 38.0  | −19.1
| Labor gain from Liberal National | Swing | +19.1 |

The result saw the biggest swing at a Queensland by-election since changes to the 1992 Electoral Act.[12]

## See also

[edit]

* Queensland portal

* List of Queensland state by-elections

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Chris Davis resigns as Queensland MP for Stafford". ABC News. 23 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
2. ^ Howells, Melinda (5 June 2014). "Stafford by-election called for July 19 following MP Chris Davis's resignation". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
3. ^ LNP expected to lose Stafford by-election to Labor with a swing of at least 12 points: Courier Mail 19 July 2014
4. ^ Stafford by-election battle under way: Brisbane Times 19 July 2014
5. ^ a b c d e f g 2014 Stafford by-election: Antony Green ABC
6. ^ a b 2014 Stafford by-election: ECQ
7. ^ Stafford by-election guaranteed; but some candidates not so certain: Courier Mail 26 May 2014
8. ^ Bill Hoffman (6 June 2014). "Clive foots the bill for Fairfax Festival weekend" – Sunshine Coast Daily. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
9. ^ Palmer United Party declines to contest Stafford by-election: News.com.au 3 July 2014
10. ^ 2014 Stafford by-election result: ABC
11. ^ 2014 Stafford by-election result: ECQ
12. ^ "Stafford by-election: Former LNP MP Chris Davis urges early Queensland election after Government loses seat". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 21 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.

## External links

[edit]

* 2014 Stafford by-election: ECQ
* 2014 Stafford by-election: Antony Green ABC
* Queensland set for another by-election: Antony Green ABC
* Stafford by-election to be test of new Voter ID laws: Antony Green ABC
* Dr Chris Davis MP - Stafford poll - 21 May 2014: ReachTEL Archived 24 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine