1981 McPherson by-election

A by-election was held for the Australian House of Representatives seat of McPherson on 21 February 1981. This was triggered by the sudden death of Liberal Party MP Eric Robinson. It was held on the same day as by-elections for Boothby and Curtin.

Although National Country Party Senator Glen Sheil resigned from the Senate to contest the by-election, it was won by Liberal candidate Peter White, a former member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland who had retired in preparation for the by-election.

Key dates
Date Event
7 January 1981 Eric Robinson died suddenly of acute myocardial infarction in Southport.[1][2]
27 January 1981 The writ for the by-election was issued.[3]
11 February 1981 Close of nominations.
21 February 1981 Polling day.[4]
4 March 1981 The writ was returned and Peter White was sworn in as the member for McPherson.[5]
27 March 1981 The original deadline for the writ to be returned.[3]

Results
McPherson by-election, 1981[4][6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Peter White 29,776 41.91 -1.39
National Country Glen Sheil 21,189 29.82 +29.82
Labor Ronald McKenna 18,278 25.73 -5.03
Progress Kevin Chaffey 537 0.76 +0.76
Independent William Aabraham-Steer 512 0.72 -1.07
Independent Hubert Giesberts 469 0.66 +0.66
Independent Peter Courtney 290 0.41 +0.41
Total formal votes 71,051 97.83 +0.15
Informal votes 1,575 2.17 –0.15
Turnout 72,626 84.31 –8.37
Two-party-preferred result
Liberal Peter White 46,336 65.22 +11.62
National Country Glen Sheil 24,715 34.78 +34.78
Liberal hold Swing+11.62

References
  1. Markwell, Donald (2012). "Robinson, Eric Laidlaw (1929–1981)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. 18.
  2. Malcolm Fraser, Prime Minister (24 February 1981). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Commonwealth of Australia: House of Representatives. p. 2–10. (Condolence motion)
  3. "The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia: House of Representatives". Australian Government Gazette (S 13). 27 January 1981. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  4. Australian Electoral Office (1983). Commonwealth By-Elections 1901–82. Australian Government Publishing Service. p. 168–170, 187. ISBN 0-644-02369-4.
  5. Hon Billy Snedden, Speaker (4 March 1981). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Commonwealth of Australia: House of Representatives. p. 403.
  6. "By-Elections 1980-1983". Psephos. Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2012.
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