Ryan by-election, 2001

The 2001 Ryan by-election was held in the Australian electorate of Ryan in Queensland on 17 March 2001. The by-election was triggered by the retirement of the sitting member, the Liberal Party of Australia's John Moore, on 5 February 2001. The writ for the by-election was issued on 9 February 2001.

Background

John Moore had held Ryan for the Liberal Party since 1975, and he had been a minister in the Fraser and Howard governments. When a Cabinet reshuffle saw him lose the Defence portfolio, Moore resigned immediately. [Coorey, Phillip: [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/diplomatic-sweetener/2007/01/23/1169518709584.html Diplomatic sweetener] , "The Sydney Morning Herald", 24 January 2007.] His retirement was announced in the wake of Liberal defeats in the Western Australia and Queensland state elections, and the public reaction to the GST introduced eight months earlier was still worrying the Liberals. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/stories/s258748.htm Ryan electorate becomes political honeypot] , "The 7.30 Report" (ABC), 12 March 2001.]

Comparisons were drawn with the 1975 by-election in the Tasmanian electorate of Bass: both had resulted from the resignation of a Defence Minister (Labor's Lance Barnard in 1975), and Labor's landslide loss in Bass was linked to the defeat of the Whitlam government several months later. [Oakes, Laurie: [http://bulletin.ninemsn.com/article.aspx?id=127837&print=true All aboard the Ryan express] , "The Bulletin", 7 March 2001.]

The Liberals were expected to preselect Hong Kong-born lawyer Michael Johnson as their candidate for the by-election, although Johnson's Chinese heritage led to accusations of branch stacking by signing up ethnic Chinese as members of the Liberal Party. Eventually it emerged that Johnson had not properly renounced his British citizenship, and was ineligible to run as an electoral candidate in Australia. [Green, Antony: [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2007/guide/ryan.htm Election Guide 2007 - Ryan] , Australian Broadcasting Corporation.]

Results

Election box begin
title=Ryan by-election, 2001Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Bob Tucker
party = Liberal
votes = 32,571
percentage = 43.19
change = -7.21Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Leonie Short
party = Labor
votes = 29,173
percentage = 38.68
change = +8.33Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Mike Stasse
party = Greens
votes = 4,608
percentage = 6.11
change = -2.28Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Lyn Dengate
party = Democrats
votes = 3,808
percentage = 5.05
change = -2.93Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Nigel David Freemarijuana
party = HEMP
votes = 1,685
percentage = 2.23
change = +2.23Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Jodi Moore
party = Independent
votes = 1,351
percentage = 1.79
change = +1.79Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Andrew R. Hassall
party = Call to Australia
votes = 955
percentage = 1.27
change = +1.27Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Terry Hyland
party = Independent
votes = 822
percentage = 1.09
change = +1.09Election box candidate AU party
candidate = Warren Stagg
party = Independent
votes = 440
percentage = 0.58
change = +0.58

Election box formal
votes = 75,413
percentage = 97.04
change = -0.65

Election box informal
votes = 2,304
percentage = 2.96
change = +0.65

Election box turnout
votes = 77,717
percentage = 94.39
change = -5.71

Election box candidate AU party
party = Labor
candidate = Leonie Short
votes =37,834
percentage = 50.17
change = +9.69

Election box candidate AU party
party = Liberal
candidate = Bob Tucker
votes = 37,579
percentage = 49.83
change = -9.69

Election box gain AU party
winner = Labor
loser = Liberal
swing = +9.69

Aftermath

Leonie Short won the seat for Labor in a close contest on preferences, with only 255 votes separating her from Liberal candidate Bob Tucker on a two-party basis. The loss was a huge worry for the Liberals, although Labor's electoral momentum was halted by their loss in the Aston by-election four months later.

Short contested the 2001 federal election, but was defeated by her Liberal opponent Michael Johnson, who had by then renounced his British citizenship.

References

External links

* [http://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/supplementary_by_elections/ryan/results.htm Ryan (QLD) By-Election (17 March 2001) Results] , Australian Electoral Commission