2017 Gosford state by-election

A by-election was held in the state electoral district of Gosford on 8 April 2017. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Kathy Smith (Labor) due to ill health.[1] It was held on the same day as the North Shore and Manly state by-elections.

2017 Gosford state by-election

8 April 2017
  First party Second party
 
070912 - Liesl Tesch - 3b - 2012 Summer Paralympics (cropped).jpg
Candidate Liesl Tesch Jilly Pilon
Party Labor Liberal
Popular vote 22,931 14,208
Percentage 49.5% 30.7%
Swing Increase 10.9pp Decrease 11.9pp
TPP 62.5% 37.5%
TPP swing Increase 12.3pp Decrease 12.3pp

MP before election

Kathy Smith
Labor

Elected MP

Liesl Tesch
Labor

Dates

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Date Event
17 March 2017 Writ of election issued by the Speaker and close of electoral rolls
Noon, 22 March 2017 Close of nominations for party-endorsed candidates
Noon, 23 March 2017 Close of nominations for other candidates
8 April 2017 Polling day, between the hours of 8 am and 6 pm

Candidates

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The candidates in ballot paper order were as follows:[2]

Candidate nominations
Party Candidate Notes (not on ballot paper)
  Greens Abigail Boyd Financial lawyer
  Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group) Andrew Church Gosford City Citizen of the Year 2016 and businessman[3]
  Animal Justice Party Skyla Wagstaff
  Labor Party Liesl Tesch Paralympian and local teacher. Former federal MP Belinda Neal had expressed interest in running as a candidate; however, a preselection ballot was not held.[4]
  Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party Larry Freeman Council worker
  Liberal Party Jilly Pilon Businesswoman. She attracted criticism for residing in the adjoining electorate of Terrigal instead of Gosford.[5]

Results

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2017 Gosford by-election
Saturday 8 April [6][7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labor Liesl Tesch 22,931 49.5 +10.9
Liberal Jilly Pilon 14,208 30.7 −11.9
Greens Abigail Boyd 3,454 7.5 −1.5
Shooters, Fishers, Farmers Larry Freeman 2,378 5.1 +5.1
Animal Justice Skyla Wagstaff 1,841 4.0 +4.0
Christian Democrats Andrew Church 1,475 3.2 +0.9
Total formal votes 46,287 97.3 +0.5
Informal votes 1,285 2.7 −0.5
Turnout 47,572 85.0 −5.6
Two-party-preferred result
Labor Liesl Tesch 26,440 62.5 +12.3
Liberal Jilly Pilon 15,853 37.5 −12.3
Labor hold Swing +12.3

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Gosford Labor MP Kathy Smith resigns triggering by-election". ABC News. 14 February 2017.
  2. ^ "List of Nominated Candidates". Electoral Commission NSW. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  3. ^ "TV News Reports on CDP Candidate for Gosford ⋆ Christian Democratic Party". 16 March 2017.
  4. ^ "Claims ALP candidate Liesl Tesch 'parachuted' into Central Coast seat". ABC News. 23 February 2017.
  5. ^ Taylor, Matt; Noone, Richard (13 March 2017). "Liberal candidate Jilly Pilon plays down concerns over living outside Gosford electorate". The Daily Telegraph. Central Coast Gosford Express Advocate. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  6. ^ First Preference Votes Report Parliamentary Election: Gosford, Electoral Commission NSW, 13 April 2017.
  7. ^ State Electoral District of Gosford Distribution of Preferences, Electoral Commission NSW, 13 April 2017.