Davidson state by-election, 1992

Davidson boundaries

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Davidson on 2 May 1992.[1]

It was triggered by the resignation of former Liberal Party-turned Independent MP, Terry Metherell, after the scandal known as the 'Metherell Crisis'.[1]

The seat was subsequently won by Andrew Humpherson of the Liberal Party. However the Liberals suffered a 16% drop in their primary vote, and a 14% drop in their two party preferred vote.[1]

Background

Main article: Terry Metherell

The seat of Davidson, a traditionally safe Liberal seat, was held since 1981 by Dr Terry Metherell, a controversial Minister for Education in the first term of the Greiner government[1]

Charges of tax avoidance forced his resignation from the Ministry in 1990. However, there was speculation that he would be re-appointed to the ministry when the Greiner government was re-elected in 1991. However, at the 1991 election, the Greiner government emerged without a clear majority and all hopes of a ministerial appointment for Metherell were squashed. Feeling betrayed and rejected from his party, in October 1991 Metherell resigned from the Liberal Party live on the 7:30 Report, without having given his colleagues notice.[1]

The government subsequently created a job for Metherell, a position with the Environment Protection Agency, which he accepted, effectively engineering a vacancy in a seat the Liberal Party would recover at a by-election. Labor did not nominate a candidate, but a field of Independents and minor parties reduced the Liberal vote by 16%, and 14% after preferences.[1]

Results

The Liberal Party retained the seat, despite a swing of 16%.[2] The Liberal candidate, Warringah Councillor since 1985, Andrew Humpherson, was declared the winner against Independent Candidate and Warringah Councillor since 1980, Julie Sutton.

Davidson state by-election, 1992[2]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Liberal Andrew Humpherson 15,852 49.32 -16.07
Independent Julie Sutton 9,489 29.52 +29.52
Greens Ross Knowles 1,195 3.72 +3.72
Democrats Edna Cunningham 1,156 3.60 -12.01
Independent Kevin Begaud 918 2.86 +2.86
Independent Michael Evanian 852 2.65 +2.65
Call to Australia Bruce Coleman 770 2.40 +2.40
Independent EFF Michael Vescio 683 2.12 +2.12
Independent Ted Roach 361 1.12 +1.12
Independent Janet Fairlie-Cuninghame 357 1.11 +1.11
Independent Peter Leney 190 0.59 +0.59
Independent Steven Klinger 157 0.49 +0.49
Independent William Williams 105 0.33 +0.33
Independent Julien Droulers 34 0.11 +0.11
Independent Sandor Torzsok 24 0.07 +0.07
Total formal votes 32,143 96.97
Informal votes 1,006 3.03
Turnout 33,149 87.10
Two-candidate-preferred result
Liberal Andrew Humpherson 17,352 59.65 -13.04
Independent Julie Sutton 11,737 40.35 +40.35
Liberal hold Swing -13.04

References

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