A by-election was held for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Gwydir on 7 June 1969. This was triggered by the resignation of Country Party MP Ian Allan, who had been appointed Secretary-General and regional director of ANZAC war graves in the Pacific Region of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. As a by-election for the seat of Bendigo had just been called, the two were held on the same day.
The by-election was won by Country Party candidate Ralph Hunt. This remains the most recent federal by-election to be contested by only two candidates.
Candidates The Country Party candidate, Ralph Hunt, was the NSW and federal chairman of the party, and a farmer and grazier from northern New South Wales.
The Labor candidate, Roger Nott, was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Liverpool Plains, largely located within Gwydir, from 1941 until 1961, and served as a minister in the Cahill and Heffron governments, before being appointed by the Menzies government as Administrator of the Northern Territory.
Key dates Date Event 30 April 1969 The Speaker announced that Ian Allan had resigned from Parliament. 1 May 1969 The writ for the by-election was issued. 16 May 1969 Close of nominations. 7 June 1969 Polling day. 4 July 1969 Return of the writ. 12 August 1969 Ralph Hunt was sworn in as the member for Gwydir.
Results
References