A by-election for the seat of Davenport in the South Australian House of Assembly was held on 31 January 2015. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Liberal Party of Australia MP and former Liberal leader Iain Evans, who retained the seat at the 2014 election on a 58.1 (−2.8) percent two-party-preferred vote.Speaker Michael Atkinson defends decision to separate two SA by-elections: ABC 21 October 2014Davenport by-election date in South Australia set for January 31: ABC 13 November 2014 Liberal Sam Duluk went on to win the seat despite a five-point two-party swing, turning the historically safe seat of Davenport in to a marginal for the first time.Liberals withstand swing to win by-election in South Australian seat of Davenport: ABC 31 January 2015
The by-election was held on the same day as the 2015 Queensland state election.
Dates Date Event2015 Davenport by-election: Antony Green ABC 3 January 2015 Writ of election issued by the Governor 13 January 2015 Close of electoral rolls 16 January 2015 Close of nominations 31 January 2015 Polling day, between the hours of 8 am and 6 pm
Candidates 5 candidates in ballot paper order Liberal Party of Australia Sam Duluk Accountant. Liberal candidate for seat of Fisher at the previous election. Family First Party Natasha Edmonds Family First candidate for Davenport at the previous election. Independent Australian Democrats Jeanie Walker Involved in property investing and management and is an Aboriginal Family Violence Case Manager. Contested the 2014 Fisher by-election. Australian Labor Party Mark Ward City of Mitcham councillor for last eight years, has served as Deputy Mayor. Urrbrae Agricultural High School teacher. Centennial Park Cemetery board member. Greens Jody Moate Retail sector worker. Volunteers with numerous community groups.
Result
Liberal Sam Duluk won the seat with a -4.1 point swing, with the Liberal party failing to win outright and relying on preferences. South Australian Newspoll at the time of the Davenport by-election recorded a statewide seven percent two-party swing from Liberal to Labor. ABC election analyst Antony Green described the Davenport by-election as "another poor result for the South Australian Liberal Party"2015 Davenport by-election commentary: Antony Green ABC following the 2014 Fisher by-election which saw Labor go from minority to majority government following a 7.3 percent two-party swing.Fisher by-election win for Labor gives Weatherill Government majority in SA: ABC 13 December 2014 As with the Fisher by-election, much of the anti-Liberal swing was attributed to the unpopularity of then Prime Minister Tony Abbott, and a remark from then Defence Minister David Johnston several days before the Fisher by-election that he wouldn't trust South Australia's Australian Submarine Corporation to "build a canoe".Defence Minister says he 'wouldn't trust' Australian Submarine Corporation to build a canoe: ABC 25 November 2014Is Tony Abbott the hazard for Liberals in Fisher by-election?: The Advertiser 30 November 2014Abbott government forced into sub-mission after shock loss in South Australia: Sydney Morning Herald 9 December 2014 Additionally, just a couple of days before the Davenport by-election, Abbott's infamous knighting of Prince Philip occurred.Davenport by-election: Tony Abbott's decision to knight Prince Philip could affect voters: ABC 29 January 2015Large swing to Labor at SA by-election another warning to PM Abbott: Nine News 2 February 2015Tony Abbott reels from Queensland election debacle: Financial Review 2 February 2015
See also 2014 Fisher state by-election 2018 South Australian state election#Polling List of South Australian House of Assembly by-elections Electoral results for the district of Davenport
References
External links 2015 Davenport By-election: Antony Green ABC 2015 Davenport By-election: ECSA How-To-Vote (HTV) cards, 2015 Davenport By-election: ECSA