A by-election for the Australian House of Representatives seat of New England was held on 2 December 2017.
Previous incumbent Barnaby Joyce, serving as Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader from February 2016 until October 2017 when his seat of New England was declared vacant, won the by-election with a large primary and two-party swing.
Background Amid the 2017–18 Australian parliamentary eligibility crisis, the trigger for the by-election was the judgment of the High Court of Australia sitting as the Court of Disputed Returns on 27 October 2017, which found that the sitting member, Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce, was ineligible under Section 44 of the Constitution to sit in the Parliament of Australia, by virtue of holding New Zealand citizenship at the time of his nomination and election. The seat was declared vacant by the High Court on the same day. Joyce had renounced his dual citizenship effective from August in order to become a sole citizen of Australia, and was thus eligible to run for the by-election.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Tony Smith issued the writ for the election on 27 October 2017, the same day as the High Court's judgment.
Key dates Friday 27 October 2017 – Previous election ruled void Friday 27 October 2017 – Issue of writ Friday 3 November 2017 – Close of electoral rolls (8pm) Thursday 9 November 2017 – Close of nominations (12 noon) Friday 10 November 2017 – Declaration of nominations (12 noon) Tuesday 14 November 2017 – Start of early voting Saturday 2 December 2017 – Polling day (8am to 6pm) Friday 15 December 2017 – Last day for receipt of postal votes Sunday 4 February 2018 – Last day for return of writ
As at least 33 days must elapse between the issue of a writ and the date of a by-election, the earliest Saturday that the by-election could take place was on 2 December.
Candidates Former independent member for New England Tony Windsor, who retired at the 2013 election before unsuccessfully contesting the seat at the 2016 election with a 29.2 percent primary vote, announced he would not be nominating as a candidate in the by-election. Pauline Hanson's One Nation and Shooters, Fishers and Farmers also announced that they would not run.
17 candidates in ballot paper order PartyCandidateBackground Christian DemocratsRichard StrettonSelf-employed plant mechanic and perennial candidate. Animal JusticeSkyla WagstaffEnvironmental and animal rights activist. Affordable HousingAndrew PottsFormer Sydney Star Observer contributor and party founder. IndependentJeff MaddenSingle father, part-time truck driver and traffic controller. Liberal DemocratTristam SmythCardiologist based in Tamworth. IndependentDean CarterTamworth resident. National Barnaby Joyce New England MP 2013–2017, Nationals leader and Deputy Prime Minister 2016–2017. William BourkeParty founder and perennial candidate. Seniors UnitedWarwick StaceyFormer business owner and Army Reservist. IndependentRob TaberIndependent Bennelong candidate in 2016. New England Solar Owner and Jobs Australia Chairman. CountryMindedPete MaillerLocal cattle and grain farmer, CountryMinded co-founder. Queensland Senate candidate in 2016. Labor David Ewings Local coal miner and Australian Defence Force personnel. Labor's New England candidate in 2016. Rise UpDonald CranneyFarmer based in south-central Queensland. GreensPeter WillsQuirindi farmer and Liverpool Plains Alliance campaigner. Jamie McIntyre Entrepreneur, banned from corporate directorships for 10 years by for property spruiking ScienceMeow-Ludo Meow-MeowAdviser to nutritional infant formula startup company and bio-hacker. CountryIan BritzaFormer Liberal member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly.
Results
Early in the evening, ABC election analyst Antony Green predicted an easy victory for Joyce. Claiming victory that evening, Joyce picked up a large primary and two-party swing.
See also List of Australian federal by-elections
References
External links 2017 New England by-election (Australian Electoral Commission) 2017 New England by-election (ABC Elections)