2009 Pembroke state by-election

2009 Pembroke state by-election

1 August 2009

First party Second party   IND Candidate Vanessa Goodwin Richard James Party Liberal Independent First preference vote 7,812 2,285 Percentage 38.55% 11.28% Swing 38.55pp 7.10pp Three-candidate-preferred 51.05% 27.73%   Third party Fourth party   GRN IND Candidate Wendy Heatley Honey Bacon Party Greens Independent First preference vote 2,604 2,110 Percentage 12.85% 10.41% Swing 0.56pp 10.41pp Three-candidate-preferred 21.22% Eliminated

MLC before election Allison Ritchie Labor Elected MLC Vanessa Goodwin Liberal

A by-election was held in the Tasmanian Legislative Council division of Pembroke on 1 August 2009. It was triggered by the resignation of sitting member Allison Ritchie.

Background

Ritchie was first elected to the Legislative Council in 2001 at the age of 26, the youngest person ever elected to that chamber. She spent nine and a half weeks as Minister for Planning and Workplace Relations in 2008, but resigned due to ill health. She announced her resignation from parliament amid allegations of nepotism on 20 June 2009.

Candidates

The writ for the by-election was issued on 30 June 2009; nominations closed on 9 July. The eight candidates were:

• Independent — Honey Bacon, widow of former Tasmanian Premier Jim Bacon.
• Independent — Peter Cooper, a Clarence City Alderman (2008–present).
• Independent — James Crotty, former Labor candidate and considered the unofficial representative of the Government.
• Liberal Party — Vanessa Goodwin, a 39-year-old lawyer and criminologist, was previously the Liberal candidate for the state seat of Franklin in 2006 and the federal candidate for the equivalent seat in 2007, achieving a rare swing to the Liberal Party.
• Tasmanian Greens — Wendy Heatley, a 46-year-old lawyer.
• Independent — Richard James, a Clarence City Alderman( 1984–89, 1994–present). James previously contested Pembroke in 1995, 1999 and 2007.
• Independent — John Peers, a Clarence City Alderman (1994–present).
• Independent — Kit (Sharon) Soo, a public relations consultant.

Results

Pembroke state by-election, 2009

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Vanessa Goodwin	7,812	38.55	+38.55
	Greens	Wendy Heatley	2,604	12.85	–0.56
	Independent	Richard James	2,285	11.28	–7.10
	Independent Labor	Honey Bacon	2,110	10.41	+10.41
	Independent	John Peers	1,942	9.58	+0.32
	Independent Labor	James Crotty	1,783	8.80	+8.80
	Independent	Peter Cooper	1,510	7.45	+7.45
	Independent	Kit (Sharon) Soo	219	1.08	+1.08
Total formal votes			20,265	96.48	–0.26
Informal votes			740	3.52	+0.26
Turnout			21,005	85.05	–2.47
After distribution of preferences
	Liberal	Vanessa Goodwin	10,143	51.05
	Independent	Richard James	5,510	27.73
	Greens	Wendy Heatley	4,215	21.22
	Liberal gain from Labor		Swing	N/A

External links

• Pembroke 2009 by-election candidates: ABC elections
• Pembroke 2009 by-election results: ABC elections
• Pembroke 2009 by-election commentary: ABC elections
• Tasmanian Electoral Commission Final Results - 11 Aug 2009