On 15 January 1968, SpeakerWilliam Aston stated that there was conclusive evidence that Holt had died, and that a writ would be issued for the by-election. Senator John Gorton, who had been elected party leader and Prime Minister by his party colleagues on 9 January, was preselected unopposed to run for the Liberal Party on 31 January. The Australian Labor Party nominated David Bennett, a research officer with the Australian Council for Educational Research, whilst the Democratic Labor Party, who had received 11.56% of the vote at the November 1966 election in the seat, opted not to contest the election. The other two candidates were Dr Leonard Webber for the Australia Reform Movement, and a Sydney journalist, Frank Courtis.[1]
Gorton won the by-election for the Liberals with an increased primary vote.
It remains the only time in which a sitting Prime Minister was a candidate in a by-election.
^Hughes, Colin (August 1968). "Australian Political Chronicle: January–April 1968". Australian Journal of Politics and History. 14 (2): 235–236. ISSN 0004-9522.
^. Psephos. Archived from the original on 29 May 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
April 10, 2024
1968, higgins, election, election, held, australian, house, representatives, seat, higgins, february, 1968, triggered, presumed, drowning, death, prime, minister, liberal, party, harold, holt, december, 1967, 1966, february, 1968, 1969, higgins, seat, house, r. A by election was held for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Higgins on 24 February 1968 It was triggered by the presumed drowning death of the Prime Minister and Liberal Party MP Harold Holt on 17 December 1967 1968 Higgins by election 1966 24 February 1968 1969 The Higgins seat in the House of RepresentativesTurnout35 158 84 87 First party Second party Candidate John Gorton David BennettParty Liberal LaborPopular vote 24 067 9 601Percentage 69 40 27 69 Swing 6 12 2 53MP before electionHarold HoltLiberal Elected MP John GortonLiberal Contents 1 Background 2 Results 3 See also 4 ReferencesBackground editOn 15 January 1968 Speaker William Aston stated that there was conclusive evidence that Holt had died and that a writ would be issued for the by election Senator John Gorton who had been elected party leader and Prime Minister by his party colleagues on 9 January was preselected unopposed to run for the Liberal Party on 31 January The Australian Labor Party nominated David Bennett a research officer with the Australian Council for Educational Research whilst the Democratic Labor Party who had received 11 56 of the vote at the November 1966 election in the seat opted not to contest the election The other two candidates were Dr Leonard Webber for the Australia Reform Movement and a Sydney journalist Frank Courtis 1 Gorton won the by election for the Liberals with an increased primary vote It remains the only time in which a sitting Prime Minister was a candidate in a by election Results edit1968 Higgins by election 2 Party Candidate Votes Liberal John Gorton 24 067 69 40 6 12Labor David Bennett 9 601 27 69 2 53Reform Movement Leonard Weber 662 1 91 1 91Independent Frank Courtis 347 1 00 1 00Total formal votes 34 677 98 63 1 39Informal votes 481 1 37 1 39Turnout 35 158 84 87 9 45Liberal hold Swing 6 12See also edit1968 Liberal Party of Australia leadership election List of Australian federal by electionsReferences edit Hughes Colin August 1968 Australian Political Chronicle January April 1968 Australian Journal of Politics and History 14 2 235 236 ISSN 0004 9522 By elections 1966 1969 Psephos Archived from the original on 29 May 2012 Retrieved 26 October 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1968 Higgins by election amp oldid 1218197114, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
