2010 Armadale state by-election

Background

Alannah MacTiernan was first elected to the seat of Armadale at the 1996 state election. At the February 2001 state election, where the Labor party won government, MacTiernan became Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, a portfolio which included Transport, in the new Gallop Ministry. She held this position until Labor's defeat at the August 2008 state election, and was best known for overseeing of the construction of the Mandurah railway line, which she had championed from opposition. In early 2010, she announced her plans to contest the Liberal-held federal seat of Canning, which included her state seat, and on 26 February 2010 resigned from the shadow ministry.

She officially resigned from state parliament on 19 July 2010, two days after Prime Minister Julia Gillard had announced the timetable for the 2010 federal election. Despite a 2.16% swing to Labor in Canning and particularly strong results in areas which she had previously represented, MacTiernan failed to be elected.

On 13 August 2010, the Speaker of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly issued a writ directing the Electoral Commissioner to proceed with an election in the district.{{Gazette WA

The seat of Armadale, first established in 1983, is considered to be a safe seat for the Labor Party, with just two other members since its creation—former Minister for Transport and Minister for Environment Bob Pearce until 1993, then former Minister for Education and Deputy Opposition Leader Kay Hallahan until 1996. Commentators viewed the by-election as a non-event, and the Liberal Party, in minority government in Western Australia since 2008, opted not to contest the seat — they had never polled well in the seat, and did not run a candidate in the 2001 election either.

Timeline

Candidates

Four candidates contested the by-election. In ballot-paper order, they were:

• Labor Party — Tony Buti, a Professor in Law from the University of Western Australia and chairman of the Armadale Redevelopment Authority;
• Christian Democratic Party — Jamie van Burgel, a 27-year-old property valuer;
• Independent — John Tucak, a perennial contestant and campaigner against bureaucracy in the Ministry of Planning; and
• Greens Western Australia — Owen Davies Jr, a local boilermaker.

The Liberal Party did not field a candidate.

Results

Declared results are as follows:

References

References

1. (20 July 2010). "Long serving MP resigns to fight federal campaign". ABC Online.
2. Thomson, Chris. (23 February 2010). "MacTiernan ends 16-year executive reign". [[Fairfax Media]].
3. Australian Electoral Commission. (8 September 2010). "WA Division - Canning".
4. Phillips, Yasmin. (21 August 2010). "Defeated Alannah MacTiernan slams election campaign". [[News Limited]].
5. Kennedy, Peter. (30 August 2010). "Alannah for London?". [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]].
6. (20 January 1982). "Electoral Districts Act 1947-1981 - Order in Council".
7. Black, David. (1997). "Election statistics, Legislative Assembly of Western Australia, 1890-1996". Parliamentary History Project and Western Australian Electoral Commission.
8. Western Australian Electoral Commission. "Armadale By Election - Key dates and deadlines".
9. "Armadale by-election - Candidates". Western Australian Electoral Commission.
10. (20 August 2010). "No Liberal candidate for Armadale by-election". [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]].
11. [http://www.waec.wa.gov.au/elections/state_elections/2010_Armadale_By-Election/District_of_Armadale/District_results.php WA Electoral Commission]