2009 Willagee state by-election

The 2009 Willagee state by-election was held for the Western Australian Legislative Assembly seat of Willagee on 28 November 2009.[1] It was triggered as a result of the resignation of former Premier of Western Australia Alan Carpenter. The election was won by Labor candidate Peter Tinley.[2]

Candidates

Four candidates stood at the by-election. They were as follows in ballot paper order:[3]

Christian Democratic Party – Henri Chew. Chew stood previously as the Christian Democrats candidate for the district of Carine at the 2008 state election.

Labor Party – Peter Tinley. Tinley is a former SAS major who stood unsuccessfully as the endorsed Labor candidate for the marginal seat of Stirling at the 2007 federal election.[4]

Greens – Hsien Harper. Harper is a union organiser who stood twice previously as a Greens candidate: most recently for the seat of Maylands at the 2008 state election and before that at the 2008 Murdoch by-election.[5]

Independent – Gerry Georgatos. Georgatos was originally preselected as the Greens candidate in anticipation of a potential by-election in Willagee earlier in the year. However, when the by-election materialised, preselection was re-opened and Georgatos lost to Harper. He subsequently ran as an independent.[6]

The Liberal Party did not field a candidate.[7]

Results

The Liberal Party, who received 30.93 percent of the vote at the previous election in Willagee, did not contest the election. All candidates received a lift in their respective primary vote.

Willagee state by-election, 2009[8][9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Peter Tinley	9,160	53.80	+2.15
	Greens	Hsien Harper	5,162	30.32	+12.90
	Independent	Gerry Georgatos	1,529	8.98	+8.98
	Christian Democrats	Henri Chew	1,175	6.90	+6.90
Total formal votes			17,026	95.48	+1.87
Informal votes			863	4.82	−1.87
Turnout			17,889	77.50	−8.62
Two-candidate-preferred result
	Labor	Peter Tinley	10,316	60.61	−3.97
	Greens	Hsien Harper	6,664	39.39	+39.39
	Labor hold		Swing	N/A

References

1. Chalpat Sonti (13 October 2009). "Willagee by-election date set". WA Today.
2. http://www.abc.net.au/elections/wa/2009/byelections/willagee_result.htm
3. "2009 Willagee By-election". Western Australian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 2009-10-26. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
4. Paul Lampathakis (7 October 2009). "ALP picks ex-SAS major Peter Tinley for Willagee by-election". PerthNow.
5. "Greens Willagee candidate". ABC. 21 October 2009.
6. "Willagee by-election". Poll Bludger.
7. "Liberals not contesting Willagee". ABC. 17 October 2009.
8. WAEC - 2009 Willagee By-election - Results
9. WAEC - 2008 State Election - Willagee