Casual vacancies in the eighth Legislative Assembly (2012-2016)

Updated 29 Nov 2017

There were four casual vacancies during the eighth Legislative Assembly.

Mr Brendan Smyth

Mr Brendan Smyth resigned from the ACT Legislative Assembly on Friday 15 July 2016.

A notice was published in the Canberra Times on Monday 18 July 2016 calling for nominations from eligible candidates.

Any person who was an unsuccessful candidate for the electorate of Brindabella in the 2012 ACT Legislative Assembly election could apply to contest this vacancy. Applications closed at 12 noon on Thursday 28 July 2016.

The names of the candidates who applied to contest the vacancy were publicly declared at 12.30 pm on Thursday 28 July 2016 at the ACT Legislative Assembly building. A recount of the votes received by Mr Smyth at the 2012 election was conducted immediately after the declaration of candidates to determine who would replace Mr Smyth in the Assembly.

The following candidates applied to contest the vacancy in the electorate of Brindabella following the resignation of Mr Brendan Smyth:

Candidate name Party name
Rebecca Cody ACT Labor
Mark Erwood Bullet Train for Canberra
Val Jeffery Canberra Liberals
Michael LindfieldIndependent
Karl MaftoumACT Labor
Ben MurphyThe ACT Greens

Mr Val Jeffery received a majority of preferences after Mr Smyth's votes were distributed by computer count and was formally declared elected at 3:00 pm on Friday 29 July 2016 at the office of the ACT Electoral Commissioner.

Mr Smyth's casual vacancy candidate results (pdf - 17 kb)

Notice of vacancy - Mr Brendan Smyth (pdf - 76 kb)

Candidate information manual - Brendan Smyth casual vacancy (pdf - 191 kb)

Ms Mary Porter

Ms Mary Porter AM resigned from the ACT Legislative Assembly on Friday 19 February 2016.

A notice was published in the Canberra Times on Monday 22 February 2016 calling for nominations from eligible candidates.

Any person who was an unsuccessful candidate for the electorate of Ginninderra in the 2012 ACT Legislative Assembly election could apply to contest this vacancy. Applications closed at 12 noon on Thursday 3 March 2016.

The names of the candidates who applied to contest the vacancy were publicly declared at 12.30 pm on Thursday 3 March 2016 at the ACT Legislative Assembly building. A recount of the votes received by Ms Porter at the 2012 election was conducted immediately after the declaration of candidates to determine who would replace Ms Porter in the Assembly.

The following candidates applied to contest the vacancy in the electorate of Ginninderra following the resignation of Ms Mary Porter AM:

Candidate name Party name
Darren Churchill Ungrouped
Chic Henry Australian Motorist Party
Jayson Hinder Australian Labor Party (ACT Branch)

Mr Jayson Hinder received a majority of preferences after Ms Porter’s votes were distributed by computer count and was formally declared elected at 3:00 pm on Monday 7 March 2016 at the ACT Legislative Assembly building.

Ms Mary Porter casual vacancy candidate results (pdf 20 kb)

Candidate information manual - Mary Porter vacancy (pdf -  159 kb)

Notice of casual vacancy - Mary Porter (pdf - 76 kb) 

Ms Katy Gallagher

Ms Katy Gallagher resigned from the Legislative Assembly on 23 December 2014.

A notice was published in the Canberra Times on 5 January 2015 calling for nominations from eligible candidates.

Any person who was an unsuccessful candidate for the Electorate of Molonglo in the 2012 ACT Legislative Assembly election could apply to contest this vacancy. Applications closed at 12 noon on 15 January 2015.

The names of the candidates who applied to contest the vacancy were publicly declared at 12:30 pm on 15 January 2015 at the ACT Legislative Assembly. A recount of the votes received by Ms Gallagher at the 2012 election was conducted immediately after the declaration of candidates to determine who will replace Ms Gallagher in the Assembly.

Ms Meegan Fitzharris received a majority of the votes and was formally declared elected at 3:00 pm on Friday 16 January 2015 in the reception room of the ACT Legislative Assembly.

The following candidates applied to contest the vacancy in the electorate of Molonglo following the resignation of Katy Gallagher MLA.

Candidate name Party name
Tim Bohm Bullet Train for Canberra
David Cumbers Australian Motorist Party
Mark Curran Australian Motorist Party
Shelley Dickerson Bullet Train for Canberra
Angie Drake Australian Labor Party (ACT Branch)
Meegan Fitzharris Australian Labor Party (ACT Branch)
Murray Gordon Liberal Party of Australia (A.C.T. Division)
Alan Kerlin The ACT Greens
Mark Kulasingham Australian Labor Party (ACT Branch)
Caroline Le Couteur The ACT Greens
David Mathews Australian Labor Party (ACT Branch)
Philip Pocock Independent

Ms Katy Gallagher casual vacancy candidate results (pdf 201 kb)

Candidates information manual Katy Gallagher vacancy (pdf 167 kb)

Mr Zed Seselja

Mr Zed Seselja resigned from the Legislative Assembly on 11 June 2013.

A notice was published in the Canberra Times on 14 June 2013 calling for nominations from eligible candidates.

Any person who was an unsuccessful candidate for the Electorate of Brindabella in the 2012 ACT Legislative Assembly election could apply to contest this vacancy. There were seven applications received by the close of nominations at 12 noon on 24 June 2013.

The names of the candidates who applied to contest the vacancy were publicly declared at 12:30 pm on 24 June 2013 at the ACT Legislative Assembly. A recount of the votes received by Mr Seselja at the 2012 election was conducted immediately after the declaration of candidates to determine who will replace Mr Seselja in the Assembly.

Ms Nicole Lawder received a majority of the votes and was formally declared elected at 3:00 pm on Wednesday 26 June 2013 in the reception room of the ACT Legislative Assembly.

The following candidates applied to contest the vacancy in the electorate of Brindabella following the resignation of Zed Seselja MLA.

Candidate name Party name
Amanda Bresnan The ACT Greens
Rebecca Cody Australian Labor Party (ACT Branch)
Val Jeffery Liberal Party of Australia (A.C.T. Division)
Nicole Lawder Liberal Party of Australia (A.C.T. Division)
Michael Lindfield Independent
Karl Maftoum Australian Labor Party (ACT Branch)
Ben Murphy The ACT Greens

Mr Zed Seselja casual vacancy candidate results (pdf 276 kb)