McPherson by-election, 1981

A by-election was held for the Australian House of Representatives seat of McPherson on 21 February 1981. This was triggered by the sudden death of Liberal Party MP Eric Robinson. It was held on the same day as by-elections for Boothby and Curtin.

Although National Country Party Senator Glen Sheil resigned from the Senate to contest the by-election, it was won by Liberal candidate Peter White, a former member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland who had retired in preparation for the by-election.

Results

McPherson by-election, 1981[1]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Peter White 29,776 41.9 -1.4
National Country Glen Sheil 21,189 29.8 +29.8
Labor Ronald McKenna 18,278 25.7 -5.1
Progress Kevin Chaffey 537 0.8 +0.8
Independent William Aabraham-Steer 512 0.7 -1.1
Independent Hubert Giesberts 469 0.7 +0.7
Independent Peter Courtney 290 0.4 +0.4
Total formal votes 71,051 97.8
Informal votes 1,575 2.2
Turnout 72,626 84.3
Two-party-preferred result
Liberal Peter White 46,336 65.2 +11.6
National Country Glen Sheil 24,715 34.8 +34.8
Liberal hold Swing +11.6

References