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2023 Rockingham state by-election

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2023 Rockingham state by-election

← 2021 29 July 2023 2025 →

Electoral district of Rockingham in the
Western Australian Legislative Assembly
  First party Second party Third party
 
IND
Candidate Magenta Marshall Peter Hudson Hayley Edwards
Party Labor Liberal Independent
Popular vote 10,791 3,868 3,488
Percentage 49.33% 17.73% 15.95%
Swing Decrease 33.42 Increase 7.91 Increase 15.95
TCP 61.37 38.63%
TCP swing Decrease 26.35 Increase 38.63

Map showing the location of the electoral district of Rockingham (dark green) in metropolitan Perth, Western Australia

MP before election

Mark McGowan
Labor

Elected MP

Magenta Marshall
Labor

A by-election for the electoral district of Rockingham in Western Australia was held on 29 July 2023, following the resignation of Premier and sitting Labor MP Mark McGowan, on 8 June 2023.[1][2] The writ was issued on the same day.[3]

The two major party candidates for the election were Magenta Marshall for the Australian Labor Party and Peter Hudson for the Liberal Party. Additionally, Hayley Edwards the Deputy Mayor of the City of Rockingham also announced her candidacy.[4] The Greens preselected Madeleine De Jong. There were nine candidates for the seat.[5] Notably, both major parties preselected candidates under the age of 30.[6]

The election was called for Labor at 7:30pm AWST, with Marshall claiming victory for the Labor Party. However, Labor suffered one of the biggest swings against it at a by-election in the state's history: with a swing against them of 33.4% in the primary vote and a swing against of 22.5% in the two-party-preferred vote.[7]

Background

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Resignation of Mark McGowan

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On 29 May 2023, McGowan announced that he was resigning as Premier of Western Australia and the MLA for Rockingham, a seat he had held since 1996. He stated that the job was "relentless" and that he no longer had the "energy or drive to continue". Reflecting on his political career, McGowan thanked voters of Western Australia who had "provided [him] with the opportunity of a lifetime." McGowan led Labor to government for the first time since 2008 in 2017.[8]

Seat details

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The electoral district of Rockingham was first contested at the 1974 Western Australian state election and has been held by the Australian Labor Party since its inception. Previous member Mike Barnett held the district from the beginning until his retirement at the 1996 election where he was succeeded by McGowan. Barring the elections in 1974 and 1977, Rockingham has been a consistently safe electorate for Labor with the smallest margin being 0.9 per cent of the two-party-preferred vote (TPP) in its first election. At the 2021 Western Australian state election, McGowan received a TPP of 87.7% - one of the highest margins in both federal and state elections in Australia.

Geographically, the district encompasses the City of Rockingham and its surrounding areas. Located 47 km south-southwest of the Perth CBD by the coast near the Cockburn Sound inlet. The district is adjacent to several maritime and resource-industry installations and offshore is home to Australia's largest naval fleet and submarine base at Garden Island. According to the 2021 Census, the median age of Rockingham is 45 with a weekly median household income of $1,273 per week. 20.5 per cent of residents are currently engaged in secondary education and 17.7 per cent in tertiary education.[9]

Two-party-preferred vote in Rockingham, 1996–2021
Election 1996 2001 2005 2008 2013 2017 2021
  Labor 57.50% 65.6% 62.30% 60.60% 63.20% 73.40% 87.70%
  Liberal 42.50% 34.4% 37.70% 39.40% 36.80% 26.60% 12.30%
Government LIB ALP ALP LIB LIB ALP ALP

Candidates

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Party Candidate Background
Labor Magenta Marshall Labor campaign strategist.[10]
Legalise Cannabis Rae Cottam City of Rockingham councillor.[11]
Liberal Peter Hudson Resources sector recruitment consultant; candidate for Brand at the 2022 federal election.[6]
Janetia Knapp Candidate for Fremantle at the 2022 federal election. Endorsed by the unregistered Western Australia Party.
Greens Madeleine De Jong Former staffer to Jordon Steele-John.
Independent Clive Galletly Massage therapist.
Independent Hayley Edwards Deputy Mayor of Rockingham.[12] She was formerly affiliated with the Labor Party.
Australian Christians Mike Crichton[13] Candidate for the Senate at the 2022 federal election.
Independent Peter Dunne Candidate at the 2022 North West Central state by-election.

Preselection

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Labor

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On 14 June, it was confirmed that Labor strategist Magenta Marshall has been preselected for Labor to run as the party's candidate in Rockingham.[10]

Liberal

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On 13 June, the Liberal Party announced that the party would contest the by-election.[14]

On 18 June, it was reported that 21-year-old Peter Hudson will be the party's candidate. He was the only person to nominate for preselection.[6]

2021 election results

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2021 Western Australian state election: Rockingham[15]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labor Mark McGowan 19,661 82.8 +21.3
Liberal Michael McClure 2,322 9.8 −7.9
Greens Breanna Morgan 753 3.2 −4.0
One Nation Geoff George 489 2.1 −6.6
No Mandatory Vaccination Tom Hawkins 383 1.6 +1.6
Liberal Democrats William Lofts 151 0.6 +0.6
Total formal votes 23,759 96.7 +1.1
Informal votes 801 3.3 −1.1
Turnout 24,560 83.9 −1.2
Two-party-preferred result
Labor Mark McGowan 20,836 87.7 +14.2
Liberal Michael McClure 2,916 12.3 −14.2
Labor hold Swing +14.2

Results

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2023 Rockingham state by-election[16]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labor Magenta Marshall 10,791 49.33 −33.42
Liberal Peter Hudson 3,868 17.73 +7.91
Independent Hayley Edwards 3,488 15.95 +15.95
Legalise Cannabis Rae Cottam 1,487 6.80 +6.80
Greens Madeleine De Jong 1,081 4.94 +1.77
Christians Mike Crichton 534 2.44 +2.44
Western Australia Janetia Knapp 262 1.20 +1.20
Independent Clive Gallety 193 0.88 +0.88
Independent Peter Dunne 170 0.78 +0.78
Total formal votes 21,874 97.20 +0.46
Informal votes 630 2.80 −0.46
Turnout 22,504 74.48 −9.46
Notional two-party-preferred count
Labor Magenta Marshall 13,978 65.20 −22.52
Liberal Peter Hudson 7,461 34.80 +22.52
Two-candidate-preferred result
Labor Magenta Marshall 13,412 61.37 −26.35
Independent Hayley Edwards 8,443 38.63 +38.63
Labor hold Swing N/A

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "'I'm tired, extremely tired': Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan steps down". Nine News. 29 May 2023.
  2. ^ Bourke, Keane (8 June 2023). "WA Premier Roger Cook sworn in with new cabinet, forecasting 'remarkable things'". ABC News (Australia). Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  3. ^ https://www.elections.wa.gov.au/elections/state-elections/2023-rockingham-election
  4. ^ "High-profile independent joins race for Rockingham". The West Australian. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  5. ^ Cross, Hannah (5 July 2023). "Independents hope to make a dent in margin as Rockingham by-election candidates ready for July 29 vote". The West Australian.
  6. ^ a b c "Liberals set to unveil candidate to run for McGowan's seat". The West Australian. 18 June 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  7. ^ "WA Labor retains former premier Mark McGowan's seat of Rockingham". ABC News. 29 July 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  8. ^ Shepherd, Tory (29 May 2023). "Mark McGowan resigns as premier of Western Australia, saying he is 'exhausted'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  9. ^ "2021 Rockingham (South Metropolitan), Census All persons QuickStats | Australian Bureau of Statistics". www.abs.gov.au. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  10. ^ a b Zimmerman, Josh (14 June 2023). "Labor strategist Magenta Marshall confirmed as party's candidate to replace Mark McGowan in Rockingham". The West Australian. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  11. ^ "Rockingham councillor announced as Legalise Cannabis Party candidate for by-election". 97.3 Coast FM. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  12. ^ "High-profile independent joins race for Rockingham". The West Australian. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  13. ^ "Rockingham by-election 2023 | Western Australia - Australian Christians". australianchristians.org.au. 23 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  14. ^ "Liberals to contest McGowan's Rockingham seat in by-election". The West Australian. 13 June 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  15. ^ 2021 State General Election – Rockingham District Results, WAEC
  16. ^ State By-elections – 2023 Rockingham By-election, Western Australian Electoral Commission
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