Cook's River state by-election, 1959
A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Cook's River on Saturday, 12 December 1959 and was triggered by the death in office of the Premier of New South Wales, Joseph Cahill.[1]
The seat was subsequently retained for the Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch) by his eldest son Thomas James Cahill.[2] Despite Cook's River being a safe Labor seat, the Liberal Party fielded a candidate, John Bampton, a soap manufacturer.[3] The Labor primary vote improved by 1.6% compared to the previous year's general election.[1][4] The Communist Party of Australia stood Wal Buckley, an organiser for the Amalgamated Engineering Union, but only gained 4.6% of the vote.[5][6]
Results
The Labor Party retained the seat on an improved margin, which was nonetheless significant due to the large personal vote for Cahill and sympathy after his death which was then carried by his son.[1]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labor | Tom Cahill | 14,283 | 72.55 | +1.61 | |
Liberal | John Bampton | 4,488 | 22.80 | -1.45 | |
Communist | Walter Buckley | 916 | 4.65 | +4.65 | |
Total formal votes | 19,687 | ||||
Informal votes | 364 | 1.82 | |||
Turnout | 20,051 | 84.48 | |||
Labor hold | Swing | +1.61 | |||
References
- 1 2 3 4 Green, Antony. "NSW Elections – Cook's River – By-election 1959". NSW Elections Index. Parliament of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 2018-04-20.
- ↑ "Mr. Tom Cahill Wins A.L.P. Preselection Ballot". The Canberra Times. 34, (9, 454). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 23 November 1959. p. 8. Retrieved 20 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Liberals To Oppose Late Premier's Son". The Canberra Times. 34, (9, 455). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 24 November 1959. p. 3. Retrieved 20 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ Green, Antony. "NSW Elections – Cook's River 1959". NSW Elections Index. Parliament of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 2018-04-20.
- ↑ "COMMUNIST CANDIDATE OPENS CAMPAIGN FOR COOKS RIVER". Tribune (1128). New South Wales, Australia. 2 December 1959. p. 3. Retrieved 20 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "COMMUNIST VOTE UP IN COOKS RIVER". Tribune (1131). New South Wales, Australia. 16 December 1959. p. 3. Retrieved 20 April 2018 – via National Library of Australia.