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| 2018 Wentworth by-election | |
|---|---|
| Election name | 2018 Wentworth by-election |
| Country | Australia |
| Type | parliamentary |
| Previous election | 2016 Australian federal election |
| Previous year | 2016 |
| Next election | 2019 Australian federal election |
| Next year | 2019 |
| Election date | 20 October 2018 |
| Turnout | 84.1% |
| Seats for election | Division of Wentworth |
2018 Wentworth by-election The 2018 Wentworth by-election was a federal parliamentary by-election held on 20 October 2018 for the Division of Wentworth in New South Wales, Australia, triggered by the resignation of Malcolm Turnbull as MP after his removal as Prime Minister following a leadership challenge by Scott Morrison and supporters including Peter Dutton and Julie Bishop. The contest attracted national attention amid debates involving the Liberal Party of Australia, the Australian Labor Party, the Australian Greens, and prominent independents, reflecting tensions highlighted during the 2018 leadership spills and the subsequent 2019 federal election dynamics.
The Division of Wentworth, created for the 1901 election, had been held by the Liberal Party of Australia for most of its history, including long-serving members such as Billy Hughes and John Hewson. The seat gained renewed prominence under Malcolm Turnbull, who served as MP from 2004 and as Prime Minister of Australia from 2015 until the 2018 leadership change. Turnbull's ousting amid internal disputes involving Peter Dutton, Tony Abbott, and factions within the Liberal Party of Australia prompted his resignation from Parliament, necessitating a by-election. The by-election came after political events including the 2018 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill and during national conversations shaped by figures like Scott Morrison, Sussan Ley, Mathias Cormann, and policy disputes with the Australian Greens and Nick Xenophon Team.
The by-election field featured candidates from major parties and independents: the Liberal Party of Australia endorsed Dave Sharma, a former diplomat who had served as Australia's Ambassador to Israel and had associations with institutions like the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and contacts in forums such as the United Nations Security Council. The Australian Labor Party ran Kristina Keneally, former Premier of New South Wales and a former Minister in the Australian Government, who had links to the Australian Council of Trade Unions and figures like Anthony Albanese and Bill Shorten. The Australian Greens nominated Trevor Evans (note: Evans contested Brisbane federally; Greens candidate here was not Evans) and other parties such as Pauline Hanson's One Nation and the Liberal Democrats registered participants. High-profile independent Kerryn Phelps, a physician and former president of the Australian Medical Association, stood as a centrist candidate, attracting endorsements from public figures and associations including Medical Journal of Australia contributors and activists aligned with causes championed by Tim Wilson and Sarah Hanson-Young. Other candidates included representatives from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party, minor parties with ties to organizations like the Australian Electoral Commission-registered groups, and community activists with connections to local councils such as the Woollahra Municipal Council and civic organizations in the Eastern Suburbs.
Campaign themes reflected national controversies: leadership instability after the 2018 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill and the roles of Scott Morrison and Peter Dutton; climate policy debates tied to Paris Agreement commitments and energy discussions involving stakeholders like AGL Energy and unions including the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union; health policy with references to the National Disability Insurance Scheme and positions advocated by medical groups such as the Australian Medical Association; and integrity and anti-corruption proposals linked to inquiries like the Australian National Audit Office reports and calls for a federal anti-corruption body advocated by figures including Lucy Turnbull and Mark Dreyfus. Local concerns included infrastructure projects and transport links connected to agencies like Transport for NSW and urban planning debates involving the City of Sydney. The campaign also saw discussions on foreign policy referencing relationships with United States, China, and institutions like the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade due to Sharma's diplomatic background.
Polling by firms and media outlets such as Newspoll, Essential Media Communications, YouGov, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian Financial Review, The Australian and the ABC tracked voter sentiment, often comparing likely voter swings with results from the 2016 Australian federal election and by-elections like the 2015 Canning by-election and the 2017 Queensland state election. Coverage scrutinized campaign messaging across platforms including Sky News Australia, Nine Network, Seven Network, and social media channels involving journalists from outlets like The Guardian Australia and commentators such as Paul Kelly and Annabel Crabb. Polling highlighted the rise of independents in electorates similar to Wentworth, echoing trends from contests featuring Zali Steggall and Cindy McLeish.
The by-election resulted in a surprise victory for independent Kerryn Phelps, who defeated the Liberal Party of Australia candidate Dave Sharma after preferences redistributed under Australia's preferential voting system. The outcome reduced the Parliament of Australia majority held by the governing coalition led by Scott Morrison and was interpreted in light of recent political turmoil involving Malcolm Turnbull and factions led by Peter Dutton and Tony Abbott. The result was widely reported in national outlets including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian, ABC, and international press such as the BBC.
Phelps' win prompted commentary about the resilience of high-profile independents and the consequences for the Liberal Party of Australia's internal cohesion, influencing discussions within the partyrooms of figures like Scott Morrison, Peter Dutton, and Mathias Cormann about candidate selection and strategy ahead of the 2019 Australian federal election. The result energized debates on the creation of a federal anti-corruption commission, starred in policy debates involving Anthony Albanese and Bill Shorten, and was cited in analyses by think tanks such as the Grattan Institute and the Lowy Institute about voter sentiment in inner-city electorates. The by-election foreshadowed further challenges for major parties from independents and minor parties, echoing electoral shifts witnessed in electorates represented by figures like Zali Steggall and reinforcing media narratives in outlets including The Guardian Australia and The Australian Financial Review.
Category:2018 elections in Australia Category:By-elections to the Parliament of Australia