2008 Mayo by-election

Downer first won the seat of Mayo at its creation at the 1984 federal election. He retained the seat at each subsequent election. The 2007 Liberal two-party-preferred vote of 57.1 percent was at the time the narrowest in the seat's history. Except for 1998, the seat was won at each election by the Liberals on primary votes alone. Despite this, the Australian Democrats and independents have traditionally polled well, including two elections where the Democrats and independent Brian Deegan came second.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2008/mayo/ |title=2008 Mayo By-election – ABC Elections (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) |publisher=Abc.net.au |accessdate=2010-07-01}} At the 1998 election the Democrats reduced the Mayo Liberal margin to just 1.7 percent.

At the 2007 federal election, Downer retained his seat against his main Labor Party competitor by a two-party preferred vote of 57.06 percent to 42.94 percent.{{cite web | title=SA DIVISION – MAYO | publisher=AEC | url=http://results.aec.gov.au/13745/Website/HouseDivisionFirstPrefs-13745-188.htm}} However, the opposition Labor Party defeated the incumbent Liberal-National coalition government, the first change of government in over 11 years. Downer had served as Foreign Minister throughout the duration of the previous government. He was also Liberal leader and leader of the opposition for several months in 1994.

On 3 July 2008, Downer announced his intention to resign his seat. He officially resigned from parliament on 14 July.{{cite news | title=Downer officially steps down | author=Adam Gartrell |date=14 July 2008 | publisher=AAP | url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24017921-29277,00.html}} He, with Mark Vaile in Lyne, became the next former Howard government ministers returned at the 2007 election to resign their seats. Peter McGauran had done likewise earlier in 2008.

Eleven candidates contested the by-election. They are listed below in ballot order.{{cite web|url=http://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/supplementary_by_elections/2008_mayo/candidates.htm |title=Mayo by-election candidates |publisher=AEC |date=8 June 2007 |accessdate=2010-07-01}}

• Australian Greens – Lynton Vonow, Adelaide Hills resident, school services officer.[http://sa.greens.org.au/Mayo/ Lynton Vonow – Candidate for Mayo: Greens.org.au] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719211348/http://sa.greens.org.au/Mayo/ |date=19 July 2008 }}
• Conservatives for Climate and Environment – Rachael Barons.
• Independent – Bill Spragg, Adelaide Hills councillor and lecturer in information technology at TAFE SA, who had also contested Mayo in 2001.{{cite news |url=http://thecouriernews.blogspot.com/2008/07/councillors-in-bid-for-mayo-seat.html |title=Councillors in bid for Mayo seat |newspaper=The Courier |date=17 July 2008 |accessdate=1 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124104035/http://thecouriernews.blogspot.com/2008/07/councillors-in-bid-for-mayo-seat.html |archive-date=24 January 2016 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.billspragg.id.au |title=Independent for Mayo |publisher=Bill Spragg |accessdate=1 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100823033758/http://www.billspragg.id.au/ |archive-date=23 August 2010 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.ahc.sa.gov.au//site/page.cfm?u=166&c=207 |title=Cr William (Bill) Spragg: Adelaide Hills Council |publisher=Ahc.sa.gov.au |date=26 February 2008 |accessdate=2010-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080721063134/http://www.ahc.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=166&c=207 |archive-date=21 July 2008 |url-status=dead }}
• One Nation – Mathew Keizer, Adelaide Hills resident and domestic community support worker.{{cite web |url=http://sa.onenation.com.au/ |title=One Nation SA Division |publisher=Sa.onenation.com.au |accessdate=2010-07-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218003029/http://sa.onenation.com.au/ |archivedate=18 February 2011}}
• Independent – Mary Brewerton, retired nurse, contested Mayo for Labor in 2007.{{cite news |author=John Wiseman |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24197127-5006787,00.html |title=Ex-Labor woman in Mayo poll |newspaper=The Australian |date=18 August 2008 |accessdate=1 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917184425/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24197127-5006787,00.html |archive-date=17 September 2008 |url-status=dead }}
• Australian Democrats – Andrew Castrique, Adelaide Hills resident, school laboratory technician.{{Cite web |url=http://www.livenews.com.au/Articles/2008/07/20/Democrats_to_contest_in_abandoned_Mayo |title=LIVENEWS.com.au > National > Democrats to contest in 'abandoned' Mayo |access-date=21 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007161743/http://www.livenews.com.au/Articles/2008/07/20/Democrats_to_contest_in_abandoned_Mayo |archive-date=7 October 2008 |url-status=dead }}
• Liberal Party of Australia – Jamie Briggs, former Howard government advisor{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/20/2308880.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801214458/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/20/2308880.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 August 2012 |title=Former Howard govt staffer to contest Mayo by-election |publisher=ABC News (Australia) |date=20 July 2008 |accessdate=1 July 2010}}
• Independent – Malcolm Ronald King, retired.
• Family First Party – Bob Day, businessman and former Liberal Party member.{{cite news|author=Renato Castello |url=http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,24119440-2682,00.html |title=Disgruntled Lib in Mayo power play | newspaper=The Advertiser |date=3 August 2008 |accessdate=2010-07-01}}
• Democratic Labor Party – David McCabe, clerk.
• Independent – Di Bell, anthropologist and author.{{Cite web |url=http://www.vote4di.com/ |title=G'day, Di here at Di Bell – vote4di.com campaign site |access-date=28 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914190551/http://vote4di.com/ |archive-date=14 September 2014 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |author=John Wiseman |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24165734-5013871,00.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120917192420/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24165734-5013871,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 September 2012 |title=Anthropologist and author Diane Bell throws hat into Mayo ring |newspaper=The Australian |date=12 August 2008 |accessdate=1 July 2010 }} South Australian independent Senator Nick Xenophon gave support to Bell's campaign.{{cite news |author=John Wiseman |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24215631-5006787,00.html |title=Xenophon backs Bell for Mayo by-election |newspaper=The Australian |date=21 August 2008 |accessdate=1 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080822205613/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24215631-5006787,00.html |archive-date=22 August 2008 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |author=Jamie Walker |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24235117-5013871,00.html |title=Mayo candidates jockey for votes as saviours of the Murray |newspaper=The Australian |date=25 August 2008 |accessdate=1 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408093004/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24235117-5013871,00.html |archive-date=8 April 2009 |url-status=dead }}

Labor opted not to stand a candidate.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/18/2308173.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080718171617/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/07/18/2308173.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 July 2008 |title=ALP won't contest Mayo by-election |publisher=ABC News (Australia) |date=18 July 2008 |accessdate=1 July 2010 }}

The candidature of Liberal Jamie Briggs was criticised because of his role in controversial industrial-relations policies and reports that some Liberal Party colleagues were unhappy with his preselection.{{cite news|author=Glenn Milne, writing in The Sunday Times |url=http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,24082103-5005371,00.html |title=Lib fears the enemy within |publisher=News.com.au |date=25 July 2008 |accessdate=1 July 2010 }} Bob Day, who had held membership of the Liberal Party for 20 years and was the endorsed Liberal candidate for Makin in 2007, quit the party after failing to win Mayo preselection with 10 out of 271 votes,{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/family-with-the-odd-black-sheep/2008/08/14/1218307111871.html |title=Family with the odd black sheep | newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=15 August 2008 | accessdate=1 July 2010 }} claiming a "manipulated" preselection process.{{cite news |author=Jamie Walker |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24087075-2702,00.html |title=Loyal Lib quits over Mayo |newspaper=The Australian |date=28 July 2008 |accessdate=1 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922211045/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24087075-2702,00.html |archive-date=22 September 2008 |url-status=dead }} Iain Evans, who came second to Briggs, agreed to some extent.{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24093560-5013871,00.html |title=Liberal chief Iain Evans admits to Mayo concerns |newspaper=The Australian |date=29 July 2008 |accessdate=1 July 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121215182124/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24093560-5013871,00.html |archive-date=15 December 2012 |url-status=dead }}

{{Election box begin |

|title=2008 Mayo by-election

}}

{{Election box candidate AU party|

|candidate = Jamie Briggs

|party = Liberal

|votes = 30,651

|percentage = 41.28

|change = –9.80

}}

{{Election box candidate AU party|

|candidate = Lynton Vonow

|party = Greens

|votes = 15,851

|percentage = 21.35

|change = +10.39

}}

{{Election box candidate AU party|

|candidate = Di Bell

|party = Independent

|votes = 12,081

|percentage = 16.27

|change = +16.27

}}

{{Election box candidate AU party|

|candidate = Bob Day

|party = Family First

|votes = 8,468

|percentage = 11.40

|change = +7.38

}}

{{Election box candidate AU party|

|candidate = Mary Brewerton

|party = Independent

|votes = 1,868

|percentage = 2.52

|change = +2.52

}}

{{Election box candidate AU party|

|candidate = Bill Spragg

|party = Independent

|votes = 1,545

|percentage = 2.08

|change = +2.08

}}

{{Election box candidate AU party|

|candidate = David McCabe

|party = Democratic Labor

|votes = 1,426

|percentage = 1.92

|change = +1.92

}}

{{Election box candidate AU party|

|candidate = Andrew Castrique

|party = Democrats

|votes = 923

|percentage = 1.24

|change = –0.28

}}

{{Election box candidate AU party|

|candidate = Rachael Barons

|party = Conservatives for Climate and Environment

|votes = 725

|percentage = 0.98

|change = –0.32

}}

{{Election box candidate AU party|

|candidate = Mathew Keizer

|party = One Nation

|votes = 503

|percentage = 0.68

|change = +0.68

}}

{{Election box candidate AU party|

|candidate = Malcolm Ronald King

|party = Independent

|votes = 219

|percentage = 0.29

|change = +0.29

}}

{{Election box formal|

|votes = 74,260

|percentage = 95.01

|change = –2.23

}}

{{Election box informal|

|votes = 3,900

|percentage = 4.99

|change = +2.23

}}

{{Election box turnout|

|votes = 78,160

|percentage = 80.10

|change = –15.78

}}

{{Election box 2cp}}

{{Election box candidate AU party|

|party = Liberal

|candidate = Jamie Briggs

|votes = 39,381

|percentage = 53.03

|change = –4.03

}}

{{Election box candidate AU party|

|party = Greens

|candidate = Lynton Vonow

|votes = 34,879

|percentage = 46.97

|change = +46.97

}}

{{Election box hold AU party|

|winner = Liberal

|swing = No

}}

{{Election box end}}

The Liberals retained the seat despite a reduced 41.3 percent primary vote after suffering a 9.8 percent primary swing. Some commentators drew comparisons between this and the 2002 Cunningham by-election.{{cite news |author=Glenn Milne |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24308833-7583,00.html |title=A tale of two leaders, and bad news ballots |newspaper=The Australian |date=8 September 2008 |accessdate=1 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080912133905/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24308833-7583,00.html |archive-date=12 September 2008 |url-status=dead }} The Liberal two-candidate vote of 53 percent against Greens candidate Lynton Vonow compared to the previous election vote of 57.1 percent against Labor,{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/elections/sa/2012/ramsayportadelaide/port.htm|title=2012 Port Adelaide by-election guide|last=Green|first=Antony|publisher=ABC Elections|accessdate=28 January 2012}} which turned Mayo from a fairly safe seat in to a marginal two-candidate seat.{{cite news |author=John Wiseman, Comment |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24309746-5013871,00.html |title=Bitter victory for the Libs in what is now a marginal seat |newspaper=The Australian |date=8 September 2008 |accessdate=1 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715114742/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24309746-5013871,00.html |archive-date=15 July 2009 |url-status=dead }} The reduction of 4 percent cannot be considered a "two-party/candidate preferred swing" − when a major party is absent, preference flows to both major parties does not take place, resulting in asymmetric preference flows.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2012/02/a-comment-on-the-size-of-the-port-adelaide-swing.html |title=A Comment on the Size of the Port Adelaide Swing |author=Antony Green |author-link=Antony Green |publisher=Blogs.abc.net.au |date=2012-02-13 |accessdate=2012-07-26}}[http://blogs.abc.net.au/antonygreen/2011/05/an-example-of-non-monotonicity-and-opportunites-for-tactical-voting-at-an-australian-election.html An Example of Non-Monotonicity and Opportunities for Tactical Voting at an Australian Election: Antony Green ABC 4 May 2011]

Eight years later, Rebekha Sharkie of the Nick Xenophon Team was successful in defeating Liberal incumbent Jamie Briggs in Mayo at the 2016 federal election with a 55 percent two-candidate vote to the Liberals' 45 percent two-candidate vote, a reduction of 17.2 percent. Additionally, Mayo became a marginal two-party seat for the first time with the Liberal two-party vote reduced to 55.4 percent, a two-party swing of 7.2 percent.

• List of Australian federal by-elections

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite web | title=2008 Mayo By-election | date=2 August 2024 | publisher=ABC | url=http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2008/mayo/}}

{{Aus by-elections 42nd parl}}

Category:2008 elections in Australia

Category:South Australian federal by-elections