2011 Clarence state by-election
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox election
| country = New South Wales
| type = parliamentary
| ongoing = no
| election_date = 19 November 2011
| candidate1 = Chris Gulaptis
| party1 = National Party of Australia – NSW
| popular_vote1 = 24,555
| percentage1 = 56.7%
| swing1 = {{decrease}} 6.1
| image1 = 150x150px
| candidate2 = Peter Ellem
| party2 = Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch)
| popular_vote2 = 12,098
| percentage2 = 28.0%
| swing2 = {{increase}} 17.8
| image2 = 150x150px
| 1blank = TPP
| 2blank = TPP swing
| 1data1 = 65.1%
| 2data1 = {{decrease}} 16.3
| 1data2 = 34.9%
| 2data2 = {{increase}} 16.3
| title = MP
| before_election = Steve Cansdell
| before_party = National Party of Australia – NSW
| after_election = Chris Gulaptis
| after_party = National Party of Australia – NSW
| map_image = Clarence NSW State Electoral District.png
| map_caption = The location of the seat of Clarence in New South Wales
}}
A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Clarence on 19 November 2011, following the resignation from parliament on 16 September of Steve Cansdell ({{Australian politics/name|Nationals NSW}}). Despite a large two-party-preferred swing, Nationals candidate Chris Gulaptis retained the seat.
Background
Steve Cansdell resigned from parliament after admitting to making a false statutory declaration regarding a speeding offence.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/09/16/3319424.htm|title=Clarence MP quits politics|author=Frazier, Justine|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=16 September 2011}}
Eight candidates contested the by-election including Nationals candidate Chris Gulaptis who previously contested the federal seat of Page at the 2007 federal election, and Labor candidate Peter Ellem. One of the main issues of the campaign was coal seam gas (CSG) production. Labor accused the Coalition government of putting the environment at risk by not ruling out future CSG, while resources minister Chris Hartcher claimed that "Every CSG licence that exists in NSW was granted by the Labor government of which John Robertson was a minister".{{cite web|author=Rodney Stevens|url=http://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/story/2011/11/11/it-must-stop-ellem/|title=It Must Stop: Ellem|work=The Daily Examiner|date=11 November 2011}} Other issues in the campaign were more local, with candidates jousting over ways to create more jobs in Grafton{{hsp}}{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/story/2011/10/28/Nationals-expect-to-lose-votes/|title=Nationals expect to lose votes|author=Terry Deefholts|work=The Daily Examiner|date=28 October 2011}} and reduce crime in Casino.{{cite web|url=http://www.northernstar.com.au/story/2011/11/10/emotions-high-as-casino-fights-to-take-back-town/|title=Emotions high as Casino fights to take back town|author=Ava Benny-Morrison|work=The Northern Star|date=10 November 2011}}
Results
{{Election box begin |
|title=
Saturday 19 November{{cite web |url=http://www.lg.elections.nsw.gov.au/Clarence%20By-election%2019112011/Post%20Election%20Night.pdf |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20140621012147/http://www.lg.elections.nsw.gov.au/Clarence%20By-election%2019112011/Post%20Election%20Night.pdf |archive-date=21 June 2014 |title=Check Count Results |publisher=New South Wales Electoral Commission |accessdate=25 November 2011 }}
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party
|candidate = Chris Gulaptis
|party = Nationals NSW
|votes = 24,555
|percentage = 56.7
|change = −6.1
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party
|candidate = Peter Ellem
|party = Labor NSW
|votes = 12,098
|percentage = 28.0
|change = +17.8
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party
|candidate = Janet Cavanaugh
|party = Greens NSW
|votes = 3,099
|percentage = 7.2
|change = +0.3
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party
|candidate = Clinton Mead
|party = Outdoor Recreation
|votes = 1,066
|percentage = 2.5
|change = +2.5
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party
|candidate = Wade Walker
|party = Independent
|votes = 979
|percentage = 2.3
|change = +2.3
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party
|candidate = Bethany Camac
|party = Christian Democrats
|votes = 832
|percentage = 1.9
|change = +0.1
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party
|candidate = Kolo Toure
|party = Independent
|votes = 372
|percentage = 0.9
|change = +0.9
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party
|candidate = David Robinson
|party = Democrats
|votes = 272
|percentage = 0.6
|change = +0.6
}}
{{Election box formal
|votes = 43,273
|percentage = 97.4
|change = −0.5
}}
{{Election box informal
|votes = 1,139
|percentage = 2.6
|change = +0.5
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 44,412
|percentage = 85.0
|change =
}}
{{Election box 2pp}}
{{Election box candidate AU party
|party = Nationals NSW
|candidate = Chris Gulaptis
|votes = 25,512
|percentage = 65.1
|change = −16.3
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party
|party = Labor NSW
|candidate = Peter Ellem
|votes = 13,657
|percentage = 34.9
|change = +16.3
}}
{{Election box hold AU party
|winner = Nationals NSW
|swing = −16.3
}}
{{Election box end}}
Steve Cansdell ({{Australian politics/name|Nationals NSW}}) resigned.
The Nationals suffered a 16-point two-party-preferred swing, but since Clarence was already a very safe National seat, Gulaptis retained the seat for the Nationals with a majority of 15 percentage points.{{cite web |url=http://www.lg.elections.nsw.gov.au/Clarence%20By-election%2019112011/Post%20Election%20Night%20TCP.pdf |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20140621012614/http://www.lg.elections.nsw.gov.au/Clarence%20By-election%2019112011/Post%20Election%20Night%20TCP.pdf |archive-date=21 June 2014 |title=Check Count – Two Candidate Preferred |publisher=New South Wales Electoral Commission |accessdate=25 November 2011 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-11-19/nationals-retain-clarence-in-by-election/3682118|title=Nationals retain Clarence in by-election|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=20 November 2011}}
See also
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{NSW by-elections 55th parl|state=expanded}}
{{Results of New South Wales state elections}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clarence 2011}}
Category:2011 elections in Australia
Category:New South Wales state by-elections