2015 Gippsland South state by-election

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Use Australian English|date=July 2023}}

{{Infobox election

| country = Victoria

| type = parliamentary

| ongoing = no

| election_date = 14 March 2015

| previous_year = 2014

| next_year = 2018

| image1 = 150x150px

| candidate1 = Danny O'Brien

| party1 = National Party of Australia – Victoria

| popular_vote1 = 15,120

| percentage1 = 45.2%

| swing1 = {{decrease}} 12.0

| image2 = 150x150px

| candidate2 = Scott Rossetti

| party2 = Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division)

| popular_vote2 = 8,890

| percentage2 = 26.6%

| swing2 = {{increase}} 26.6

| image3 = 150x150px

| candidate3 = Andrea Millsom

| party3 = Australian Greens Victoria

| popular_vote3 = 5,258

| percentage3 = 15.7%

| swing3 = {{increase}} 6.1

| 1blank = TPP

| 1data1 = 51.0%

| 2data1 = 28.5%

| 2data3 = 20.5%

| map_image = VIC Gippsland South District 2014.png

| map_caption = Location of Gippsland South in Victoria

| title = MP

| before_election = Peter Ryan

| before_party = National Party of Australia – Victoria

| after_election = Danny O'Brien

| after_party = National Party of Australia – Victoria

}}

A by-election for the seat of Gippsland South in the Victorian Legislative Assembly was held on 14 March 2015. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of former state National Party leader and Deputy Premier, Peter Ryan. Ryan had been a member of the Victorian parliament for over 22 years, and last retained the seat at the 2014 election on a 65.7 percent two-party vote, with a negative 6.9 percentage point swing.{{cite news|last1=Savage|first1=Alison|title=Former Victorian Nationals leader Peter Ryan quits politics|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-02/former-victorian-nationals-leader-peter-ryan-retires-from-polit/6061934|accessdate=2 February 2015|work=ABC News|date=2 February 2015}} The election was contested on the same boundaries used at the previous state election.

The writ for the by-election was issued on 17 February, with the rolls closing at 8pm on Tuesday 24 February. A total of 40,649 people were registered to vote in the by-election.{{cite web |url=http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Results/State2015/GippslandSouthDistrict.html |title=Gippsland South District By-election 2015: Gippsland South District results summary - Victorian Electoral Commission |website=www.vec.vic.gov.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316124340/http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Results/State2015/GippslandSouthDistrict.html |archive-date=2015-03-16}} Candidate nominations closed on 27 February.{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/about/news/2435|title=Parliament of Victoria - Gippsland South by-election on 14 March}} The Labor Party did not nominate a candidate, and the election was contested by both a Liberal and National candidate, a rare occurrence given that the two parties are linked in the Coalition.

The two-party preferred count was initially completed between the Nationals and the Greens, who the VEC predicted to finish first and second respectively. However, Liberal candidate Scott Rossetti polled above Green Andrea Millsom and so a further distribution of preferences was required. The Nationals won the election on the preferences of minor parties and independents, without Green or Liberal preferences being allocated.

The seat was retained by the Nationals, with Danny O'Brien winning the seat after resigning from the Victorian Legislative Council to contest the by-election.{{cite news|last1=Debono|first1=Mark|title=Gippsland South by-election: Nationals maintain decades-long hold with Danny O'Brien elected as next MP|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-15/nationals-maintain-hold-on-gippsland-with-by-election-win/6320430|accessdate=15 March 2015|work=ABC News|date=15 March 2015}}

The Greens campaigned strongly on an anti-coal seam gas platform, and encouraged voters from other parties to write "no CSG" on ballot papers to register their displeasure with the practice.{{cite web |url=http://www.latrobevalleyexpress.com.au/story/2892152/gippsland-south-by-election-fires-up/# |title=Gippsland South by-election fires up {{!}} Latrobe Valley Express |website=www.latrobevalleyexpress.com.au |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304031038/http://www.latrobevalleyexpress.com.au/story/2892152/gippsland-south-by-election-fires-up/ |archive-date=2016-03-04}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.sgst.com.au/greens-marking-their-gippsland-territory-3/|title=Greens Marking Their Gippsland Territory - South Gippsland Sentinel-Times}}