2018 Batman by-election
{{Short description|Australian federal by-election}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use Australian English|date=April 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2018 Batman by-election
| country = Australia
| type = Parliamentary
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2016 Australian federal election
| previous_year = 2016
| election_date = 17 March 2018
| next_election = 2019 Australian federal election
| next_year = 2019
| turnout = 81.40% {{decrease}} 8.28
| registered = 111,857
| seats_for_election = The Division of Batman (Vic) in the House of Representatives
| candidate1 = Ged Kearney
| image1 = x150px
| party1 = Australian Labor Party
| popular_vote1 = 36,840
| percentage1 = 43.14%
| swing1 = {{increase}} 7.87
| candidate2 = Alex Bhathal
| image2 = x150px
| party2 = Australian Greens
| popular_vote2 = 33,725
| percentage2 = 39.49%
| swing2 = {{increase}} 3.26
| 1blank = TCP
| 1data1 = 54.38%
| 1data2 = 45.62%
| 2blank = TCP swing
| 2data1 = {{increase}} 3.35
| 2data2 = {{decrease}} 3.35
| map_image = File:Division of BATMAN 2016.png
| map_size = 300px
| map_caption = The Division of Batman covered an area of 66 km2 in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. The main suburbs in the seat included Fairfield, Northcote, Preston and Reservoir.
| title = MP
| before_election = David Feeney
| before_party = Labor
| after_election = Ged Kearney
| after_party = Labor
}}
A by-election for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Batman in Melbourne, Victoria, took place on 17 March 2018. The by-election was called as a result of the resignation on 1 February 2018 of the incumbent backbench Australian Labor Party (ALP) Member of Parliament (MP) David Feeney, who resigned amid the 2017–18 Australian parliamentary eligibility crisis.
At the 2016 Australian federal election, the Australian Greens came within one percent of winning the two-candidate preferred vote (TCP). The 2018 campaign was primarily a contest between the Labor candidate former Australian Council of Trade Unions president Ged Kearney and the Greens candidate social worker Alex Bhathal, who had run for the seat five times. The Liberal Party of Australia (LPA; Liberals) declined to field a candidate. The campaign heavily focussed on the proposed Adani Carmichael coal mine and other environmental issues, refugee policy, and Labor's proposed reforms to dividend imputation.
Kearney won the seat with a 3.35% swing toward Labor (TCP), for a total of 54.38% of the after-preferences vote. This was the last election held for the division of Batman: the electorate was abolished in 2019 and replaced with the Division of Cooper, which Kearney won at the 2019, 2022, and 2025 Australian federal elections.
Background
{{main|2017–18 Australian parliamentary eligibility crisis}}
On 6 December 2017, amidst the ongoing citizenship crisis affecting several MPs, the Australian Labor Party (ALP) Member of Parliament (MP) David Feeney announced he was unable to produce documentation confirming he had renounced his citizenship of the United Kingdom.{{cite news|last1=Murphy|first1=Katharine|last2=Karp|first2=Paul|last3=Hutchens|first3=Gareth|title=David Feeney says he may hold dual citizenship as more MPs' futures in balance|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/dec/05/david-feeney-admits-he-may-hold-dual-citizenship-as-more-mps-futures-in-balance|accessdate=1 February 2018|work=The Guardian|date=5 December 2017|archive-date=14 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240914035001/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/dec/05/david-feeney-admits-he-may-hold-dual-citizenship-as-more-mps-futures-in-balance|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/radio/canberra/programs/pm/david-feeney-referred-to-high-court-over-dual-citizenship/9233236|title=David Feeney first Labor MP referred to High Court over dual citizenship|work=ABC News Radio|date=6 December 2017|access-date=1 February 2018|archive-date=18 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118214008/https://www.abc.net.au/radio/canberra/programs/pm/david-feeney-referred-to-high-court-over-dual-citizenship/9233236|url-status=live}} Feeney voluntarily referred himself to the High Court of Australia, considering his likely breach of Section 44 of the Constitution of Australia. By 19 January 2018, Feeney still could not produce any documents from British or Irish authorities saying he had undertaken to renounce his citizenship and entitlements. The High Court granted Feeney's legal team an extension to 1 February to allow them to continue searching for the relevant documents.{{cite web |last=Davidson |first=Helen |date=19 January 2018 |title=Labor MP David Feeney tells high court he cannot find citizenship papers |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jan/19/labor-mp-david-feeney-tells-high-court-he-cannot-find-citizenship-papers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240914035101/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jan/19/labor-mp-david-feeney-tells-high-court-he-cannot-find-citizenship-papers |archive-date=14 September 2024 |access-date=1 February 2018 |work=The Guardian}} At a press conference on 1 February, Feeney announced he would resign from the seat and from politics, effective immediately, choosing not to stand as a candidate at the by-election.{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-01/david-feeney-to-resign-from-parliament-over-dual-citizenship/9382470|title=David Feeney resigns from Parliament over dual citizenship, prompting Batman by-election|last=Yaxley|first=Louise|date=1 February 2018|website=ABC News (Australia)|access-date=1 February 2018|archive-date=1 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201212456/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-01/david-feeney-to-resign-from-parliament-over-dual-citizenship/9382470|url-status=live}} The by-election was set for 17 March 2018, the same day as the South Australian state election.{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/st-patricks-day-byelection-for-batman-20180207-h0v9co.html|title=St Patrick's Day byelection for Batman|work=The Age|date=7 February 2018|access-date=7 February 2018|archive-date=7 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207122826/http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/st-patricks-day-byelection-for-batman-20180207-h0v9co.html|url-status=live}}
Batman had been a solidly Labor seat for the majority of its history. Since its creation in 1906, non-Labor members had represented the electorate for under ten years (1906–1910, 1931–1934, and 1966–1969).{{Cite web |title=Parliamentary Handbook, Division of Batman |url=https://handbook.aph.gov.au/Electorate/Batman/State/Victoria |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=Australian Parliament House Handbook}} The Greens significantly increased their vote share before 2017, including a 9.6% gain in the 2016 federal election that placed them first in the primary vote, and their candidate Alex Bhathal lost to Feeney by two points after preference distribution on the two-candidate-preferred vote (TCP). Bhathal had contested the seat in 2001, 2004, 2010, 2013 and 2016.{{cite news |last=Wahlquist |first=Calla |date=17 March 2018 |title=Batman byelection: Labor's Ged Kearney defeats Greens' Alex Bhathal |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/17/batman-byelection-labor-declares-victory-for-ged-kearney |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240914035002/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/17/batman-byelection-labor-declares-victory-for-ged-kearney |archive-date=14 September 2024 |access-date=22 March 2018 |website=The Guardian}} The growth of the Greens' vote has been attributed to house-price rises and demographic change.{{Cite news |last=Willingham |first=Richard |date=16 March 2018 |title=Hipsters to working class voting in Batman by-election |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-17/voters-head-to-polls-for-batman-byelection/9553388 |access-date=2024-09-20 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}} The Greens' vote was particularly strong south of Bell Street, Reservoir, which formed the so-called "hipster-proof fence" or "quinoa curtain".
The Australian Electoral Commission confirmed 111,857 people were enrolled to vote in the by-election.{{cite web |date=19 February 2018 |title=A total of 111 857 people are enrolled to vote in the #Batman by-election to be held on Saturday, 17 March 2018 |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BfXRseAgalx/ |url-access=registration |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BfXRseAgalx |archive-date=24 December 2021 |accessdate=26 February 2018 |publisher=Australian Electoral Commission}}{{cbignore}} The Liberal Party declined to field a candidate; Liberal president Michael Kroger publicly stated the party should have run a candidate if they found evidence of antisemitism in the Greens.{{cite web |last=Towell |first=Noel |date=16 February 2018 |title=Fresh blow to Labor as Liberals stay out of Batman |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/fresh-blow-to-labor-as-liberals-stay-out-of-batman-20180216-p4z0k6.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216015238/https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/fresh-blow-to-labor-as-liberals-stay-out-of-batman-20180216-p4z0k6.html |archive-date=16 February 2018 |access-date=16 February 2018 |work=The Age}}
Campaign
File:Jane Morton - -StopAdani night of action in Brunswick - IMG 3112.jpg interacting with anti-Adani protesters on polling day at the by-election.]]
File:Batman -StopAdani Community Survey Photos- James Thomas. - 39777081814.jpg
File:Batman -StopAdani Community Survey Photos- James Thomas.jpg
The Greens heavily focussed on the environment and specifically the proposed Adani Carmichael coal mine in the campaign. Labor leader Bill Shorten and Kearney both expressed their doubts about the project but did not completely rule it out.{{Cite news |last=Karp |first=Paul |date=2 February 2018 |title=Ged Kearney to run for Labor in Batman as Shorten threatens Adani's licence |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/feb/02/ged-kearney-to-run-for-labor-in-batman-as-shorten-threatens-adanis-licence |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114224313/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/feb/02/ged-kearney-to-run-for-labor-in-batman-as-shorten-threatens-adanis-licence |archive-date=14 November 2023 |access-date=2023-10-25 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |last=Rundle |first=Guy |date=7 March 2018 |title=Ged Kearney won't commit Labor to blocking Adani |url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2018/03/07/ged-kearney-wont-commit-labor-to-blocking-adani/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208052951/https://www.crikey.com.au/2018/03/07/ged-kearney-wont-commit-labor-to-blocking-adani/ |archive-date=8 December 2023 |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=Crikey |language=en-US}} In December 2017, Shorten contacted the president of the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) Geoff Cousins to seek advice about how Labor could change its policy on Adani without sovereign risk. Cousins took Shorten on a tour of the Great Barrier Reef and an aerial tour of the area where the mine would be built. Following Shorten's comments in February 2018 in Townsville, when he said the mine was "just another project", Cousins contacted Shorten to say he would publicly disclose the tours he had given Shorten. In an interview on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC) programme 7.30, Shorten discussed the tours and stated he was personally opposed to the mine and would seek to change the party's position on the project.{{Cite book |last=Beresford |first=Quentin |title=Adani and the War over Coal |publisher=NewSouth Publishing |year=2018 |isbn=9781742235936 |location=Australia |pages=346–348 |language=en-AU}}
The ACF distributed material stating only the Greens would "stop Adani's mine from going ahead", and the activist group GetUp! stated they would not assist Labor in campaigning due to its position on the coal mine.{{Cite news |last=Murphy |first=Katharine |date=7 February 2018 |title=GetUp's action in Batman byelection hinges on Labor's Adani stance |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/feb/08/getup-waits-for-labor-move-on-adani-before-deciding-its-action-in-batman-byelection |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114224313/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/feb/08/getup-waits-for-labor-move-on-adani-before-deciding-its-action-in-batman-byelection |archive-date=14 November 2023 |access-date=25 October 2023 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |title=Stop Adani: How do parties compare in the Batman by-election? |url=https://www.acf.org.au/batman |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231114224313/https://www.acf.org.au/batman |archive-date=14 November 2023 |access-date=25 October 2023 |website=Australian Conservation Foundation}} Other issues that featured in the campaigning were Labor's proposed reforms to dividend imputation (franking credits); Kearney and Shorten held a town-hall debate about the policy.{{Cite news |last=Murphy |first=Katharine |date=15 March 2018 |title=Batman byelection: Shorten seeks to reassure pensioners scared by Labor tax policy |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/15/batman-byelection-shorten-seeks-to-reassure-pensioners-scared-by-labor-tax-policy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918060615/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/15/batman-byelection-shorten-seeks-to-reassure-pensioners-scared-by-labor-tax-policy |archive-date=18 September 2024 |access-date=2024-09-17 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} The Greens also heavily campaigned on asylum seeker and refugee policy, which they perceived as a weakness for Labor.{{Cite news |last=Willingham |first=Richard |date=16 March 2018 |title=Hipsters to working class voting in Batman by-election |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-17/voters-head-to-polls-for-batman-byelection/9553388 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918060617/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-17/voters-head-to-polls-for-batman-byelection/9553388 |archive-date=18 September 2024 |access-date=2024-09-17 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}
Divisions within the Greens' campaign assisted Kearney.{{Cite web |last=Eltham |first=Ben |date=22 March 2018 |title=The Batman By-Election: Labor Surges, Deflated Greens Have Some Serious Work Ahead |url=https://newmatilda.com/2018/03/22/batman-byelection-deflated-greens-serious-work/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240914035003/https://newmatilda.com/2018/03/22/batman-byelection-deflated-greens-serious-work/ |archive-date=14 September 2024 |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=New Matilda |language=en-US}} During the by-election campaign, an internal complaint of bullying by Bhathal was leaked to the media and members of the Greens' Darebin branch requested Bhathal's expulsion from the party following her support for Lidia Thorpe in the 2017 Northcote state by-election.{{Cite web |last=Towell |first=Noel |date=31 January 2018 |title=Party poopers threaten Greens' Batman push |url=https://www.watoday.com.au/national/victoria/party-poopers-threaten-greens-batman-push-20180131-h0r7kl.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212060122/https://www.watoday.com.au/national/victoria/party-poopers-threaten-greens-batman-push-20180131-h0r7kl.html |archive-date=12 December 2023 |access-date=2023-10-25 |website=WAtoday |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=1 March 2018 |title=Alex Bhathal, Greens candidate in Batman byelection, faced allegations of bullying |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/01/alex-bhathal-bullying-alleged-against-greens-candidate-in-batman-byelection |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240914035003/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/01/alex-bhathal-bullying-alleged-against-greens-candidate-in-batman-byelection |archive-date=14 September 2024 |access-date=2023-10-25 |work=The Guardian |language=en-AU |issn=0261-3077 |agency=Australian Associated Press}} Four Greens councillors were involved in the campaign to have Bhathal removed as the candidate.{{Cite web |last1=Carey |first1=Adam |last2=Towell |first2=Noel |date=6 April 2018 |title=Greens councillors tried to take down their own Batman candidate |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/greens-councillors-tried-to-take-down-their-own-batman-candidate-20180406-p4z88g.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524003016/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/greens-councillors-tried-to-take-down-their-own-batman-candidate-20180406-p4z88g.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |access-date=2024-09-13 |website=The Age |language=en}} The ABC reported Greens members stated they would prefer Bhathal to lose despite being in the same party.{{Cite news |last1=Curnow |first1=Sarah |last2=Willingham |first2=Richard |date=8 March 2018 |title=Greens bad blood over Batman candidate intensifies ahead of by-election |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-09/di-natale-caught-up-in-greens-bad-blood-over-batman-by-election/9529658 |access-date=2024-09-16 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}
Kearney's campaign received the personal endorsement of the former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who wrote a letter that was distributed to 36,000 houses within the electorate.{{Cite web |last=Carey |first=Adam |date=11 March 2018 |title=Labor bombards Batman with Gillard letter endorsing its candidate |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/labor-bombards-batman-with-gillard-letter-endorsing-its-candidate-20180311-p4z3uu.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231122062238/https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/labor-bombards-batman-with-gillard-letter-endorsing-its-candidate-20180311-p4z3uu.html |archive-date=22 November 2023 |access-date=22 November 2023 |website=The Age |language=en}} Kearney's candidacy was also endorsed by EMILY's List Australia, a Labor-aligned organisation that advocates for representation of women in Parliament.{{Cite web |title=Members of Parliaments |url=https://www.emilyslist.org.au/current_mps |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129034255/https://www.emilyslist.org.au/current_mps |archive-date=29 November 2023 |access-date=27 November 2023 |website=EMILY's List Australia}}
On 6 March, a candidates' forum was held to discuss climate change policy. The candidates Kearney, Bhathal, Whitehead, Smith and McDonald were invited to take part, but the remaining candidates were not invited. In protest at not being invited, Lieshout picketed the event with her mouth taped shut.{{Cite web |last=McGinn |first=Christine |date=5 March 2018 |title=Batman by-election candidates speak out |url=https://www.northweststar.com.au/story/5269156/batman-by-election-candidates-speak-out/ |access-date=2024-09-16 |website=The North West Star |language=en-AU}} On 14 March, Kearney's campaign issued an apology for printing campaign material in Greek under the heading "Macedonian".{{Cite web |last=Baker |first=Nick |date=14 March 2018 |title=Labor apologises for 'highly offensive' Greek-Macedonian mix-up in Batman campaign |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/labor-apologises-for-highly-offensive-greek-macedonian-mix-up-in-batman-campaign/euwe6ct10 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240914035008/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/labor-apologises-for-highly-offensive-greek-macedonian-mix-up-in-batman-campaign/euwe6ct10 |archive-date=14 September 2024 |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=SBS News |language=en-AU}} On polling day, reports of seniors receiving telephone calls instructing them not to vote were made; in response, Labor campaigners rang seniors in the electorate to urge them to vote.{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Stephanie |date=17 March 2018 |title=Scandal hits Batman by-election with seniors told not to vote |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-18/scandal-hits-batman-by-election-with-seniors-told-not-to-vote/9559418 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918060617/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-18/scandal-hits-batman-by-election-with-seniors-told-not-to-vote/9559418 |archive-date=18 September 2024 |access-date=2024-09-16 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}} On the day of the by-election, an environmental protester dressed as a fish accosted Kearney and Shorten at a polling booth.{{Cite web |date=17 March 2018 |title=Fish grills Shorten on Adani during Batman by-election |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/fish-grills-shorten-on-adani-during-batman-by-election/0rytey98z |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212201016/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/fish-grills-shorten-on-adani-during-batman-by-election/0rytey98z |archive-date=12 December 2023 |access-date=26 October 2023 |work=SBS News |language=en-AU |agency=Australian Associated Press}}
Key dates
Key dates in relation to the by-election were:{{cite web|url=http://www.aec.gov.au/batman/|work=Australian Electoral Commission|title=2018 Batman by-election|access-date=7 February 2018|archive-date=7 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207182858/http://www.aec.gov.au/batman/|url-status=live}}
- Thursday, 1 February 2018 – Speaker acceptance of resignation
- Wednesday, 7 February 2018 – Issue of writ
- Wednesday, 14 February 2018 – Close of electoral rolls (8pm)
- Thursday, 22 February 2018 – Close of nominations (12 noon)
- Friday, 23 February 2018 – Declaration of nominations (12 noon)
- Tuesday, 27 February 2018 – Start of early voting
- Saturday, 17 March 2018 – Polling day (8am to 6pm)
- Friday, 30 March 2018 – Last day for receipt of postal votes
- Friday, 18 May 2018 – Last day for return of writs
Candidates
Results
{{Election box begin |
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = Ged Kearney
|party = Labor
|votes = 36,840
|percentage = 43.14
|change = +7.87
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = Alex Bhathal
|party = Greens
|votes = 33,725
|percentage = 39.49
|change = +3.26
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = Kevin Bailey
|party = Australian Conservatives
|votes = 5,471
|percentage = 6.41
|change = +6.41
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = Miranda Smith
|party = Animal Justice
|votes = 2,528
|percentage = 2.96
|change = +1.29
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = Yvonne Gentle
|party = Rise Up Australia
|votes = 2,217
|percentage = 2.60
|change = +2.60
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = Teresa van Lieshout
|party = Independent
|votes = 1,245
|percentage = 1.46
|change = +1.46
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = Debbie Robinson
|party = Liberty Alliance
|votes = 1,186
|percentage = 1.39
|change = +1.39
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = Mark McDonald
|party = Sustainable Australia
|votes = 951
|percentage = 1.11
|change = +1.11
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = Adrian Whitehead
|party =
|votes = 745
|percentage = 0.87
|change = +0.87
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = Tegan Burns
|party = People's Party
|votes = 496
|percentage = 0.58
|change = +0.58
}}
{{Election box formal
|votes = 85,404
|percentage = 93.79
|change = +1.57
}}
{{Election box informal
|votes = 5,650
|percentage = 6.21
|change = −1.57
}}
{{Election box turnout|votes=91,054|percentage=81.40|change=−8.28}}
{{Election box 2cp}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = Ged Kearney
|party = Labor
|votes = 46,446
|percentage = 54.38
|change = +3.35
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = Alex Bhathal
|party = Greens
|votes = 38,958
|percentage = 45.62
|change = −3.35
}}
{{Election box hold AU party|
|winner = Labor
|swing = +3.35
}}
{{Election box end}}
File:2018 Batman by-election alluvial wide.svg
{{Clear}}
Polling
| class="toccolours" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="float:left; margin-right:.5em; margin-top:.4em; font-size:90%;" |
| |+Batman by-election polling |
| style="background:#; text-align:center;" |Date
! style="background:#; text-align:center;" |Firm ! style="background:#; text-align:center;" |Sample ! colspan="3" style="background:#; text-align:center;" |Primary vote ! style="background:#; text-align:center;" | ! colspan="2" style="background:#; text-align:center;" |TPP vote |
|---|
| style="background:#; text-align:center;" |
! style="background:#; text-align:center;" | ! style="background:#; text-align:center;" | ! style="background:#f66; text-align:center;" |ALP ! style="background:#90ee90;" |GRN ! style="background:#DDDDDD;;" |OTH ! style="background:#FFFFFF;;" | ! style="background:#f66; text-align:center;" |ALP ! style="background:#90ee90; text-align:center;" |GRN ! style="background:#FFFFFF; text-align:center;" | |
| style="text-align:left; background:#b0e9db;" | 2018 by-election
| width="" style="text-align:center; background:#b0e9db;" | | width="" style="text-align:center; background:#b0e9db;" | | width="" style="text-align:center; background:#b0e9db;" | 43.1% | width="" style="text-align:center; background:#b0e9db;" | 39.5% | width="" style="text-align:center; background:#b0e9db;" | 17.4% | width="" style="text-align:center; background:#;" | | width="" style="text-align:center; background:#b0e9db;" | 54.4% | width="" style="text-align:center; background:#b0e9db;" | 45.6% |
| style="text-align:left;" bgcolor="" |18–20 Feb 2018
| style="text-align:center;" bgcolor="" |693 | width="" style="text-align:center; background:#;" | 40% | width="" style="text-align:center; background:#;" | 39% | width="" style="text-align:center; background:#;" | 16% | width="" style="text-align:center; background:#;" | | width="" style="text-align:center; background:#;" | 53% | width="" style="text-align:center; background:#;" | 47% |
| style="text-align:left; background:#b0e9db;" |2016 election
| width="" style="text-align:center; background:#b0e9db;" | | width="" style="text-align:center; background:#b0e9db;" | | width="" style="text-align:center; background:#b0e9db;" | 35.3% | width="" style="text-align:center; background:#b0e9db;" | 36.2% | width="" style="text-align:center; background:#b0e9db;" | 28.5% | width="" style="text-align:center; background:#;" | | width="" style="text-align:center; background:#b0e9db;" | 51.0% | width="" style="text-align:center; background:#b0e9db;" | 49.0% |
{{Clear}}
Aftermath
File:Ged Kearney and her victory cake.jpg
Kearney's election made her the first woman to represent Batman in the seat's 112-year history and made federal Labor's caucus 48% female.{{Cite news |last1=Willingham |first1=Richard |last2=Anderson |first2=Stephanie |date=17 March 2018 |title=Labor celebrates Batman by-election victory |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-17/labors-ged-kearney-wins-batman-by-election-beating-greens/9559470 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918060617/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-17/labors-ged-kearney-wins-batman-by-election-beating-greens/9559470 |archive-date=18 September 2024 |access-date=2024-09-16 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}} The opposition leader Bill Shorten described Kearney as the "Hero of Batman" for her victory. Following the 2018 by-election, the Australian Electoral Commission abolished Batman and created the Division of Cooper, which had similar boundaries.{{cite web |date=20 June 2018 |title=Names and boundaries of federal electoral divisions in Victoria decided |url=https://www.aec.gov.au/media/media-releases/2018/06-20.htm |access-date=20 June 2018 |website=Australian Electoral Commission |archive-date=19 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190319133136/https://aec.gov.au/media/media-releases/2018/06-20.htm |url-status=live }} Kearney contested Cooper at the 2019 and the 2022 federal elections, winning both times. Kearney's majority increased in 2019 to 64.65–35.35 (TCP) against the Greens' candidate David Risstrom and was reduced in 2022 to 58.67–41.33 (TCP) against the Greens' candidate Celeste Liddle.[https://results.aec.gov.au/24310/Website/HouseDivisionPage-24310-320.htm Cooper, VIC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220115081537/https://results.aec.gov.au/24310/Website/HouseDivisionPage-24310-320.htm |date=15 January 2022 }}, Tally Room 2019, Australian Electoral Commission.[https://results.aec.gov.au/27966/Website/HouseDivisionPage-27966-320.htm Cooper, VIC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025093654/https://results.aec.gov.au/27966/Website/HouseDivisionPage-27966-320.htm |date=25 October 2022 }}, 2022 Tally Room, Australian Electoral Commission. Labor formed a government following the 2022 federal election and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appointed Kearney as Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care.{{Cite web |title=Ms Ged Kearney MP |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=LTU |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226094737/https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Parliamentarian?MPID=LTU |archive-date=26 February 2022 |access-date=26 February 2022 |website=Parliamentary Library |publisher=Department of Parliamentary Services |language=en-AU |via=Parliament of Australia}}{{Cite web |last1=Law |first1=Peter |last2=Caines |first2=Kimberly |date=31 May 2022 |title=Albanese reveals new-look Ministry after election win |url=https://thewest.com.au/politics/federal-politics/anthony-albanese-cabinet-prime-minister-reveals-new-look-ministry-after-labors-election-victory-c-7004365 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207180712/https://thewest.com.au/politics/federal-politics/anthony-albanese-cabinet-prime-minister-reveals-new-look-ministry-after-labors-election-victory-c-7004365 |archive-date=7 December 2023 |access-date=6 December 2023 |website=The West Australian |language=en-AU}}{{Cite news |last=Roberts |first=Matt |date=1 June 2022 |title=History-making Labor ministry officially sworn in |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-01/labor-cabinet-ministry-officially-sworn-in/101115676 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231207183328/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-01/labor-cabinet-ministry-officially-sworn-in/101115676 |archive-date=7 December 2023 |access-date=6 December 2023 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}} Liddle's partner Tara Burnett was pre-selected as the Greens candidate for Cooper at the 2025 Australian federal election, and was also defeated by Kearney.{{Cite news |last=Kelly |first=Cait |date=19 October 2024 |title='I want to make history': the relief teacher targeting a Labor stronghold to become Australia's first trans MP |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/oct/20/i-want-to-make-history-the-relief-teacher-targeting-a-labor-stronghold-to-become-australias-first-trans-mp |access-date=2024-12-11 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}
On the night of the by-election, both Bhathal and the Greens' leader Richard Di Natale stated Labor's use of "big money" had significantly contributed to Kearney's victory.{{Cite news |last1=Willingham |first1=Richard |last2=Anderson |first2=Stephanie |date=17 March 2018 |title=Labor celebrates Batman by-election victory |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-17/labors-ged-kearney-wins-batman-by-election-beating-greens/9559470 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918060617/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-17/labors-ged-kearney-wins-batman-by-election-beating-greens/9559470 |archive-date=18 September 2024 |access-date=2024-09-16 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}} Di Natale also stated Labor's win was also helped by preference arrangements with conservative parties. The day after the by-election, Di Natale stated the campaign had been damaged by internal leaking and that traditional Greens voters had been "turned off by the leaking and sabotage from a few individuals with a destructive agenda".{{Cite news |last=Willingham |first=Richard |date=18 March 2018 |title='We have to get our own house in order': Greens leader admits leaking turned off Batman voters |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-18/greens-leader-admits-party-problems/9560580 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240916081626/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-18/greens-leader-admits-party-problems/9560580 |archive-date=16 September 2024 |access-date=2024-09-16 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}{{Cite news |last=Willingham |first=Richard |date=18 March 2018 |title=Losing Batman is a big step back for the Greens and Di Natale |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-18/batman-byelection-a-savage-loss-for-greens/9560912 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918060745/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-03-18/batman-byelection-a-savage-loss-for-greens/9560912 |archive-date=18 September 2024 |access-date=2024-09-16 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}} Divisions within the Greens that had hampered their campaign in the by-election persisted following the defeat. At the 2018 Victorian state election, Labor's Kat Theophanous unexpectedly won the electoral district of Northcote from the Greens' Lidia Thorpe. Internal analysis of the campaign noted some Greens members refused to campaign for Thorpe due to infighting stemming from the Batman by-election.{{Cite news |last=Willingham |first=Richard |date=28 March 2019 |title=Internal disputes, 'relentless' Labor negativity cost Greens seats: review |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-29/greens-blame-internal-problems-negative-media-for-election-loss/10950124 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408115604/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-29/greens-blame-internal-problems-negative-media-for-election-loss/10950124 |archive-date=8 April 2023 |access-date=2024-09-16 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}} At the 2022 Victorian state election, Theophanous retained Northcote for Labor with a 1.5% swing to the Greens.[https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/results/2022-state-election-results/results-by-district/northcote-district-results Northcote District results], Victorian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
During the by-election campaign, Bhathal stated if she lost Batman, she would contest the seat at the next federal election, but she announced in August 2018 she was withdrawing from the candidacy due to "sabotage" of her by-election campaign.{{Cite news |last=Wahlquist |first=Calla |date=26 February 2018 |title=Batman byelection: can Alex Bhathal's progressive agenda turn the seat Green? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/feb/27/alex-bhathal-signals-batman-byelection-going-green |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918061120/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/feb/27/alex-bhathal-signals-batman-byelection-going-green |archive-date=18 September 2024 |access-date=2024-09-16 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite news |last=Henriques-Gomes |first=Luke |date=10 August 2018 |title='Sabotage': perennial Greens candidate Alex Bhathal won't contest next election |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/aug/10/sabotage-perennial-greens-candidate-alex-bhathal-wont-contest-next-election |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240908030634/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/aug/10/sabotage-perennial-greens-candidate-alex-bhathal-wont-contest-next-election |archive-date=8 September 2024 |access-date=2024-04-12 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} In the same month, an internal Greens review dismissed the bullying allegations against Bhathal that were leaked during the campaign and apologised to her.{{Cite web |last=Preiss |first=Benjamin |date=7 August 2018 |title=Greens apologise to Alex Bhathal over handling of bullying complaint |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/greens-apologise-to-alex-bhathal-over-handling-of-bullying-complaint-20180807-p4zw2g.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240908030627/https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/greens-apologise-to-alex-bhathal-over-handling-of-bullying-complaint-20180807-p4zw2g.html?js-chunk-not-found-refresh=true |archive-date=8 September 2024 |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=The Age |language=en}} In February 2019, Bhathal resigned from the Greens, citing "relentless organisational bullying".{{Cite web |last=Henriques-Gomes |first=Luke |date=1 February 2019 |title=Former Greens candidate Alex Bhathal quits party, blaming 'organisational bullying' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/feb/01/former-greens-candidate-alex-bhathal-quits-party-blaming-organisational-bullying |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240908030556/https://amp.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/feb/01/former-greens-candidate-alex-bhathal-quits-party-blaming-organisational-bullying |archive-date=8 September 2024 |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=The Guardian}} A documentary entitled The Candidate was made about Bhathal's campaign.{{Cite web |last=Towell |first=Noel |date=8 July 2019 |title=Greens' candidate horror show comes to the big screen |url=https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/greens-candidate-horror-show-comes-to-the-big-screen-20190708-p525ae.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108000900/https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/greens-candidate-horror-show-comes-to-the-big-screen-20190708-p525ae.html |archive-date=8 November 2020 |access-date=2024-04-12 |website=The Age |language=en-AU}} The screening of the film in July 2019 was sabotaged; the venue's fire alarm was set off as soon as the film started.{{Cite news |last=Workman |first=Alice |date=29 July 2019 |title=Chaos at Greens screening |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/strewth/green-alight/news-story/34f16b93c3f2d45b59addbf7c21a6053 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918063856/https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/strewth/green-alight/news-story/34f16b93c3f2d45b59addbf7c21a6053 |archive-date=18 September 2024 |work=The Australian}} In 2024, Bhathal became a candidate for West Ward at the Darebin City Council election, which was held on 26 October 2024.{{Cite web |title=Nominations |url=https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/voting/2024-local-council-elections/darebin-city-council/nominations |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240914063010/https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/voting/2024-local-council-elections/darebin-city-council/nominations |archive-date=14 September 2024 |access-date=2024-09-14 |website=Victorian Electoral Commission |language=en}} She ran against Darebin Mayor Sussane Newton, one of the four Greens councillors who tried to remove Bhathal as the candidate for Batman in 2018. Neither Bhathal nor Newton were elected at this election.{{Cite web |date=November 2024 |title=Results of the Darebin city council elections |url=https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/voting/2024-local-council-elections/darebin-city-council/results#WestWardResults |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=Victorian Electoral Commission |language=en-AU}}
The Liberal party signalled a lack of interest in the results; the Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and the Treasurer Scott Morrison dismissed any implications for Labor's broader electoral success.{{Cite web |date=18 March 2018 |title=Batman by-election: Labor hails 'great victory' as Libs bite back |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/batman-by-election-labor-hails-great-victory-as-libs-bite-back/avq6xrozq |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=SBS News |language=en-AU |agency=Australian Associated Press}}
In December 2018, the proposed Adani Carmichael coal mine was scaled down from 60 million tons of coal per year to 10 million tons of coal per year.{{cite web |last=Hepburn |first=Samantha |date=3 December 2018 |title=Adani's new mini version of its mega mine still faces some big hurdles |url=https://theconversation.com/adanis-new-mini-version-of-its-mega-mine-still-faces-some-big-hurdles-108038 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204022038/http://theconversation.com/adanis-new-mini-version-of-its-mega-mine-still-faces-some-big-hurdles-108038 |archive-date=4 December 2018 |access-date=4 December 2018}} The project began construction in 2019 and the mine announced its first export shipment in December 2021.{{Cite web |last=Creagh |first=Ben |date=20 June 2019 |title=Adani starts construction at Carmichael project |url=https://www.australianmining.com.au/news/adani-starts-construction-at-carmichael-project/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200902201114/https://www.australianmining.com.au/news/adani-starts-construction-at-carmichael-project/ |archive-date=2 September 2020 |access-date=2020-09-10 |website=Australian Mining |language=en-AU}}{{Cite news |last=Sonali |first=Paul |date=27 December 2021 |title=India's Adani nears first coal shipment from shunned Australian mine |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/indias-adani-nears-first-coal-shipment-shunned-australian-mine-2021-12-27/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20230514181501/https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/indias-adani-nears-first-coal-shipment-shunned-australian-mine-2021-12-27/ |archive-date=2023-05-14 |access-date=2025-01-07 |work=Reuters |language=en-US}} Protests and legal challenges against the mine continued throughout the construction.{{Cite web |last=Paine |first=Andy |date=26 October 2022 |title=Frontline Action on Coal FLAC: Ten Years on the Climate Frontline |url=https://commonslibrary.org/frontline-action-on-coal-flac-ten-years-on-the-climate-frontline/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110031951/https://commonslibrary.org/frontline-action-on-coal-flac-ten-years-on-the-climate-frontline/ |archive-date=10 November 2022 |access-date=2022-11-10 |website=The Commons Social Change Library |language=en-AU}}
An episode of Tonightly with Tom Ballard that aired during the campaign caused controversy by referring to the electorate's namesake John Batman and Australian Conservatives' candidate Kevin Bailey as "cunts". Both the Communications Minister Mitch Fifield and the Education Minister Simon Birmingham called for the ABC to dismiss someone over the remarks.{{Cite news |last=Meade |first=Amanda |date=21 March 2018 |title=Minister rebukes ABC over Tonightly's 'vitriolic' Australian Conservatives skit |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/mar/21/minister-rebukes-abc-over-tonightlys-vitriolic-australian-conservatives-skit |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240918061201/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/mar/21/minister-rebukes-abc-over-tonightlys-vitriolic-australian-conservatives-skit |archive-date=18 September 2024 |access-date=2024-09-16 |work=The Guardian |language=en-AU |issn=0261-3077}} In August 2018, the ABC found the remarks did not breach its standards.{{Cite news |last=Meade |first=Amanda |date=10 August 2018 |title=Calling candidate C-word did not breach ABC standards, media watchdog says |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/aug/10/calling-candidate-c-word-did-not-breach-abc-standards-media-watchdog-says |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706042217/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/aug/10/calling-candidate-c-word-did-not-breach-abc-standards-media-watchdog-says |archive-date=6 July 2024 |access-date=2024-09-16 |work=The Guardian |language=en-AU |issn=0261-3077}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/batman-by-election-2018/ 2018 Batman by-election (ABC Elections)]
- [https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/19502878/ Interactive version of the alluvial diagram, showing preference distribution]
{{Aus by-elections 45th parl}}
{{2018 in Australia}}