2022 Bragg state by-election
{{Short description|None}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| country = South Australia
| type = parliamentary
| vote_type = Primary
| ongoing = no
| election_date = 2 July 2022
| previous_year = {{nowrap|Mar. 2022}}
| next_year = {{nowrap|2026}}
| image1 = {{CSS image crop|Image = Liberal Placeholder.png|bSize = 120|cWidth = 120|cHeight = 160|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
| candidate1 = Jack Batty
| party1 = Liberal Party of Australia (South Australian Division)
| popular_vote1 = 11,070
| percentage1 = 50.5%
| swing1 = {{decrease}} 3.3pp
| image2 = {{CSS image crop|Image = Labor Placeholder.png|bSize = 120|cWidth = 120|cHeight = 160|oTop = 0|oLeft = 0}}
| candidate2 = Alice Rolls
| party2 = Australian Labor Party (South Australian Branch)
| popular_vote2 = 6,574
| percentage2 = 30.0%
| swing2 = {{increase}} 1.3pp
| image3 = {{CSS image crop |Image = Jim Bastiras.png|bSize = 150|cWidth = 130|cHeight = 170|oTop = 0|oLeft = 10|Location = center}}
| candidate3 = Jim Bastiras
| party3 = Greens
| colour3 = {{Australian politics/party colours|sa greens}}
| popular_vote3 = 3,261
| percentage3 = 14.9%
| swing3 = {{increase}} 2.2pp
| 1blank = 2PP
| 2blank = 2PP swing
| 1data1 = 55.6%
| 2data1 = {{decrease}} 2.5pp
| 1data2 = 44.4%
| 2data2 = {{increase}} 2.5pp
| map_image = Electoral district of Bragg 2022.svg
| map_caption = The electoral district of Bragg (highlighted in green) in the greater Adelaide area.
| title = MP
| before_election = Vickie Chapman
| before_party = Liberal Party of Australia
| after_election = Jack Batty
| after_party = Liberal Party of Australia
}}
A by-election for the seat of Bragg in the South Australian House of Assembly was held on 2 July 2022.{{Cite news |last=Dornin |first=Tim |date=1 June 2022 |title=SA by-election in Bragg set for July 2 |work=The Advocate |agency=Australian Associated Press |url=https://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/7762625/sa-by-election-in-bragg-set-for-july-2/ |url-status=live |access-date=1 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601114351/https://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/7762625/sa-by-election-in-bragg-set-for-july-2/ |archive-date=1 June 2022}} The by-election was triggered by the parliamentary resignation of Liberal Party MP and former Deputy Premier Vickie Chapman on 31 May 2022.{{Cite news |last=Boisvert |first=Eugene |date=5 May 2022 |title=Former SA deputy premier Vickie Chapman set to stay in parliament as Labor declines to push her out |work=ABC News (Australia) |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-05/former-sa-deputy-premier-set-to-stay-in-parliament/101042272 |url-status=live |access-date=1 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515024904/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-05/former-sa-deputy-premier-set-to-stay-in-parliament/101042272 |archive-date=15 May 2022}} Jack Batty retained the seat for the Liberal Party, despite a modest swing being recorded against the party.{{cite web|url=https://pollbludger.net/sa2022by1/Results/HA.htm?s=Bragg|title=Bragg By-Election|work=The Poll Bludger}}{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-07-02/sa-bragg-polling-booths-close/101203710|title=Liberals claim victory in Bragg by-election, while electoral commission warns final results may take days|work=ABC News|date=2 July 2022|author=Sara Tomevska}}{{cite web|url=https://ecsa.sa.gov.au/news/bragg-by-election-distribution-of-preferences-and-declaration-of-result|title=Bragg By-election: Distribution of preferences and declaration of result|work=ecsa.sa.gov.au|date=10 July 2022}}
Background
{{see also|Electoral results for the district of Bragg}}
The electorate of Bragg consists of some of the most affluent suburbs in Adelaide's east. As such, it has been a safe seat for the Liberal Party and has always been held by the party or its predecessor, the Liberal and Country League, since its inception in 1970 by at least a 15 percent margin. The 2022 state election saw the closest margin for the Liberals in the seat's history, even though then-incumbent Vickie Chapman still won the seat with 58.2 percent of the two-party-preferred vote, the largest for a Liberal in a metropolitan Adelaide district in the election. Bragg has been represented by three MPs, all of them have been Liberal frontbenchers: David Tonkin, the 38th Premier of South Australia, who held the seat from 1970 to 1983, Graham Ingerson, the 8th Deputy Premier, who held the seat from 1983 to 2002, and Vickie Chapman, the 13th Deputy Premier, who held the seat from 2002 to 2022.
=2022 election results=
{{Excerpt|Results of the 2022 South Australian state election (House of Assembly)|Bragg}}
Dates
| class="wikitable" |
| Date
! Event{{Cite web |title=Bragg By-election |url=https://ecsa.sa.gov.au/elections/2022-bragg-by-election |access-date=8 June 2022 |website=Electoral Commission of South Australia |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220602031938/https://www.ecsa.sa.gov.au/elections/2022-bragg-by-election |archive-date=2 June 2022}} |
|---|
| Wednesday, 1 June 2022
| Writ of election issued by the Governor |
| Tuesday, 14 June 2022
| Close of electoral rolls (5 pm) |
| Friday, 17 June 2022
| Close of nominations (12 noon) |
| Monday, 20 June 2022
| Start of early voting |
| Thursday, 30 June 2022
| Last day for applications for postal votes |
| Saturday, 2 July 2022 |
Candidates
Pre-selections
The Greens selected Jim Bastiras, a University of Adelaide College lecturer and campaigner against the expansion of White Rock Quarry in Horsnell Gully Conservation Park, which is located in the district.{{Cite news |last=Bermingham |first=Kathryn |last2=Hough |first2=Andrew |date=30 May 2022 |title=Bragg by-election could be contested a field of men after Greens revealed candidate Jim Bastiras |work=The Advertiser |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/bragg-byelection-could-be-contested-a-field-of-men-after-greens-revealed-candidate-jim-bastiras/news-story/f9558cf631da4918d35b47f1e6a866f1 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=2 June 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220530112654/https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/bragg-byelection-could-be-contested-a-field-of-men-after-greens-revealed-candidate-jim-bastiras/news-story/f9558cf631da4918d35b47f1e6a866f1?amp&nk=1b3d70f48f994c912269df99afbb8fb1-1653910023 |archive-date=30 May 2022}}
The Liberal Party held its preselection ballot on 5 June. They selected Jack Batty, a lawyer who served as an aide to Christopher Pyne and George Brandis and ran against then-Premier Jay Weatherill in Cheltenham in 2014, with 113 out of 166 votes cast by local party members.{{Cite news |last=Boisvert |first=Eugene |date=6 June 2022 |title=Chelsey Potter 'strongly considering' run as independent after Liberals choose Jack Batty as Bragg by-election candidate |work=ABC News (Australia) |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-06/liberal-party-chooses-jack-batty-as-bragg-by-election-candidate/101128268 |url-status=live |access-date=6 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220606024018/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-06/liberal-party-chooses-jack-batty-as-bragg-by-election-candidate/101128268 |archive-date=6 June 2022}} Other people seeking preselection for the Liberals included lawyer Melissa Jones who received 33 votes, businesswoman Cara Miller who received 12 votes, and party staffer Sandy Biar who received eight votes.{{Cite news |last=Richardson |first=Tom |date=6 June 2022 |title=Women contenders poised for Bragg as Libs go for bloke |work=InDaily |url=https://indaily.com.au/news/2022/06/06/women-contenders-poised-for-bragg-as-libs-go-for-bloke/ |url-status=live |access-date=6 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220606053504/https://indaily.com.au/news/2022/06/06/women-contenders-poised-for-bragg-as-libs-go-for-bloke/ |archive-date=6 June 2022}} Jones and Miller had also sought preselection in the electoral district of Waite. Chelsey Potter, party staffer who has criticised the party on issues concerning women after alleging sexual assault, also applied for the preselection process but was rejected for not meeting its party membership requirement.{{Cite news |last=MacLennan |first=Leah |title=Chelsey Potter ponders independent run after being rejected by Liberal Party |work=ABC News (Australia) |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-27/chelsey-potter-rejected-by-liberal-party-in-bragg-by-election/101105230 |url-status=live |access-date=1 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531022322/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-27/chelsey-potter-rejected-by-liberal-party-in-bragg-by-election/101105230 |archive-date=31 May 2022}} After she had considered running in the by-election as an independent, she ultimately declined to do so.{{Cite news |date=7 June 2022 |title=SA Liberal Party launches task force to engage more women |work=ABC News (Australia) |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-07/chelsey-potter-to-review-sa-liberal-party-engagement-with-women/101132336 |url-status=live |access-date=7 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607064958/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-07/chelsey-potter-to-review-sa-liberal-party-engagement-with-women/101132336 |archive-date=7 June 2022}}
The Labor Party selected Alice Rolls over Rick Sarre, retired academic and Labor's candidate at the 2018 and 2022 state elections. Rolls, who was described by the party secretary as "a lawyer, a Mum and a part-time farmer", was selected at a state party executive meeting on 8 June.{{Cite news |last=Richardson |first=Tom |date=8 June 2022 |title=Rick rolled as Labor makes choice for Chapman's seat |work=InDaily |url=https://indaily.com.au/news/2022/06/08/rick-rolled-as-labor-makes-choice-for-chapmans-seat/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608042156/https://indaily.com.au/news/2022/06/08/rick-rolled-as-labor-makes-choice-for-chapmans-seat/ |archive-date=8 June 2022}}
The Family First Party selected Daryl McCann, a teacher and political blogger at publications such as The Australian, The Spectator, and Quadrant. In a post written before the last election, he positioned himself as a "conservative" opponent to then-incumbent Liberal Vickie Chapman and Labor and Greens candidates whom he claimed to be "progressive".{{Cite news |last=Richardson |first=Tom |date=9 June 2022 |title=Family First enters by-election fray amid Labor backlash |work=InDaily |url=https://indaily.com.au/news/2022/06/09/family-first-enters-by-election-fray-amid-labor-backlash/ |url-status=live |access-date=17 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220610091223/https://indaily.com.au/news/2022/06/09/family-first-enters-by-election-fray-amid-labor-backlash/ |archive-date=10 June 2022}}
Campaign
An editor for The Advertiser described the by-election as the first "electoral test" for the Malinauskas government since it took government at the last state election in March. He remarked that campaign posters for Alice Rolls, the Labor candidate, also feature Premier Peter Malinauskas, while Jack Batty, the Liberal candidate campaigned as a “new generation Liberal”.{{Cite news |date=30 June 2022 |title=Paul Starick: Premier Peter Malinauskas faces vote-pulling test at Bragg by-election |work=The Advertiser |url=https://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/south-australia/paul-starick-premier-peter-malinauskas-faces-votepulling-test-at-bragg-byelection/news-story/727d35ae4c92f2ad07f19396f0e321da |url-status=live |access-date=2 July 2022 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220701114033/https://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/south-australia/paul-starick-premier-peter-malinauskas-faces-votepulling-test-at-bragg-byelection/news-story/727d35ae4c92f2ad07f19396f0e321da?amp&nk=f494f812823106d10f8f0e23b95581ff-1656675646 |archive-date=1 July 2022}}
Result
{{see also|Electoral results for the district of Bragg}}
{{Election box begin
|title=Bragg state by-election, 2 July 2022{{Cite web |url=https://result.ecsa.sa.gov.au/ |title=2022 Bragg By-election |access-date=2022-07-02|work=ecsa.sa.gov.au}}{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/sa-bragg-by-election-2022/results|title=Bragg by-election 2022|work=ABC Elections|access-date=2022-07-02}}
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party
|candidate = Jack Batty
|party = Liberal SA
|votes = 11,070
|percentage = 50.5
|change = −3.3
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party
|candidate = Alice Rolls
|party = Labor SA
|votes = 6,574
|percentage = 30.0
|change = +1.3
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party
|candidate = Jim Bastiras
|party = SA Greens
|votes = 3,261
|percentage = 14.9
|change = +2.2
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party
|candidate = Daryl McCann
|party = Family First 2021
|votes = 505
|percentage = 2.3
|change = −2.7
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party
|candidate = James Hol
|party = Liberal Democrats
|votes = 347
|percentage = 1.6
|change = +1.6
}}
{{Election box candidate minor party
|candidate = Neil Aitchison
|color = #888888
|party = Independent Freedom Family Life
|votes = 175
|percentage = 0.8
|change = +0.8
}}
{{Election box formal
|votes = 20,932
|percentage = 98.4
|change = +0.2
}}
{{Election box informal
|votes = 362
|percentage = 1.6
|change = −0.2
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 22,294
|percentage = 83.8
|change = −6.6
}}
{{Election box 2pp}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = Jack Batty
|party = Liberal SA
|votes = 12,204
|percentage = 55.6
|change = −2.5
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = Alice Rolls
|party = Labor SA
|votes = 9,728
|percentage = 44.4
|change = +2.5
}}
{{Election box hold AU party|
|winner = Liberal SA
|swing = −2.5
}}
{{Election box end}}