1994 Warringah by-election

The 1994 Warringah by-election was held in the Australian electorate of Warringah in New South Wales on 26 March 1994. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of the sitting member, Liberal MP Michael MacKellar on 18 February 1994, from the safe Liberal seat. The writ for the by-election was issued on the same day.

1994 Warringah by-election

26 March 1994

First party Second party   IND Candidate Tony Abbott Judith Halnan Party Liberal Independent Popular vote 34,440 9,563 Percentage 54.21% 15.33% Swing 1.89pp 15.33pp TPP 63.46% 36.54% TPP swing 3.20pp 36.54pp   Third party Fourth party   DEM AAFI Candidate Troy Anderson Robyn Spencer Party Democrats AAFI Popular vote 9,932 8,446 Percentage 15.92% 13.54% Swing 11.66pp 13.54pp

MP before election Michael MacKellar Liberal Elected MP Tony Abbott Liberal

The by-election was won by Liberal candidate Tony Abbott who served as the Prime Minister of Australia from 18 September 2013 to 15 September 2015. Abbott would hold the seat for 25 years until he would lose the seat to teal independent Zali Steggall.

The Warringah by-election was held on the same day as the Mackellar by-election triggered by the resignation of sitting Liberal member Jim Carlton.

During the by-elections in Mackellar and Warringah, the maverick far-right Labor MP Graeme Campbell urged electors to vote for Australians Against Further Immigration.^[1] Labor did not field a candidate in either by-election.

Unsuccessful candidates for Liberal preselection included former NSW Liberal leader John Dowd, future MP Peter King, and future senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells.^[2]

Results

1994 Warringah by-election^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Tony Abbott	34,440	54.21	−1.89
	Democrats	Troy Anderson	9,932	15.92	+11.66
	Independent	Judith Halnan	9,564	15.33	+15.33
	AAFI	Robyn Marion Spencer	8,446	13.54	+13.54
Total formal votes			62,382	96.39	−1.23
Informal votes			2,339	3.61	+1.23
Turnout			64,721	82.79	−12.68
Two-party-preferred result
	Liberal	Tony Abbott	39,588	63.46	+3.20
	Independent	Judith Halnan	22,794	36.54	+36.54
	Liberal hold		Swing	N/A

See also

• List of Australian federal by-elections