Maryborough state by-election, 2003
Encyclopedia
A by-election was held in the Queensland Legislative Assembly
seat of Maryborough
on 26 April 2003. It was triggered by the resignation of sitting member John Kingston
.
The by-election resulted in the baton passing from one independent to another when Chris Foley
was elected as the new member.
. He was re-elected in that capacity at the 2001 state election before resigning in 2003 due to ill health.
with an opportunity to win back the seat they had held prior to his 1998 victory. Labor preselected postal worker Doug Loggie.
The contest for National Party
preselection—which had last held the seat from 1983 to 1989—saw Peter Andrews win endorsement over four other candidates. Ominously, one of those candidates, church pastor and financial advisor Chris Foley, chose to stand for the by-election in an independent capacity.
Queensland Legislative Assembly
The Queensland Legislative Assembly is the unicameral chamber of the Parliament of Queensland. Elections are held approximately once every three years. Voting is by the Optional Preferential Voting form of the Alternative Vote system...
seat of Maryborough
Electoral district of Maryborough
The district of Maryborough is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Queensland.The district is centred on the regional city of Maryborough and takes in other surrounding communities....
on 26 April 2003. It was triggered by the resignation of sitting member John Kingston
John Kingston
John Allan Kingston is an Australian politician. He was a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 1998 to 2003, representing the electorate of Maryborough....
.
The by-election resulted in the baton passing from one independent to another when Chris Foley
Chris Foley (Australian politician)
Christopher John "Chris" Foley is an Australian politician. Born in Brisbane, he became a certified financial planner and received a Diploma in Christian Doctrine and Practice, was an Associate in Theology, and became a Justice of the Peace...
was elected as the new member.
Background
John Kingston was first elected to state parliament as one of 11 One Nation candidates ushered in at the 1998 state election. All eleven members would eventually break with their party, with Kingston doing so in early 1999 to sit as an independentIndependent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
. He was re-elected in that capacity at the 2001 state election before resigning in 2003 due to ill health.
Candidates
Kington's retirement presented the Labor PartyAustralian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
with an opportunity to win back the seat they had held prior to his 1998 victory. Labor preselected postal worker Doug Loggie.
The contest for National Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
preselection—which had last held the seat from 1983 to 1989—saw Peter Andrews win endorsement over four other candidates. Ominously, one of those candidates, church pastor and financial advisor Chris Foley, chose to stand for the by-election in an independent capacity.