Pittwater state by-election, 2005
Encyclopedia
A by-election was staged in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
district of Pittwater
on 26 November 2005. It was triggered by the resignation of sitting member and former Liberal Party
leader John Brogden.
The by-election resulted in the Liberal Party losing the seat to independent
candidate Alex McTaggart
.
in March 2002, and thus became Leader of the Opposition
. He led the party to its third consecutive defeat at the 2003 state election
but remained leader of the party thereafter. In August 2005, it was reported that at an evening function on 29 July, a drunken Brogden had sexually harassed at least one female reporter and uttered a racist slur against Helena Carr
, the Malaysian-born wife of outgoing Premier Bob Carr
. Brogden owned up to his behaviour on the morning of the 29 August, although it was not until the afternoon of the same day that he announced his resignation as leader of the party.
When he stepped down as leader, Brogden announced that he would remain a member of parliament, describing his future role as that of a "middle-bencher". The following day however, the episode took a whole new turn when Brogden was rushed to hospital after a suicide
attempt. A month later, on 28 September 2005, Brogden announced his resignation from parliament, citing the need for further treatment.
Whilst Pittwater is typically a safe Liberal Party
seat, a strong challenge was presented in the form of Pittwater Council
Mayor Alex McTaggart
. At the by-election, McTaggart defeated Liberal candidate Paul Nicolaou, and sat as an independent
in state parliament.
was defeated at the 2007 state election by Liberal candidate Rob Stokes
.
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
district of Pittwater
Electoral district of Pittwater
Pittwater is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales. Located in Sydney's north-east, it is 175.32 km² in size, and comprises the local government area of Pittwater Council and parts of Warringah Council...
on 26 November 2005. It was triggered by the resignation of sitting member and former Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
leader John Brogden.
The by-election resulted in the Liberal Party losing the seat to independent
Independent (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...
candidate Alex McTaggart
Alex McTaggart
Alex McTaggart MP, a former Australian politician, was an independent member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Pittwater between 2005 and 2007...
.
Background
John Brogden was elected leader of the state Liberal PartyLiberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
in March 2002, and thus became Leader of the Opposition
Leader of the Opposition (New South Wales)
The role of the Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition in New South Wales is a title held by the leader of the largest minority party in the state lower house, the New South Wales Legislative Assembly...
. He led the party to its third consecutive defeat at the 2003 state election
New South Wales state election, 2003
Elections to the 53rd Parliament of New South Wales were held on Saturday 22 March 2003. All seats in the Legislative Assembly and half the seats in the Legislative Council were up for election...
but remained leader of the party thereafter. In August 2005, it was reported that at an evening function on 29 July, a drunken Brogden had sexually harassed at least one female reporter and uttered a racist slur against Helena Carr
Helena Carr
Helena Carr is an Australian businesswoman and the wife of former Premier of New South Wales, Bob Carr. As of 2004, she had extensive holdings in Australian printing corporations, making her a millionaire.-Early life:...
, the Malaysian-born wife of outgoing Premier Bob Carr
Bob Carr
Robert John "Bob" Carr , Australian statesman, was Premier of New South Wales from 4 April 1995 to 3 August 2005. He holds the record for the longest continuous service as premier of NSW...
. Brogden owned up to his behaviour on the morning of the 29 August, although it was not until the afternoon of the same day that he announced his resignation as leader of the party.
When he stepped down as leader, Brogden announced that he would remain a member of parliament, describing his future role as that of a "middle-bencher". The following day however, the episode took a whole new turn when Brogden was rushed to hospital after a suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
attempt. A month later, on 28 September 2005, Brogden announced his resignation from parliament, citing the need for further treatment.
Whilst Pittwater is typically a safe Liberal Party
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
seat, a strong challenge was presented in the form of Pittwater Council
Pittwater Council
Pittwater Council is a Local Government Area on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The suburbs which comprise the Pittwater LGA were detached from the Warringah local government area in 1993...
Mayor Alex McTaggart
Alex McTaggart
Alex McTaggart MP, a former Australian politician, was an independent member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Pittwater between 2005 and 2007...
. At the by-election, McTaggart defeated Liberal candidate Paul Nicolaou, and sat as an independent
Independent (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...
in state parliament.
Results
Aftermath
Alex McTaggartAlex McTaggart
Alex McTaggart MP, a former Australian politician, was an independent member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Pittwater between 2005 and 2007...
was defeated at the 2007 state election by Liberal candidate Rob Stokes
Rob Stokes
Robert "Rob" Gordon Stokes BA, LLM MP , an Australian politician, is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Pittwater for the Liberal Party of Australia since 2007. He is currently the NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Renewable Energy.-Early life and background:Stokes grew...
.