View source for 2002 Cunningham by-election

{{Short description|Australian federal by-election}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox election
| country = New South Wales
| type = parliamentary
| vote_type = [[Instant-runoff voting#Australia|Primary]]
| ongoing = no
| election_date = 19 October 2002
| previous_year = [[2001 Australian federal election|2001]]
| next_year = [[2004 Australian federal election|2004]]

| image1 = [[File:Michaelorgan1.jpg|150x150px]]
| candidate1 = [[Michael Organ]]
| party1 = Australian Greens
| popular_vote1 = 15,505
| percentage1 = 23.03%
| swing1 = {{increase}} 16.39

| image2 = [[File:Labor Placeholder.png|150x150px]]
| candidate2 = [[Sharon Bird]]
| party2 = Australian Labor Party
| popular_vote2 = '''25,671'''
| percentage2 = '''38.13%'''
| swing2 = {{decrease}} 6.06

| image4 = <div style="width:100px;"><span style="line-height:150px; vertical-align:center; text-align:center; color:{{party color|Independent Liberal (Australia)}}; font-size:30px;"> '''IND'''</span></div> 
| candidate4 = David Moulds
| party4 = Independent Liberal (Australia)
| popular_vote4 = 9,147
| percentage4 = 13.59%
| swing4 = {{increase}} 13.59

| image5 = <div style="width:100px;"><span style="line-height:150px; vertical-align:center; text-align:center; color:{{party color|Independent Labor (Australia)}}; font-size:30px;"> '''IND'''</span></div> 
| candidate5 = Peter Wilson
| party5 = [[Independent Labor (Australia)|Ind. Labor]]
| popular_vote5 = 7,107
| percentage5 = 10.56%
| swing5 = {{increase}} 10.56

| 1blank = [[Two-party-preferred|TPP]]
| 2blank = TPP swing
| 1data1 = '''52.23%'''
| 2data1 = {{increase}} 52.23
| 1data2 = 47.77%
| 2data2 = {{decrease}} 12.88

| map_image = Cunningham electoral division.png
| map_caption = Cunningham (dark) within [[New South Wales]]

| title = MP
| before_election = [[Stephen Martin (Australian politician)|Stephen Martin]]
| before_party = Australian Labor Party
| after_election = [[Michael Organ]]
| after_party = Australian Greens
}}
The '''2002 Cunningham by-election''' was held in the [[Australia]]n electorate of [[Division of Cunningham|Cunningham]] in [[New South Wales]] on 19 October 2002. The [[by-election]] was triggered by the resignation of the sitting member, the [[Australian Labor Party]]'s [[Stephen Martin (Australian politician)|Stephen Martin]] on 16 August 2002. The writ for the by-election was issued on 16 September 2002.

The by-election was notable as it was won by [[Michael Organ]], the candidate for the [[Australian Greens]], making Cunningham the first seat in the [[Australian House of Representatives]] to be won by a minor party since [[Jack Lang (Australian politician)|Jack Lang]] won [[Division of Reid|Reid]] for his [[Lang Labor]] party in 1946, and the first seat in the House won by the Greens.

==Background==
Cunningham had been held by Labor since its creation 52 years previously, but a recent local government election for [[Lord Mayor]] of [[City of Wollongong|Wollongong]] had seen the Labor candidate lose to an independent, Alex Darling, causing concern in the ALP about their ability to hold the seat given the expectation of a significant protest vote against them.<ref>Griffiths, Emma: [http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/stories/s705507.htm Labor nervous ahead Cunningham by-election], ''[[Lateline]]'' ([[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]), 18 October 2002.</ref> The ALP candidate preselected to replace Martin was [[Sharon Bird]].

The [[Liberal Party of Australia]] received 28 percent of the primary vote at the previous election, they chose not to run a candidate in the by-election. Independent candidate David Moulds held Liberal Party membership.<ref>Bennett, Scott: [http://www.aph.gov.au/Library/Pubs/rn/2002-03/03rn18.htm  The Cunningham by-election 2002] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713133648/http://www.aph.gov.au/Library/pubs/RN/2002-03/03rn18.htm |date=13 July 2007 }}, [[Parliament of Australia]], 11 November 2002.</ref>

==Results==
<noinclude>[[File:2002 Cunningham federal by-election preference distribution.png|thumb|upright=1.8|The distribution of preferences in the by-election resulted in the election of Michael Organ.]]</noinclude>
{{Election box begin |
|title=2002 Cunningham by-election<ref>{{cite web |url=http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia/2001/cunn2001.txt |title=2002 Cunningham by-election |website=Psephos Adam Carr's Election Archive |access-date=2022-05-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Green |first1=Antony |title=Fremantle By-election - Should the Liberals Run? |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-04-07/fremantle-by-election---should-the-liberals-run/9389164 |publisher=ABC News |access-date=1 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240701124856/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-04-07/fremantle-by-election---should-the-liberals-run/9389164 |archive-date=1 July 2024 |date=7 April 2009 |quote=Labor polled 38.1%, the Greens 23.0%, an Independent Labor candidate 10.6% and an Independent Liberal 13.6% with smaller tallies for other candidates.}}</ref>
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = [[Sharon Bird]]
|party = Labor
|votes = 25,671
|percentage = 38.13
|change = −6.06
}}

{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = [[Michael Organ]]
|party = Greens
|votes = 15,505
|percentage = 23.03
|change = +16.39
}}

{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = David Moulds
|party = Independent Liberal
|votes = 9,147
|percentage = 13.59
|change = +13.59
}}

{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = Peter Wilson
|party = Independent Labor
|votes = 7,107
|percentage = 10.56
|change = +10.56
}}

{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = Geoff Crocker
|party = One Nation
|votes = 2,696
|percentage = 4.00
|change = −0.63
}}

{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = Owen Nannelli
|party = Christian Democrats
|votes = 2,566
|percentage = 3.81
|change = +1.32
}}

{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = Linda Chapman
|party = Democrats
|votes = 1,514
|percentage = 2.25
|change = −4.92
}}

{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = David Hughes
|party = AAFI
|votes = 889
|percentage = 1.32
|change = +1.32
}}

{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = Meg Sampson
|party = Independent
|votes = 671
|percentage = 1.00
|change = +1.00
}}

{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = John Flanagan
|party = Non-Custodial Parents
|votes = 556
|percentage = 0.83
|change = +0.83
}}

{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = James Keene
|party = Independent
|votes = 483
|percentage = 0.72
|change = +0.72
}}

{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = Chris Williams
|party = Socialist Alliance
|votes = 399
|percentage = 0.59
|change = +0.59
}}

{{Election box candidate AU party|
|candidate = Hal A. Johnson
|party = CEC
|votes = 120
|percentage = 0.18
|change = +0.18
}}

{{Election box formal|
|votes = 67,324
|percentage = 92.26
|change = −2.90
}}

{{Election box informal|
|votes = 5,647
|percentage = 7.74
|change = +2.90
}}

{{Election box turnout|
  |votes      = 72,971
  |percentage = 89.51
  |change     = −5.91
}}

{{Election box 2cp}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
|party = Greens
|candidate = [[Michael Organ]]
|votes = 35,160
|percentage = 52.23
|change = +52.23
}}

{{Election box candidate AU party|
|party = Labor
|candidate = [[Sharon Bird]]
|votes = 32,164
|percentage = 47.77
|change = −12.88
}}

{{Election box gain AU party|
  |winner     = Greens
  |loser      = Labor
  |swing      = N/A
}}

{{Election box end}}<includeonly>
[[Stephen Martin (Australian politician)|Stephen Martin]] ({{Australian politics/name|Labor}}) resigned.</includeonly>

==Aftermath==
Although Labor received the highest primary vote, the [[Australian Greens]] candidate, [[Michael Organ]], won the by-election on a 52.2 percent [[two-party-preferred vote|two-candidate preferred]] (2CP) vote. Asymmetrical preference flows in the absence of an official Liberal candidate contributed to Labor losing the seat, with their 2CP being reduced by 12.9 percent. Labor, Liberal and Green all contested Cunningham in the [[2004 Australian federal election|2004 federal election]], Labor won the seat back with a [[two-party-preferred vote|two-party preferred]] (2PP) vote of over 60 percent. Another example is the [[2008 Mayo by-election]]. However, other factors attributed by some to the loss include Martin's premature departure, a messy preselection process for Bird, and discontent from the NSW Labor branch towards federal leader [[Simon Crean]].<ref>Green, Antony: [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2007/guide/cunn.htm Cunningham - Federal Election 2007], [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]], 19 November 2007.</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Australian federal by-elections]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/supplementary_by_elections/cunningham/results.htm  Cunningham (NSW) By-Election (19 October 2002) Results], [[Australian Electoral Commission]]

{{Aus by-elections 40th parl}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cunningham By-Election, 2002}}
[[Category:2002 elections in Australia]]
[[Category:New South Wales federal by-elections]]