1983 Bruce by-election

For articles about related by-elections, see Bruce by-election.

1983 Bruce by-election

28 May 1983

First party Second party   Candidate Ken Aldred Heather O'Connor Party Liberal Labor Popular vote 35,849 31,354 Percentage 48.5% 42.4% Swing 0.6pp 1.9pp TPP 54.5% 45.5% TPP swing 3.8pp 3.8pp

MP before election Billy Snedden Liberal Elected MP Ken Aldred Liberal

A by-election was held for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Bruce on 28 May 1983. This was triggered by the resignation of Liberal Party MP and former Opposition Leader Sir Billy Snedden.

Results

Bruce by-election, 1983

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	Ken Aldred	35,849	48.5	+0.6
	Labor	Heather O'Connor	31,354	42.4	−1.9
	Democrats	Michael Johnson	4,769	6.5	−1.3
	Democratic Labor	John Mulholland	1,621	2.2	+2.2
	Independent	Wilhelm Kapphan	111	0.2	+0.2
	Progress	Peter Fogarty	105	0.1	+0.1
	Constitutionalist	Bill Thiele	94	0.1	+0.1
Total formal votes			73,903	98.3	+0.0
Informal votes			1,266	1.7	−0.0
Turnout			75,169	92.0	−5.3
Two-party-preferred result
	Liberal	Ken Aldred	40,259	54.5	+3.8
	Labor	Heather O'Connor	33,644	45.5	−3.8
	Liberal hold		Swing	+3.8

See also

• List of Australian federal by-elections