2008 Cabramatta state by-election

2008 Cabramatta state by-election

←  2007 18 October 2008 2011  →
Electoral district of Cabramatta in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Registered	50,383 [1]
Turnout	86.05% ( 6.53)
First party Second party   Candidate Nick Lalich Dai Le Party Labor Liberal Primary  vote 21,423 15,347 Percentage 50.96% 36.51% Swing 18.11 20.18 2PP 57.22% 42.78% 2PP swing 21.82 21.82
Location of the electoral district of Cabramatta
MP before election Reba Meagher Labor Elected MP Nick Lalich Labor

The 2008 Cabramatta state by-election was held on 18 October 2008 to elect the member for Cabramatta in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, following the resignation of Labor Party MP Reba Meagher. It took place alongside by-elections in Lakemba, Port Macquarie and Ryde. ^[2]

The seat was retained by Labor at the by-election despite a swing against the party, which lost more than 18% of the primary vote and more than 21% of the two-party-preferred vote compared to the 2007 state election. ^[3]

Candidates

Candidates are listed in the order they appeared on the ballot. ^[2]

Party		Candidate	Background
	Greens	Lindsay Langlands	Candidate for Fairfield City Council in September 2008 [4]
	Business	Joseph Adams	President of the Australian Business Party [5] [6]
	Liberal	Dai Le	Australian Broadcasting Corporation journalist
	Labor	Nick Lalich	Mayor of Fairfield
	Communist League	Alasdair Macdonald	Candidate for Marrickville in 2005 [7] [8] [9]
	Christian Democrats	Doug Morrison	Candidate for Parramatta in 2007 [2]

Results

2008 Cabramatta state by-election ^{[10] [11]}

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Nick Lalich	21,423	50.96	−18.11
	Liberal	Dai Le	15,347	36.51	+20.18
	Greens	Lindsay Langlands	3,775	8.98	+2.09
	Christian Democrats	Doug Morrison	673	1.60	+1.60
	Business	Joseph Adams	650	1.55	+1.55
	Communist League	Alasdair Macdonald	168	0.40	+0.40
Total formal votes			42,036	96.95	+0.87
Informal votes			1,321	3.05	−0.87
Turnout			43,357	86.05	−6.53
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Nick Lalich	21,933	57.22	−21.82
	Liberal	Dai Le	16,396	42.78	+21.82
	Labor hold		Swing	−21.82

See also

• Electoral results for the district of Cabramatta

References

1. "2008 Cabramatta state by-election report" (PDF). New South Wales Electoral Commission. 25 May 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 October 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
2. "2008 By-elections – Cabramatta". ABC News. 30 October 2008. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
3. "Liberals hope anger will tip Meagher's seat". ABC News. 16 October 2008. Archived from the original on 5 May 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
4. "FAIRFIELD CITY COUNCIL - PARKS WARD". New South Wales Electoral Commission. 13 September 2008. Archived from the original on 15 June 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
5. Bibby, Paul (28 May 2009). "Free speech but don't mention politics: mayor". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 26 March 2025. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
6. Higgins, Ben (20 July 2009). "Hiscock joins new party". The Daily Advertiser. Archived from the original on 26 March 2025. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
7. Macdonald, Alasdair; Harris, Linda (19 November 2001). "Communist League candidate in Australia campaigns against imperialism and war". The Militant. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
8. Miley, Viv (14 September 2005). "Community concern about IR laws, funding cuts". Green Left. Archived from the original on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
9. Harris, Linda (17 November 2008). "Australia vote marked by Labor Party crisis" (PDF). The Militant. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 October 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
10. "2008 Cabramatta By-election Results". New South Wales Electoral Commission. 18 October 2008. Retrieved 19 May 2009.
11. Raue, Ben. "Cabramatta – NSW 2011". The Tally Room. Archived from the original on 13 September 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2025.