2017 Northcote state by-election

For the by-election in Auckland, New Zealand, see 2018 Northcote by-election.

2017 Northcote state by-election
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The Electoral district of Northcote in the Legislative Assembly of Victoria
Turnout79.0% Decrease 11.6
  First party Second party
 
MP Lidia Thorpe.png
Candidate Lidia Thorpe Clare Burns
Party Greens Labor
Percentage 45.2% 35.4%
Swing Increase 8.9 Decrease 5.6
2CP 55.6% 44.4%
2CP swing Increase 11.6 Decrease 11.6
Location of the electoral district of Northcote, in Melbourne's inner northern suburbs
MLA before election

Fiona Richardson
Labor

Elected MLA

Lidia Thorpe
Greens

A by-election for the seat of Northcote in the Victorian Legislative Assembly was held on 18 November 2017. The by-election was triggered by the death of Labor Party MP Fiona Richardson on 23 August 2017.[1] While the seat historically has firmly been in the Labor Party's hands since its inception in 1927, environmental issues, rising house prices and demographic trends have resulted in a stronger Greens vote at recent elections.[2] The Liberal Party elected not to field a candidate.[2]

The seat was won by the Greens on a swing of more than 11.5%. ABC election expert Antony Green called the seat for the Greens at 8.30 pm on the night of the count.[3] Greens candidate Lidia Thorpe became the first female Aboriginal MP in the Victorian Parliament as a result of the victory and the Greens increased their representation in the Legislative Assembly to three MPs.[3]

  1. ^ Towell, Noel (21 September 2017). "Northcote byelection: Mid-November date set for critical battle in inner north". The Age.
  2. ^ a b "Northcote by-election could see Greens knock out Labor, ALP polling shows". ABC News. 31 October 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Northcote by-election: Greens win inner-city seat, Thorpe to become first female Aboriginal MP". ABC News. 18 November 2017.