Surfers Paradise state by-election, 2001
Encyclopedia
A by-election was held in the Queensland Legislative Assembly
seat of Surfers Paradise
on 5 May 2001. It was triggered by the resignation of sitting National Party
member Rob Borbidge
.
The by-election was won by independent
candidate Lex Bell
.
first entered parliament as the National
member for Surfers Paradise
at the 1980 state election
. He became leader of his party in 1991 and Premier of Queensland in 1996, following the Mundingburra by-election
. Borbidge's government was defeated at the 1998 state election, but Borbidge remained National Party leader, leading his party to landslide defeat at the 2001 state election. Subsequent to that defeat, Borbidge announced his retirement and resigned his seat in parliament.
partner, the National Party; even though this had been a National Party seat since 1980.
was defeated by Liberal candidate John-Paul Langbroek
at the 2004 state election.
Queensland Legislative Assembly
The Queensland Legislative Assembly is the unicameral chamber of the Parliament of Queensland. Elections are held approximately once every three years. Voting is by the Optional Preferential Voting form of the Alternative Vote system...
seat of Surfers Paradise
Electoral district of Surfers Paradise
The district of Surfers Paradise is an electoral district of the State of Queensland in Australia.-Members for Surfers Paradise:-Election results:-External links:*...
on 5 May 2001. It was triggered by the resignation of sitting National Party
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
member Rob Borbidge
Rob Borbidge
Robert Edward Borbidge AO , Australian politician, was the 35th Premier of Queensland, and leader of the Queensland branch of the National Party...
.
The by-election was won by 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 Lex Bell
Lex Bell
Alexander James Douglas "Lex" Bell OAM is a former Australian politician. Born in Brisbane, he received a Master of Laws from Bond University and a Bachelor of Law from the University of Queensland before becoming a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland. He was also on Gold Coast City...
.
Background
Rob BorbidgeRob Borbidge
Robert Edward Borbidge AO , Australian politician, was the 35th Premier of Queensland, and leader of the Queensland branch of the National Party...
first entered parliament as the National
National Party of Australia
The National Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it began as the The Country Party, but adopted the name The National Country Party in 1975, changed to The National Party of Australia in 1982. The party is...
member for Surfers Paradise
Electoral district of Surfers Paradise
The district of Surfers Paradise is an electoral district of the State of Queensland in Australia.-Members for Surfers Paradise:-Election results:-External links:*...
at the 1980 state election
Queensland state election, 1980
Elections were held in the Australian state of Queensland on 29 November 1980 to elect the 82 members of the state's Legislative Assembly.The election resulted in a fifth consecutive victory for the National-Liberal Coalition under Joh Bjelke-Petersen...
. He became leader of his party in 1991 and Premier of Queensland in 1996, following the Mundingburra by-election
Mundingburra state by-election, 1996
The Mundingburra state by-election, 1996 was a by-election held on 3 February 1996 for the Queensland Legislative Assembly seat of Mundingburra, located in the southern suburbs of Townsville...
. Borbidge's government was defeated at the 1998 state election, but Borbidge remained National Party leader, leading his party to landslide defeat at the 2001 state election. Subsequent to that defeat, Borbidge announced his retirement and resigned his seat in parliament.
Results
The by-election was a resounding win for Gold Coast City councillor Lex Bell. Also of note was the performance of the Liberal Party, who performed considerably better than their coalitionCoalition (Australia)
The Coalition in Australian politics refers to a group of centre-right parties that has existed in the form of a coalition agreement since 1922...
partner, the National Party; even though this had been a National Party seat since 1980.
Aftermath
Lex BellLex Bell
Alexander James Douglas "Lex" Bell OAM is a former Australian politician. Born in Brisbane, he received a Master of Laws from Bond University and a Bachelor of Law from the University of Queensland before becoming a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Queensland. He was also on Gold Coast City...
was defeated by Liberal candidate John-Paul Langbroek
John-Paul Langbroek
John-Paul Honoré Langbroek is an Australian politician. He has been a member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly representing the Liberal Party and its successor, the centre-right Liberal National Party, in the seat of Surfers Paradise since 2004...
at the 2004 state election.