1968 Higgins by-election

A by-election was held for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Higgins on 24 February 1968. It was triggered by the presumed drowning death of the Prime Minister and Liberal Party MP Harold Holt on 17 December 1967.

1968 Higgins by-election

24 February 1968
The Higgins seat in the House of Representatives
Turnout	35,158 (84.87%)
First party Second party   Candidate John Gorton David Bennett Party Liberal Labor Popular vote 24,067 9,601 Percentage 69.40% 27.69% Swing 6.12 2.53
MP before election Harold Holt Liberal Elected MP John Gorton Liberal

Background

On 15 January 1968, Speaker William Aston stated that there was conclusive evidence that Holt had died, and that a writ would be issued for the by-election. Senator John Gorton, who had been elected party leader and Prime Minister by his party colleagues on 9 January, was preselected unopposed to run for the Liberal Party on 31 January. The Australian Labor Party nominated David Bennett, a research officer with the Australian Council for Educational Research, whilst the Democratic Labor Party, who had received 11.56% of the vote at the November 1966 election in the seat, opted not to contest the election. The other two candidates were Dr Leonard Webber for the Australia Reform Movement, and a Sydney journalist, Frank Courtis.

Gorton won the by-election for the Liberals with an increased primary vote.

It remains the only time in which a sitting Prime Minister was a candidate in a by-election.

Results

1968 Higgins by-election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Liberal	John Gorton	24,067	69.40	+6.12
	Labor	David Bennett	9,601	27.69	+2.53
	Reform Movement	Leonard Weber	662	1.91	+1.91
	Independent	Frank Courtis	347	1.00	+1.00
Total formal votes			34,677	98.63	+1.39
Informal votes			481	1.37	–1.39
Turnout			35,158	84.87	–9.45
	Liberal hold		Swing	+6.12

See also

• 1968 Liberal Party of Australia leadership election
• List of Australian federal by-elections