1978 Werriwa by-election

A by-election was held for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Werriwa on 23 September 1978. It was triggered by the resignation of Labor Party leader and former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.

The by-election was won by Labor candidate John Kerin, who had previously served as the member for Macarthur during the Whitlam government, from 1972 to 1975.

Results

1978 Werriwa by-election

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	John Kerin	40,272	67.2	+11.7
	Liberal	William Sadler	14,566	24.3	−9.6
	Democrats	Keith Olson	3,774	6.3	−2.7
	Socialist Workers	John Garcia	1,081	1.8	+1.8
	New Australian	Hans Penninger	214	0.4	+0.4
Total formal votes			59,897	98.2
Informal votes			1,093	1.8
Turnout			60,990	81.7
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	John Kerin		72.3	+12.1
	Liberal	William Sadler		27.7	−12.1
	Labor hold		Swing	+12.1