The 1928 Hamilton state by-election was held on 8 September 1928 to elect the member for Hamilton in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, following the death of Labor Party MP David Murray.
Hamilton had been won by Labor with 58.6% of the vote when it was first contested at the 1927 state election. However, Labor lost more than 10% of its vote at the by-election and only narrowly retained the seat against Protestant Independent Labour Party candidate Walter Skelton, with James Smith elected with 51.2% of the two-candidate-preferred vote. Skelton would have likely won if all Nationalist Party voters exercised their second preferences, something they were not required to do under the optional preferential voting system.
Key events 8 May 1928 − David Murray died 14 August 1928 − Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly 21 August 1928 − Candidate nominations 8 September 1928 − Polling day 21 September 1928 − Return of writ
Candidates Party Candidate Background Henry Cornish Alderman on Newcastle Municipal Council and former mayor of Newcastle James Iceton Mining check inspector who had contested Labor preselection Walter Skelton Former MP for Newcastle James Smith Bricklayer and union official
Result
See also Electoral results for the district of Hamilton List of New South Wales state by-elections
References