2025 Kiama state by-election
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Electoral district of Kiama in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly | |||||||||||||
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| Registered | 62,652[1] | ||||||||||||
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The 2025 Kiama state by-election will be held on 13 September 2025 to elect the member for Kiama in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, following the resignation of independent MP Gareth Ward.
Ward was found guilty on 25 July 2025 of sexually abusing two men.[2] He was scheduled to be expelled from parliament on 8 August 2025, but resigned the same day.[3]
Background
Resignation of Gareth Ward
The previous member, Gareth Ward, was convicted on charges of sexually abusing two young men. Ward resigned shortly before a vote to expel him was to be proposed by the government in the Legislative Assembly.[4][5][6]
Previous results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent | Gareth Ward | 20,316 | 38.79 | +38.79 | |
| Labor | Katelin McInerney | 18,010 | 34.39 | +6.19 | |
| Liberal | Melanie Gibbons | 6,301 | 12.03 | −41.56 | |
| Greens | Tonia Gray | 5,833 | 11.14 | −0.74 | |
| Sustainable Australia | John Gill | 1,911 | 3.65 | +0.73 | |
| Total formal votes | 52,371 | 96.90 | +0.07 | ||
| Informal votes | 1,678 | 3.10 | −0.07 | ||
| Turnout | 54,049 | 89.82 | −1.28 | ||
| Notional two-party-preferred count | |||||
| Labor | Katelin McInerney | 24,564 | 69.73 | +31.74 | |
| Liberal | Melanie Gibbons | 10,665 | 30.27 | −31.74 | |
| Two-candidate-preferred result | |||||
| Independent | Gareth Ward | 23,018 | 50.76 | +50.76 | |
| Labor | Katelin McInerney | 22,329 | 49.24 | +11.25 | |
| Member changed to Independent from Liberal | |||||
Candidates
The Labor Party, the Liberal Party, the Greens and an independent candidate have announced they will contest the election.[10][11][12]
| Party | Candidate | Background | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labor | Katelin McInerney[13] | Journalist and communicator, candidate for Kiama in 2023 | |
| Independent | Kate Dezarnaulds[14] | Small business owner, candidate for Gilmore in the 2025 federal election | |
| Liberal | Serena Copley[15] | Councillor for City of Shoalhaven | |
| Greens | Tonia Gray[16] | Former councillor for City of Shoalhaven and candidate for Kiama in 2023 | |
References
- ^ "NSW Enrolment Statistics". NSW Electoral Commission. Kiama. Archived from the original on 11 August 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ Fuller, Kelly; Fernandez, Tim (25 July 2025). "NSW MP Gareth Ward found guilty of sexually abusing two young men". ABC News. Archived from the original on 5 August 2025. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
- ^ Clark, David (8 August 2025). "Gareth Ward resigns from NSW Parliament". Wave FM. Archived from the original on 8 August 2025. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
- ^ Fuller, Kelly (9 August 2025). "Conviction, controversies and the collapse of Gareth Ward's Liberal career". ABC News. Archived from the original on 14 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ^ Viñales, Pablo; Lewis, Alexander (8 August 2025). "MP Gareth Ward resigns ahead of NSW parliament vote to expel convicted sex offender". ABC News. Archived from the original on 14 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ^ Sibthorpe, Clare; Schultz, Amber; McSweeney, Jessica; and Smith, Alexandra (25 July 2025). "Calls for NSW MP to resign after sexual assault convictions". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 25 July 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ^ LA First Preference: Kiama, NSW State Election Results 2023, NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ LA Two Candidate Preferred: Kiama, NSW State Election Results 2023, NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
- ^ Two Candidate Preferred (TCP) Analytical Tool: Kiama, NSW State Election Results 2023, NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 27 April 2023.
- ^ Fuller, Kelly and Gilbert, Romy (14 August 2025). "Two candidates announced for Kiama by-election to replace former MP Gareth Ward". ABC News. Archived from the original on 14 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ^ Smith, Alexandra and McSweeney, Jessica (11 August 2025). "'On board with Coalition or quit': Speakman fires warning to colleagues". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 11 August 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ Smith, Alexandra and McSweeney, Jessica (8 August 2025). "Ward held on to the bitter end. Now his seat is up for grabs". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 8 August 2025. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
- ^ Humphries, Glen (14 August 2025). "'A little bit nervous': Labor's Katelin McInerney back for second tilt at Kiama". Illawarra Mercury. Australian Community Media. Archived from the original on 14 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ^ Suttor, Paul (12 August 2025). "Kiama by-election announced for 13 September". The Kiama Bugle. Regional Media Group. Archived from the original on 14 August 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
- ^ "Serena Copley Liberal for Kiama". 15 August 2025.
- ^ "Greens turn to Gray for Kiama by-election". www.thebuglenews.com.au. Retrieved 19 August 2025.