1981 Wentworth by-election
# 1981 Wentworth by-election

A by-election was held for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Wentworth on 11 April 1981. This was triggered by the resignation of Liberal MP Robert Ellicott.

Future Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull was unsuccessful for Liberal preselection, with the by-election won by the preselected Liberal candidate Peter Coleman.

## Results

Wentworth by-election, 1981 :

| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| | Liberal | Peter Coleman | 22,736 | 48.1 | -12.4 |
| | Labor | Robert Tickner | 16,637 | 35.2 | +1.9 |
| | Independent Liberal | Katherine Wentworth | 4,923 | 10.4 | +10.4 |
| | Democrats | Joan Kersey | 2,186 | 4.6 | -1.6 |
| | Independent | Alfred Bussell | 534 | 1.1 | +1.1 |
| | Independent | William More | 176 | 0.4 | +0.4 |
| | Independent | Walker Roach | 92 | 0.2 | +0.2 |
| Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 47,284 | 97.2 | -0.3 |
| Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,349 | 2.8 | +0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 48,633 | 69.5 | -19.0 |
| | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | -3.4 | |

### Distribution of preferences

Peter Coleman attained a quota (an absolute majority of formal votes) when two other candidates were left in the count, meaning that no two-party-preferred figure was attained.

Result after distribution of preferences :

| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| - | - | - | - |
| Liberal | Peter Coleman | 23,928 | 50.6 |
| Labor | Robert Tickner | 18,009 | 38.1 |
| Independent Liberal | Katherine Wentworth | 5,347 | 11.3 |
