View source for 2012 Melbourne state by-election

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox election
| country = Victoria
| type = parliamentary
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2010 Victorian state election
| previous_year = 2010
| next_election = 2014 Victorian state election
| next_year = 2014
| election_date = 21 July 2012
| seats_for_election = [[Electoral district of Melbourne]] in the [[Victorian Legislative Assembly]]
| vote_type = [[Instant-runoff voting#Australia|First preference]]

| image1 = [[File:Cathy_Oke.png|150x150px]]
| candidate1 = Cathy Oke
| party1 = Australian Greens Victoria
| popular_vote1 = '''10,197'''
| percentage1 = '''36.52%'''
| swing1 = {{increase}} 4.60

| image2 = [[File:Jennifer Kanis 2012.jpg|150x150px]]
| candidate2 = [[Jennifer Kanis]]
| party2 = Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch)
| popular_vote2 = 9,321
| percentage2 = 33.38%
| swing2 = {{decrease}} 2.29

| 1blank = [[Two-party-preferred|TCP]]
| 2blank = TCP swing
| 1data1 = 48.49%
| 2data1 = {{increase}} 4.66
| 1data2 = '''51.51%'''
| 2data2 = {{decrease}} 4.66

| map_image = 
| map_size = 
| map_caption = 
| title = [[Victorian Legislative Assembly|MP]]
| before_election = [[Bronwyn Pike]]
| before_party = [[Victorian Labor Party|Labor]]
| after_election = [[Jennifer Kanis]]
| after_party = [[Victorian Labor Party|Labor]]
}}
A by-election was held for the [[Victorian Legislative Assembly]] seat of [[Electoral district of Melbourne|Melbourne]] on 21 July 2012. This was triggered by the resignation of former minister and state [[Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch)|Labor]] MP [[Bronwyn Pike]] which she announced on 7 May 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-05-22/melbourne-by-election-set-for-july-21/4026394?section=vic |title=Melbourne by-election set for July 21 |newspaper=ABC News |publisher=abc.net.au |date=2012-05-22 |accessdate=2012-06-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/pike-quits-triggering-vic-byelection-20120507-1y89l.html |title=Pike quits, triggering Vic by-election |publisher=News.smh.com.au |date=2012-05-07 |accessdate=2012-06-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/byelection-looms-as-veteran-labor-mp-quits-20120507-1y83g.html |title=Byelection looms as veteran Labor MP quits |publisher=Theage.com.au |date=2012-05-07 |accessdate=2012-06-14 |location=Melbourne}}</ref>

Sixteen candidates contested the by-election, the [[Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division)|Liberals]] declined to nominate a candidate. [[Jennifer Kanis]] retained the seat for Labor with a 51.5 per cent (–4.7) [[Two-party-preferred vote|two-candidate-preferred]] vote against [[Australian Greens Victoria|Greens]] candidate Cathy Oke.

==Dates==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Date
! Event<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/current/MelbourneDistrictByElection.html |title=2012 Melbourne by-election dates |publisher=Vec.vic.gov.au |accessdate=2012-06-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606030253/http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/current/MelbourneDistrictByElection.html |archive-date=6 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| 28 May 2012
| [[Writ of election]] issued by the [[Governor of Victoria|Governor]]
|-
| 4 June 2012
| Close of [[electoral roll]]s
|-
| 21 June 2012
| Close of party nominations
|-
| 22 June 2012
| Close of independent nominations, [[ballot paper]] order draw conducted
|-
| 25 June 2012
| [[Early voting]] began
|-
| 21 July 2012
| Polling day, between the hours of 8 am and 6 pm
|}

==Background==
The federal seat of [[Division of Melbourne|Melbourne]] held by [[Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch)|Labor]] was won by the [[Australian Greens Victoria|Greens]] at the [[2010 Australian federal election|August 2010 federal election]], where the [[Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division)|Liberal]]s preferenced the Greens ahead of Labor. At the [[2010 Victorian state election|November 2010 Victorian state election]] where the Liberals preferenced Labor ahead of the Greens, the [[Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division)|Liberal]]/[[National Party of Australia – Victoria|National]] [[Coalition (Australia)|Coalition]] won 45 seats and Labor won 43 seats in the 88-seat Legislative Assembly, resulting in a one-seat majority for the incoming Coalition government. Labor retained the state seat of Melbourne on a 56.2 per cent [[Two-party-preferred vote|two-candidate-preferred]] vote against the Greens and a 64.4 per cent two-party-preferred vote against the Liberals. On the primary vote, Labor won 35.7 per cent, the Greens won 31.9 per cent, the Liberals won 28.0 per cent, and four other candidates won a combined 4.4 per cent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Results/state2010resultMelbourneDistrict.html |title=Melbourne District State Election 2010 |publisher=Vec.vic.gov.au |date= |accessdate=2012-06-14}}</ref> With the Liberals declining to field a candidate, there was an increased chance of the seat changing hands due to changed preference flows, such as at the [[2002 Cunningham by-election]] (Federal) and the [[2009 Fremantle state by-election|2009 Fremantle by-election]] (WA State).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sl.farmonline.com.au/news/state/agribusiness-and-general/political/pike-resignation-leaves-path-open-for-greens/2547934.aspx?storypage=0 |title=Pike resignation 'leaves path open for Greens' |publisher=Sl.farmonline.com.au |date=2012-05-08 |accessdate=2012-06-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8464084/candidates-step-up-to-replace-pike |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717124445/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8464084/candidates-step-up-to-replace-pike |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-17 |title=Candidates step up to replace Pike |publisher=News.ninemsn.com.au |date= |accessdate=2012-06-14 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/the-battle-for-melbourne-20120512-1yk2a.html |title=The battle for Melbourne |publisher=Theage.com.au |date=2012-05-13 |accessdate=2012-06-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-07-21/voting-underway-in-crucial-melbourne-by-election/4145542 |title=Greens tipped to win Melbourne by-election: ABC News 21 July 2012 |newspaper=ABC News |publisher=Abc.net.au |date= 21 July 2012|accessdate=2012-07-22}}</ref>

Due to the voting patterns to the Greens across jurisdictions, this state by-election, unusually received national attention.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/2012/07/18/melbourne-state-by-election/?wpmp_switcher=mobile&comments=100&wpmp_tp=1|title = Melbourne (State) by-election: July 21 – the Poll Bludger}}</ref>

==Candidates==
The 16 candidates in ballot paper order were as follows:

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=4 | Candidate nominations<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/current/StateBy2012candidatesMelbourneDistrict.html |title=Melbourne District By-election 2012 Nominations |publisher=Vec.vic.gov.au |accessdate=2012-06-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629134718/http://vec.vic.gov.au/current/StateBy2012candidatesMelbourneDistrict.html |archive-date=29 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| {{Australian party style|Independent}}|&nbsp;
| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
| [[Berhan Ahmed]]
| Former Labor and Green member, [[Eritrea]]n-born chairman of the African Think Tank, 2009 Victorian [[Australian of the Year]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/immigration/boats-leave-fellow-africans-stranded/story-fn9hm1gu-1226429505363 | work=The Australian | title=Boats leave fellow Africans stranded | date=2012-07-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.att.org.au/berhan2009.html |title=Dr. Berhan Ahmed Victorian Australian of the Year 2009 |publisher=Att.org.au |accessdate=2012-07-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702172820/http://www.att.org.au/berhan2009.html |archive-date=2 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| {{Australian party style|Family First}}|&nbsp;
| [[Family First Party]]
| Ashley Fenn
| Victorian Director of Family First, and chairman of not-for-profit housing company Ethan Affordable Housing.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://au.christiantoday.com/article/family-first-states-contrast-in-stance-from-australian-christians-towards-muslim-communities/13724.htm |title=Family First states contrast in stance from Australian Christians towards Muslim communities |publisher=Au.christiantoday.com |date= |accessdate=2012-07-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vic-familyfirst.org.au/ashley-fenn/ |title=Family First : Victoria |publisher=Vic-familyfirst.org.au |accessdate=2012-07-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717172641/http://www.vic-familyfirst.org.au/ashley-fenn/ |archive-date=17 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| {{Australian party style|Independent}}|&nbsp;
| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
| {{nowrap|Gerrit Schorel-Hlavka}}
| Self-described constitutionalist and serial candidate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.melbournetimesweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/melbourne-byelection-veteran-campaigner-gerrit-hendrik-schorelhlavka-has-another-crack/2611634.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121230213122/http://www.melbournetimesweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/melbourne-byelection-veteran-campaigner-gerrit-hendrik-schorelhlavka-has-another-crack/2611634.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-12-30 |title=Melbourne byelection: Veteran campaigner Gerrit Hendrik Schorel-Hlavka has another crack - Local News - News - General |publisher=Melbourne Times Weekly |date=2012-07-03 |accessdate=2012-07-22}}</ref>
|-
| {{Australian party style|Independent}}|&nbsp;
| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
| David Nolte
| [[Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division)|Liberal Party]] member and former [[City of Melbourne|Melbourne City Councillor]] (1988&ndash;93), ran on a "[[Liberalism in Australia|small-l liberal]]" platform.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hingston |first=Chris |url=http://www.melbournetimesweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/melbourne-byelection-tunnel-would-increase-traffic/2618268.aspx?storypage=2 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121230142128/http://www.melbournetimesweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/melbourne-byelection-tunnel-would-increase-traffic/2618268.aspx?storypage=2 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-12-30 |title=Melbourne byelection: Tunnel would 'increase traffic' - Local News - News - General |publisher=Melbourne Times Weekly |date=2012-07-10 |accessdate=2012-07-22 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nolte.com.au/index_files/Page315.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231070337/http://www.nolte.com.au/index_files/Page315.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-12-31 |title=Policies |publisher=Nolte.com.au |date= |accessdate=2012-07-22 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nolte.com.au/index.htm |title=Home |publisher=Nolte.com.au |date= |accessdate=2012-07-22 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
|-
| {{Australian party style|Independent}}|&nbsp;
| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
| John Perkins
| Candidate for the unregistered [[Secular Party of Australia]], and party president.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.secular.org.au/index.php |title=Secular Party of Australia |publisher=Secular.org.au |accessdate=2012-07-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628203447/http://www.secular.org.au/index.php |archive-date=28 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| {{Australian party style|Labor}}|&nbsp;
| [[Australian Labor Party (Victorian Branch)|Labor Party]]
| [[Jennifer Kanis]]
| [[City of Melbourne|Melbourne City Councillor]] and anti-discrimination lawyer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/ABOUTCOUNCIL/MAYORCOUNCILLORS/Pages/CrJenniferKanis.aspx |title=Councillor Jennifer Kanis - City of Melbourne |publisher=Melbourne.vic.gov.au |date=2012-06-08 |accessdate=2012-07-22}}</ref>
|-
| {{Australian party style|Independent}}|&nbsp;
| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
| David Collyer
| Candidate for the unregistered [[Australian Democrats]]. Campaign manager for Prosper Australia and Democrats candidate for the federal seat of [[Division of Melbourne|Melbourne]] in 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://david-collyer.vic-democrats.org.au/2012/06/25/david-collyer-contests-melbourne-byelection-for-democrats/ |title=David Collyer Contests Melbourne Byelection for Democrats &#124; |publisher=David-collyer.vic-democrats.org.au |date=2012-06-25 |accessdate=2012-07-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130409202327/http://david-collyer.vic-democrats.org.au/2012/06/25/david-collyer-contests-melbourne-byelection-for-democrats/ |archive-date=9 April 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| {{Australian party style|Independent}}|&nbsp;
| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
| Patrick O'Connor
| Candidate for the unregistered [[Socialist Equality Party (Australia)|Socialist Equality Party]]. Member of the party's National Committee and contributor to the [[World Socialist Web Site]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wsws.org/articles/2012/jun2012/sepa-j15.shtml |title=Socialist Equality Party (Australia) launches Melbourne by-election campaign |publisher=Wsws.org |date=2012-06-15 |accessdate=2012-07-22}}</ref>
|-
| {{Australian party style|Democratic Labour}}|&nbsp;
| {{nowrap|[[Democratic Labour Party (Australia, 1980)|Democratic Labor Party]]}}
| Michael Murphy
| Graphic arts designer and businessman,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dlp.org.au/melbourne-district-by-election/ |title=Melbourne District by-election &#124; Democratic Labor Party |publisher=Dlp.org.au |accessdate=2012-07-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724034512/http://www.dlp.org.au/melbourne-district-by-election/ |archive-date=24 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and Victorian party secretary.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dlp.org.au/victoria/|title=Victoria|accessdate=2012-08-09}}</ref>
|-
| {{Australian party style|Independent}}|&nbsp;
| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
| [[Joseph Toscano]]
| [[Anarchist]] campaigner and serial candidate.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/greens-on-fertile-ground/story-e6frg6z6-1226430385283 | work=The Australian | title=Greens on fertile ground | date=2012-07-20}}</ref>
|-
| {{Australian party style|Independent}}|&nbsp;
| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
| [[Stephen Mayne]]
| Former [[Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division)|Liberal Party]] staffer, founder of independent news website ''[[Crikey]]'', and [[City of Manningham|Manningham City Councillor]]. Ran on an anti-[[Slot machine|pokies]] platform, endorsed by independent Senator [[Nick Xenophon]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Benson |first=Eugene |url=http://www.mooneevalleyweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/melbourne-byelection-stephen-mayne-to-stand/2578807.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231051005/http://www.mooneevalleyweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/melbourne-byelection-stephen-mayne-to-stand/2578807.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-12-31 |title=Melbourne byelection: Stephen Mayne to stand - Local News - News - General |publisher=Moonee Valley Weekly |date=2012-06-04 |accessdate=2012-07-22 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maynereport.com/articles/2010/07/22-2330-2795.html |title=Stephen Mayne running for Senate on anti-pokies and pro-immigration platform: The Mayne Report 18 August 2010 |publisher=Maynereport.com |date= |accessdate=2012-07-22}}</ref>
|-
| {{Australian party style|Independent}}|&nbsp;
| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
| Kate Borland
| Public housing advocate.<ref name=Age>{{cite news|author=Josh Gordon |url=http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/alp-accuses-greens-of-grubby-deals-20120711-21wb7.html |title=ALP accuses Greens of 'grubby deals' |publisher=Theage.com.au |date=2012-07-12 |accessdate=2012-07-22 |location=Melbourne}}</ref>
|-
| {{Australian party style|Independent}}|&nbsp;
| [[Independent (politician)|Independent]]
| Adrian Whitehead
| Climate change activist, former Greens member and election candidate.<ref name=Age/>
|-
| {{Australian party style|Sex Party}}|&nbsp;
| [[Australian Sex Party]]
| [[Fiona Patten]]
| Party president and Eros Association CEO.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mooneevalleyweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/melbourne-byelection-sex-party-wont-doorknock/2601390.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231012229/http://www.mooneevalleyweekly.com.au/news/local/news/general/melbourne-byelection-sex-party-wont-doorknock/2601390.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-12-31 |title=Melbourne byelection: Sex Party won't door-knock - Local News - News - General |publisher=Moonee Valley Weekly |date=2012-06-26 |accessdate=2012-07-22 }}</ref>
|-
| {{Australian party style|Greens}}|&nbsp;
| [[Australian Greens Victoria|Australian Greens]]
| Cathy Oke
| [[City of Melbourne|Melbourne City Councillor]] and scientist.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cathyoke.com/ |title=Cathy Oke for Melbourne |publisher=Cathyoke.com |accessdate=2012-07-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724074514/http://www.cathyoke.com/ |archive-date=24 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
| {{Australian party style|Christian Democrats}}|&nbsp;
| [[Australian Christians (political party)|Australian Christians]]
| Maria Bengtsson
| No information available.
|}

==Polling==
*From 7 to 10 June 2012, 365 voters (5% [[Margin of error|MoE]]) in the seat were telephone polled by [[Roy Morgan Research]]. The Greens' [[Two-party-preferred vote|two-candidate-preferred]] vote was at 54 per cent to 46 per cent for Labor. The Greens' primary vote was at 48.5 per cent, Labor on 37.5 per cent, and Mayne on 7 per cent, with "others including [[Roy Morgan Research|Gary Morgan]] and Kevin Chamberlain" on a collective 7 per cent. Morgan and Chamberlain did not nominate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.roymorgan.com/news/polls/2012/4791/ |title=2012 Melbourne state by-election poll |publisher=Roymorgan.com |accessdate=2012-06-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615184824/http://www.roymorgan.com/news/polls/2012/4791/ |archive-date=15 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*On 16 July 2012, 403 voters (5% [[Margin of error|MoE]]) in the seat were [[robocall]] polled by ReachTel with results published in [[The Australian]]. The Greens' primary vote was at 38.1 per cent, Labor on 36.5 per cent, the Sex Party on 6.1 per cent, Mayne on 4.3 per cent, Family First on 3.8 per cent, with the remaining 11 candidates on a collective 11.2 per cent. While no two-candidate vote was produced, preference flows were said to be evenly divided between Labor and the Greens.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.reachtel.com.au/blog/preferences-the-key-for-greens-in-melbourne-by-election |title=Preferences the key for The Greens in the Melbourne by-election: ReachTel 18 July 2012 |publisher=Reachtel.com.au |date=2012-07-18 |accessdate=2012-07-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120722034800/http://www.reachtel.com.au/blog/preferences-the-key-for-greens-in-melbourne-by-election |archive-date=22 July 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Preferences==
[[How-to-vote card]]s (HTVs) had six candidates recommending voters to preference Labor over the Greens: Ahmed, Family First, Nolte, the DLP, the Sex Party, and the Christians. Six candidates recommended voters preference the Greens over Labor: Perkins, Collyer, Toscano, Mayne, Borland, and Whitehead. Not recommending preferences were Schorel-Hlavka and O'Connor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/current/StateBy2012HTVCMelbourneDistrict.html |title=2012 Melbourne by-election HTVs: VEC website |publisher=Vec.vic.gov.au |accessdate=2012-07-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120629134042/http://vec.vic.gov.au/current/StateBy2012HTVCMelbourneDistrict.html |archive-date=29 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Results==
{{Election box begin |
  |title=2012 Melbourne state by-election<ref name=Results>{{Cite web |url=http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/results/StateBy2012resultMelbourneDistrict.html |title=Melbourne 2012 by-election results: VEC |access-date=22 July 2012 |archive-date=24 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724105149/http://vec.vic.gov.au/Results/StateBy2012resultMelbourneDistrict.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Results/stateby2012distributionMelbourneDistrict.html |title=Melbourne District By-election 2012 Results Distribution of preference votes |publisher=Vec.vic.gov.au |date= |accessdate=2012-07-25 |archive-date=29 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429161543/https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Results/stateby2012distributionMelbourneDistrict.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Results/state2010resultMelbourneDistrict.html |title=Melbourne 2010 election results |publisher=Vec.vic.gov.au |date= |accessdate=2012-07-25}}</ref><ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/elections/vic/2012/melbourne/result.htm 2012 Melbourne by-election results]: [[Antony Green]] ABC</ref>
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
  |party      = Greens VIC
  |candidate  = Cathy Oke
  |votes      = 10,197
  |percentage = 36.52
  |change     = +4.60
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
  |party      = Labor VIC
  |candidate  = [[Jennifer Kanis]]
  |votes      = 9,321
  |percentage = 33.38
  |change     = –2.29
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
  |party      = Sex Party
  |candidate  = [[Fiona Patten]]
  |votes      = 1,832
  |percentage = 6.56
  |change     = +3.67
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
  |party      = Independent
  |candidate  = [[Stephen Mayne]]
  |votes      = 1,325
  |percentage = 4.74
  |change     = +4.74
}}

|-
| {{Australian party style|liberal|width:1px}} | &nbsp;
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Independent Liberal (Australia)|Independent Liberal]]
| style="text-align:left;"| David Nolte
| style="text-align:right;"| 1,302
| style="text-align:right;"| 4.66
| style="text-align:right;"| +4.66
|-

{{Election box candidate AU party|
  |party      = Independent
  |candidate  = [[Berhan Ahmed]]
  |votes      = 1,127
  |percentage = 4.04
  |change     = +4.04
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
  |party      = Family First
  |candidate  = Ashley Fenn
  |votes      = 841
  |percentage = 3.01
  |change     = +3.01
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
  |party      = Democratic Labor
  |candidate  = Michael Murphy
  |votes      = 521
  |percentage = 1.87
  |change     = +1.87
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
  |party      = Australian Christians
  |candidate  = Maria Bengtsson
  |votes      = 342
  |percentage = 1.22
  |change     = +1.22
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
  |party      = Independent
  |candidate  = [[Joseph Toscano]]
  |votes      = 208
  |percentage = 0.74
  |change     = +0.74
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
  |party      = Independent
  |candidate  = Kate Borland
  |votes      = 207
  |percentage = 0.74
  |change     = +0.74
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
  |party      = Independent
  |candidate  = Adrian Whitehead
  |votes      = 169
  |percentage = 0.61
  |change     = +0.61
}}

|-
| {{Australian party style|socialist equality|width:1px}} | &nbsp;
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Independent politician|Independent]] [[Socialist Equality Party (Australia)|Socialist Equality]]
| style="text-align:left;"| Patrick O'Connor
| style="text-align:right;"| 162
| style="text-align:right;"| 0.58
| style="text-align:right;"| +0.58
|-

|-
| {{Australian party style|democrats|width:1px}} | &nbsp;
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Independent politician|Independent]] [[Australian Democrats|Democrat]]
| style="text-align:left;"| David Collyer
| style="text-align:right;"| 160
| style="text-align:right;"| 0.57
| style="text-align:right;"| +0.57
|-

|-
| {{Australian party style|Secular|width:1px}} | &nbsp;
| style="text-align:left;"| [[Independent politician|Independent]] [[Secular Party of Australia|Secular]]
| style="text-align:left;"| John Perkins
| style="text-align:right;"| 162
| style="text-align:right;"| 0.58
| style="text-align:right;"| +0.58
|-

{{Election box candidate AU party|
  |party      = Independent
  |candidate  = Gerrit Schorel-Hlavka
  |votes      = 66
  |percentage = 0.24
  |change     = +0.24
}}
{{Election box formal|
|votes = 27,925
|percentage = 90.66
|change = –5.65
}}

{{Election box informal|
|votes = 2,878
|percentage = 9.34
|change = +5.65
}}

{{Election box turnout|
  |votes      = 30,803
  |percentage = 68.62
  |change     = –18.31
}}
{{Election box 2cp}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
|party = Labor VIC
|candidate = [[Jennifer Kanis]]
|votes = 14,384
|percentage = 51.51
|change = –4.66
}}
{{Election box candidate AU party|
|party = Greens VIC
|candidate = Cathy Oke
|votes = 13,541
|percentage = 48.49
|change = +4.66
}}
{{Election box hold AU party|
  |winner     = Labor VIC
  |swing      = –4.66
}}

{{Election box end}}

Almost two-thirds of preferences went to Labor over the Greens. The [[Two-party-preferred vote|two-candidate vote]] remained level during the polling booth count, however the postal vote count favoured Labor and put the result beyond doubt. The Greens conceded defeat on 24 July. The [[Victorian Electoral Commission]] (VEC) officially declared that Labor had retained the seat on 25 July. Results were final as of 31 July.<ref name=Results/><ref>[https://twitter.com/electionsvic Victorian Electoral Commission on Twitter (@electionsvic)]</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Tom Arup |url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/greens-concede-byelection-despite-bestever-campaign-20120724-22lns.html |title=Greens concede byelection despite 'best-ever' campaign |publisher=Theage.com.au |date=2012-07-16 |accessdate=2012-07-25 |location=Melbourne}}</ref>

==External links==
*[http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Results/stateby2012distributionMelbourneDistrict.html 2012 Melbourne by-election distribution of preference votes: VEC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429161543/https://www.vec.vic.gov.au/Results/stateby2012distributionMelbourneDistrict.html |date=29 April 2013 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120629134042/http://vec.vic.gov.au/current/StateBy2012HTVCMelbourneDistrict.html 2012 Melbourne by-election HTV cards, 35 registered HTVs: VEC]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120606030253/http://www.vec.vic.gov.au/current/MelbourneDistrictByElection.html 2012 Melbourne by-election website: VEC]
*[https://twitter.com/electionsvic @electionsvic VEC account: Twitter]
*[http://www.abc.net.au/elections/vic/2012/melbourne/ 2012 Melbourne by-election: Antony Green ABC]
*[http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/2012/07/18/melbourne-state-by-election Poll Bludger pre-election] - [http://blogs.crikey.com.au/pollbludger/2012/07/21/melbourne-by-election-live post-election]

==See also==
*[[Electoral results for the district of Melbourne]]
*[[List of Victorian state by-elections]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

[[Category:2012 elections in Australia|Melbourne]]
[[Category:Victorian state by-elections]]
[[Category:2010s in Melbourne|Melbournestatebyelection2012]]