2025 Kiama state by-election

2025 Kiama state by-election
Electoral district of Kiama in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Registered	62,486
Turnout	51,890 (89.82%)
MP before election; Gareth Ward; Independent	Elected MP ; Katelin McInerney; Labor

The 2025 Kiama state by-election was 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]

Thirteen candidates stood in the 2025 Kiama state by-election.^[4] Labor candidate Katelin McInerney was projected to have won the by-election at 7:45 pm AEST on election night.^[5]

Background

Resignation of previous MP

The previous member for Kiama, Gareth Ward, a former Liberal Party Minister turned independent MP, 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.^[6]^[7]^[8]

Previous results

2023 New South Wales state election: Kiama^[9]^[10]^[11]
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

Key dates

Some important dates for this by-election included:^[12]

14 August 2025 — Postal vote applications opened
22 August 2025 — The writ was issued
22 August 2025 — Electoral rolls closed
22 August 2025 — Candidate nominations opened
28 August 2025 — Candidate nominations closed
29 August 2025 — Candidates were announced
6 September 2025 — Early voting commenced
6 September 2025 — Telephone-assisted voting opened
12 September 2025 — Early voting closed
12 September 2025 — Telephone-assisted voting applications closed
13 September 2025 — Election day from 8 am to 6 pm
13 September 2025 — Telephone-assisted voting closed
30 September 2025 — Distribution of preferences
1 October 2025 — Results are declared
3–21 October 2025 — Return of writ

Candidates

13 candidates stood in the election.^[4] The table below shows candidates according to the NSW Electoral Commission, listed in the order they appeared on the ballot.^[12]

	Candidate	Background
Greens	Tonia Gray^[13]	Former City of Shoalhaven councillor and candidate for Kiama in 2023
Liberal	Serena Copley^[14]	Trainer and former City of Shoalhaven councillor
Independent	Andrew Thaler^[13]^[15]	Snowy Monaro Regional councillor, candidate for the 2019 New South Wales state election in Monaro, and 2022 and 2025 federal elections in Eden-Monaro.
Independent	Roger Woodward^[12]	Accountant and candidate for Berowra in the 2025 federal election and Hornsby in 2024
Legalise Cannabis	Don Fuggle^[16]	Activist
Sustainable Australia	Ken Davis^[17]	Mental health professional
Independent	Lisa Cotton^[18]^[12]	Community advocate
Independent	Cyrille Jeufo Keuheu^[19]	IT developer
Shooters, Fishers, Farmers	Felix Nelson^[13]	Land manager and Army veteran
Libertarian	Joshua Beer^[20]	Liberal candidate for Lake Macquarie in 2023
Animal Justice	Ellie Robertson^[12]	Perennial candidate
Independent	Kate Dezarnaulds^[21]	Small business owner and candidate for Gilmore in the 2025 federal election
Labor	Katelin McInerney^[22]^[13]	Journalist and candidate for Kiama in 2023

Family First intended to stand Kyle Napoleoni as the party's candidate, but his nomination was disqualified for not meeting NSW Electoral Commission requirements.^[23]^[13]

Results

2025 Kiama state by-election^[1]^[24]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Labor	Katelin McInerney	18,622	37.32	+2.93
	Liberal	Serena Copley	13,226	26.51	+14.48
	Independent	Kate Dezarnaulds	5,225	10.47	+10.47
	Greens	Tonia Gray	4,074	8.17	–2.97
	Legalise Cannabis	Don Fuggle	2,550	5.11	+5.11
	Shooters, Fishers, Farmers	Felix Nelson	2,543	5.10	+5.10
	Libertarian	Joshua Beer	895	1.79	+1.79
	Independent	Lisa Cotton	676	1.35	+1.35
	Animal Justice	Ellie Robertson	622	1.25	+1.25
	Independent	Andrew Thaler	544	1.09	+1.09
	Independent	Roger Woodward	429	0.86	+0.86
	Sustainable Australia	Ken Davis	420	0.84	–2.81
	Independent	Cyrille Jeufo Keuheu	69	0.14	+0.14
Total formal votes			49,895	96.16	−0.74
Informal votes			1,995	3.84	+0.74
Turnout			51,890	83.04	−6.78
Two-party-preferred result
	Labor	Katelin McInerney	23,313	60.19	–9.54
	Liberal	Serena Copley	15,421	39.81	+9.54
	Labor gain from Independent		Swing	–9.54

References

^ ^a ^b "LA - Check Count First Preference District Summary - Kiama". NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 29 September 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.
^ ^a ^b Fuller, Kelly (12 September 2025). "Kiama by-election could signal voter mood across NSW". ABC Illawarra. ABC News. Archived from the original on 12 September 2025. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
^ nswpol [@nswpol_au] (13 September 2025). "BREAKING: Labor wins Kiama by-election" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 13 September 2025. Retrieved 13 September 2025 – via Twitter. Three leading psephologists, Kevin Bonham, William Bowe and Ben Raue, have all called the result by 7:45 PM.
^ 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.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "2025 Kiama State by-election". NSW Electoral Commission. 29 August 2025. Archived from the original on 31 August 2025. Retrieved 31 August 2025.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e "Three more candidates enter race for Kiama by-election". The Kiama Bugle. Regional Media Group. 21 August 2025. Archived from the original on 22 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
^ Gilbert, Romy and McGuirk-Scolaro, Mikayla (15 August 2025). "Young Liberals expel Gareth Ward as party announces Kiama candidate". ABC News. Archived from the original on 22 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
^ McSweeney, Jessica (21 August 2025). "Three women are running for NSW Parliament. A male serial pest wants to stop them". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 21 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
^ "Kiama NSW - By-Election". Legalise Cannabis Party. Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW. 24 August 2025. Archived from the original on 25 August 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
^ "2025 Kiama By-election - 13 September 2025". Sustainable Australia Party. Burlington Street Crows Nest NSW. Ken Davis for Kiama. Archived from the original on 25 August 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2025.
^ "Lisa Cotton | Your Local Community Advocate". Lisa Cotton. Primbee NSW. 29 August 2025. Archived from the original on 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
^ "The Loudest Megaphone in the Country". Cyrille Jeufo Keuheu. Wentworth Avenue, Mascot NSW. 29 August 2025. Archived from the original on 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
^ Whalan, Mark (21 August 2025). "KCR news transcript". Archived from the original on 22 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025 – via Facebook. Kate Dezarnaulds has also nominated as a Community Independent with Joshua Beer announcing as running as a Libertarian after previously running in Lake Macquarie for the Liberals in 2023. It is not known if Joshua Beer will be on the ballot with LIB after his name.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ Green, Antony (28 August 2025). "Why does NSW have a 12-month Delay on Registered Parties being granted the Benefits of Registration?". Antony Green's Election Blog. Archived from the original on 28 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
^ "LA - Check Count TCP District Summary - Kiama". NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 29 September 2025.

External links

2025 Kiama State by-election (NSW Electoral Commission)

[firstprefs-1] "LA - Check Count First Preference District Summary - Kiama". NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 29 September 2025.

[2] 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.

[3] 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.

[ABC,_11_Sep-4] Fuller, Kelly (12 September 2025). "Kiama by-election could signal voter mood across NSW". ABC Illawarra. ABC News. Archived from the original on 12 September 2025. Retrieved 21 September 2025.

[5] swpol [@nswpol_au] (13 September 2025). "BREAKING: Labor wins Kiama by-election" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 13 September 2025. Retrieved 13 September 2025 – via Twitter. Three leading psephologists, Kevin Bonham, William Bowe and Ben Raue, have all called the result by 7:45 PM.

[6] 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.

[7] 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.

[8] 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.

[9] LA First Preference: Kiama, NSW State Election Results 2023, NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 13 April 2023.

[10] LA Two Candidate Preferred: Kiama, NSW State Election Results 2023, NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 13 April 2023.

[11] Two Candidate Preferred (TCP) Analytical Tool: Kiama, NSW State Election Results 2023, NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 27 April 2023.

[NSWEC-12] "2025 Kiama State by-election". NSW Electoral Commission. 29 August 2025. Archived from the original on 31 August 2025. Retrieved 31 August 2025.

[x3Candidates-13] "Three more candidates enter race for Kiama by-election". The Kiama Bugle. Regional Media Group. 21 August 2025. Archived from the original on 22 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.

[14] Gilbert, Romy and McGuirk-Scolaro, Mikayla (15 August 2025). "Young Liberals expel Gareth Ward as party announces Kiama candidate". ABC News. Archived from the original on 22 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.

[15] McSweeney, Jessica (21 August 2025). "Three women are running for NSW Parliament. A male serial pest wants to stop them". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 21 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025.

[16] "Kiama NSW - By-Election". Legalise Cannabis Party. Macquarie Street, Sydney NSW. 24 August 2025. Archived from the original on 25 August 2025. Retrieved 25 August 2025.

[17] "2025 Kiama By-election - 13 September 2025". Sustainable Australia Party. Burlington Street Crows Nest NSW. Ken Davis for Kiama. Archived from the original on 25 August 2025. Retrieved 24 August 2025.

[18] "Lisa Cotton | Your Local Community Advocate". Lisa Cotton. Primbee NSW. 29 August 2025. Archived from the original on 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.

[19] "The Loudest Megaphone in the Country". Cyrille Jeufo Keuheu. Wentworth Avenue, Mascot NSW. 29 August 2025. Archived from the original on 29 August 2025. Retrieved 29 July 2025.

[20] Whalan, Mark (21 August 2025). "KCR news transcript". Archived from the original on 22 August 2025. Retrieved 22 August 2025 – via Facebook. Kate Dezarnaulds has also nominated as a Community Independent with Joshua Beer announcing as running as a Libertarian after previously running in Lake Macquarie for the Liberals in 2023. It is not known if Joshua Beer will be on the ballot with LIB after his name.

[21] 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.

[22] 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.

[23] Green, Antony (28 August 2025). "Why does NSW have a 12-month Delay on Registered Parties being granted the Benefits of Registration?". Antony Green's Election Blog. Archived from the original on 28 August 2025. Retrieved 29 August 2025.

[2ppvotes-24] "LA - Check Count TCP District Summary - Kiama". NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 29 September 2025.

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