1973 Murray state by-election

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Murray on 6 October 1973 because of the death of Joe Lawson (Independent). Lawson had represented the district since 1932, as a member of the Country Party until 1968 when he lost pre-selection. He ran as an independent, winning the seat at the 1968 and 1971 elections.

Dates

Date	Event
14 August 1973	Joe Lawson died.
7 September 1973	Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
14 September 1973	Nominations
6 October 1973	Polling day
2 November 1973	Return of writ

Candidates

This was the first election for all 3 candidates and each would again contest the electorate at the general election in November 1973 with similar results.

• Mary Meillon (Liberal) was the eldest daughter of Joe Lawson.
• Bruce Jeffery (Country) was secretary of the Rural Lands Protection Board in Jerilderie and would later be elected the member for Oxley.
• Douglas Drew (Labor) did not stand again after 1973.

Result

1973 Murray by-election
Saturday 6 October 

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Country	Bruce Jeffery	6,663	39.96	+8.77
	Liberal	Mary Meillon	5,661	33.95	+19.68
	Labor	Douglas Drew	4,351	26.09	+26.09
Total formal votes			16,675	98.6	+1.6
Informal votes			236	1.4	−1.6
Turnout			16,911	85.0	−5.6
Two-party-preferred result
	Liberal	Mary Meillon	8,335	51.15	+51.15
	Country	Bruce Jeffery	8,145	48.85	−0.57
	Liberal gain from Independent		Swing

See also

• Electoral results for the district of Murray
• List of New South Wales state by-elections