title: 1996 Clarence state by-election
text: # 1996 Clarence state by-election
  
  A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Clarence on 25 May 1996 following the resignation of sitting member, Ian Causley (National), to contest federal seat of Page at the 1996 election.
  
  On the same day, by-elections were held in the seats of Orange, Pittwater, Southern Highlands and Strathfield.
  
  All seats were retained by the Liberal-National Parties, with the exception of Clarence, that was won by the Labor Party with a swing on a two-party preferred basis of 13.96%. The successful ALP candidate was Harry Woods who was the sitting member for the federal seat of Page when he was defeated at the 1996 federal election by Ian Causley, ironically the previous member for Clarence.
  
  ## Results
  
  1996 Clarence by-election Saturday 25 May :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Labor | Harry Woods | 18,030 | 51.29 | +17.11 |
  | | National | Geoff Knight | 14,662 | 41.71 | -11.32 |
  | | Democrats | Peter Wrightson | 1,415 | 4.02 | +1.00 |
  | | Greens | Christina Sharman | 1,049 | 2.98 | -0.57 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 35,156 | 98.73 | +1.78 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 451 | 1.27 | -1.78 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 35,607 | 89.20 | -5.18 |
  | Two-party-preferred result ||||||
  | | Labor | Harry Woods | 19,280 | 55.67 | +13.96 |
  | | National | Geoff Knight | 15,352 | 44.33 | -13.96 |
  | | Labor gain from National | Labor gain from National | Swing | +13.96 | |
  