title: 2004 Dubbo state by-election
text: # 2004 Dubbo state by-election
  
  A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly district of Dubbo on 20 November 2004. It was triggered by the death of Tony McGrane (Independent).
  
  The by-election saw McGrane succeeded by another independent in Dawn Fardell.
  
  ## Background
  
  On 15 September 2004, the independent sitting member Tony McGrane for Dubbo died after a battle with liver cancer. McGrane was first elected at the 1999 state election and re-elected at the 2003 state election. His death triggered a by-election for the vacant seat.
  
  The by-election presented the National with an opportunity to regain the seat they had held for 18 years from 1981 before losing it to McGrane in 1999. However, the seat was won instead by another independent, Dubbo deputy mayor Dawn Fardell.
  
  The by-election was not contested by the Labor, the party in government at the time. Nor was it contested by the opposition Liberal, who deferred to their junior coalition partner the National Party, as is typical in regional districts.
  
  ## Dates
  
  | Date | Event |
  | - | - |
  | 1 November 2004 | Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and close of electoral rolls. |
  | 4 November 2004 | Date of nomination |
  | 20 November 2004 | Polling day |
  | 17 December 2004 | Return of writ |
  
  ## Results
  
  2004 Dubbo by-election Saturday 20 November :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Independent | Dawn Fardell | 19,511 | 50.56 | +50.56 |
  | | National | Jen Cowley | 16,365 | 42.41 | +4.19 |
  | | Greens | Terrance Loughlin | 1,390 | 3.60 | +0.92 |
  | | Independent | Makere Rangihaeata | 1,326 | 3.44 | +3.44 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 38,592 | 98.50 | +0.18 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 589 | 1.50 | −0.18 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 39,181 | 88.92 | −5.20 |
  | Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
  | | Independent | Dawn Fardell | 20,794 | 55.24 | |
  | | National | Jen Cowley | 16,847 | 44.76 | |
  | | Independent hold | Independent hold | Swing | N/A | |
  