title: 1981 Sturt state by-election
text: # 1981 Sturt state by-election
  
  A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Sturt on 21 February 1981 following the resignation of Tim Fischer (National Country) to successfully contest the seat of Murray at the 1980 by-election.
  
  By-elections for the seats of Cessnock, Oxley and Maitland were held on the same day.
  
  ## Dates
  
  | Date | Event |
  | - | - |
  | 12 August 1980 | Resignation of Tim Fischer. |
  | 22 January 1981 | Writ of election issued by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly and close of electoral rolls. |
  | 29 January 1981 | Day of nomination |
  | 21 February 1981 | Polling day |
  | 13 March 1981 | Return of writ |
  
  ## Results
  
  1981 Sturt by-election Saturday 21 February :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | National Country | John Sullivan | 11,614 | 63.1 | -3.0 |
  | | Labor | Michael Anthony | 6,805 | 37.0 | +3.0 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 18,419 | 99.1 | +0.5 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 165 | 0.9 | -0.5 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 18,584 | 82.6 | -11.2 |
  | | National Country hold | National Country hold | Swing | -3.0 | |
  