title: 1956 Wentworth by-election
text: # 1956 Wentworth by-election
  
  A by-election was held for the Australian House of Representatives seat of Wentworth on 8 December 1956. This was triggered by the resignation of Liberal Party MP Eric Harrison.
  
  The by-election was narrowly won by Liberal Party candidate Les Bury. His final opponent on the two-party-preferred vote, after overtaking the Labor candidate on preferences, was Reg Robson, brother of recently deposed state Liberal leader Murray Robson. Murray Robson supported his brother during the campaign, and it was reported that there was "some talk of expelling" Robson from the party for his role.
  
  ## Results
  
  Wentworth by-election, 1956 :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | Liberal | Les Bury | 13,956 | 41.3 | -30.7 |
  | | Labor | Kevin Starr | 6,455 | 19.1 | +19.1 |
  | | Independent Liberal | Reg Robson | 6,414 | 19.0 | +19.0 |
  | | Independent Liberal | Reg Bartley | 4,109 | 12.2 | +12.2 |
  | | Independent | Cecil Sindel | 1,470 | 4.3 | +4.3 |
  | | Independent Liberal | Alan Laing | 1,414 | 4.2 | +4.2 |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 33,818 | 97.7 | -0.1 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 1,167 | 3.3 | +0.1 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 34,985 | 81.5 | -10.8 |
  | Two-party-preferred result ||||||
  | | Liberal | Les Bury | 17,460 | 51.6 | -20.4 |
  | | Independent Liberal | Reg Robson | 16,358 | 48.4 | N/A |
  | | Liberal hold | Liberal hold | Swing | N/A | |
  