title: 1996 Port Macquarie state by-election
text: # 1996 Port Macquarie state by-election
  
  A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Port Macquarie on 30 November 1996 following the retirement of sitting member, Wendy Machin (National).
  
  ## Results
  
  1996 Port Macquarie by-election Saturday 30 November :
  
  | Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | | National | Rob Oakeshott | 17,293 | 46.71 | -5.93 |
  | | Independent | John Barrett | 11,920 | 32.20 | |
  | | Shooters | Chris Smith | 2,528 | 6.83 | |
  | | Against Further Immigration | John Hutchinson | 2,273 | 6.14 | |
  | | Greens | Susie Russell | 1,919 | 5.18 | +0.01 |
  | | Independent | Peter Farrugia | 603 | 1.63 | |
  | | Independent | Berdinus Kooy | 412 | 1.11 | |
  | | | Grant Rogers | 74 | 0.20 | |
  | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | Total formal votes | 37,022 | 98.38 | +2.23 |
  | Informal votes | Informal votes | Informal votes | 536 | 1.43 | -2.21 |
  | Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 37,558 | 88.53 | -6.60 |
  | Two-candidate-preferred result ||||||
  | | National | Rob Oakeshott | 18,559 | 54.86 | -6.82 |
  | | Independent | John Barrett | 15,268 | 45.14 | |
  | | National hold | National hold | Swing | N/A | |
  