perkins was elected again in aubigny in the 1883 election, however, allegations about electoral fraud (including intimidation, bribery, and ballot stuffing) in the aubigny election started to surface, resulting in a petition to the governor of queensland detailing numerous kind of electoral fraud and asking to declare that the aubigny election was void and that patrick perkins was guilty of bribery and corruption. on 21 february 1884, the committee of elections and qualifications ruled the aubigny election was null and void and called for a by-election. perkins had denied any involvement in the alleged electoral fraud and the committee of elections and qualifications did not disqualify him from re-contesting the seat, which provoked outrage in some quarters. however, patrick perkins announced he would not re-contest the seat as he would be taking a trip to england.