1996 Southern Highlands state by-election

A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly electorate of Southern Highlands on May 25, 1996, following the resignation of sitting member, John Fahey, to contest federal seat of Macarthur at the 1996 election.

On the same day, by-elections were held in the seats of Clarence, Orange, Pittwater and Strathfield.

All seats were retained by the Liberal-National Parties, with the exception of Clarence. In Southern Highlands, there was three-cornered-contest between coalition partners, the Liberal and National Parties. Despite the Nationals candidate polling the highest number of first preference votes, the Liberal Party retained the seat with a swing of 8.00% against them on a two-party preferred basis.

Southern Highlands by-election, 1996

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	National	Katrina Hodgkinson	11,530	32.60	+32.60
	Liberal	Peta Seaton	10,565	29.87	−24.69
	Labor	Philip Yeo	8,862	25.06	−7.48
	Democrats	Greg Butler	2,155	6.09	+1.54
	Independent	Malcolm Duncan	1,493	4.22	+4.22
	Call to Australia	Charles Chappell	763	2.16	+0.53
Informal votes			712	1.97	−1.81
Turnout			36,080	89.43	−5.85
Two-party-preferred result
	Liberal	Peta Seaton	19,933	52.37	−8.00
	National	Katrina Hodgkinson	15,400	47.63	+47.63
	Liberal hold		Swing	−8.00