The by-election was triggered by the resignation of independent MP Clover Moore due to the legislation preventing dual membership of state parliament and local council.

[2][3][4][5][6] Alex Greenwich, an independent candidate backed by Moore easily won the seat.

In two-party preferred terms, the seat had a Liberal vote of 65.5 percent (+22.4) against Labor.

[13][14] There was a 16.3 percent two-party preferred swing away from the Coalition government at the 2011 Clarence by-election.

The Coalition did not contest the 2012 Heffron by-election which Labor retained with an increased margin.