Maguire resigned from Parliament the previous month after admitting to a corruption inquiry that he sought payment over a property deal.

[2] The day after the vote ABC election expert Antony Green predicted the by-election would be won by independent candidate Joe McGirr.

[5] McGirr only trailed the Liberals by 28 votes on the first count, and was elected on Labor preferences.

The by-election came two weeks after two federal Liberal leadership spills on 21 and 24 August, which resulted in the removal of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

The Nationals elected not to field a candidate, following considerable debate between the two Coalition partners.