A by-election for the seat of Cottesloe in the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia was held on 11 August 1990. It was triggered by the resignation of Bill Hassell (the sitting Liberal member and former leader of the opposition) on 28 June 1990. The Liberal Party retained Cottesloe at the election with an increased majority, with Colin Barnett (an economist) securing 70.26 percent of the two-party-preferred vote. The Labor Party did not field a candidate.
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Background
Bill Hassell had held Cottesloe for the Liberal Party since the 1977 state election. He replaced Ray O'Connor as leader of the Liberal Party (and thus as leader of the opposition) in February 1984, but was replaced as leader by Barry MacKinnon in November 1986, having lost the 1986 election earlier in the year. He remained in the shadow ministry until shortly before his resignation from parliament, which occurred on 28 June 1990. The writ for the by-election was issued on 10 July, with the close of nominations on 18 July. Polling day was on 11 August, with the writ returned on 22 August.
Results
Aftermath
Barnett has retained Cottesloe at every state election since 1990. He was a minister in the government of Richard Court, and was deputy leader from 1993 to 2001. He led the party from 2001 to 2005 without electoral success, but was re-elected leader prior to the 2008 state election and subsequently became premier, a position which he continues to hold.