The previous Member for Holt was Gareth Evans, who represented the electorate from 1996 to 1999. He resigned from Parliament on 30 September 1999 and the writ for the by-election was issued on 1 October 1999.
Demographic Rating: Outer Metropolitan
Seat Status: Safe Labor
Two Party Preferred:
LP: 34.89%
ALP: 65.11%
Two Party Preferred:
DEM: 27.94%
ALP: 72.06%
A total of 5 candidates nominated for the 6 November 1999 Holt by-election compared with seven at the 1998 federal election. There were 84 725 electors enrolled for the 6 November by-election. The Divisional Returning Officer for Holt declared Anthony Byrne (ALP) as the new Member on 12 November 1999.
| Candidates | Party | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| MULHOLLAND | DLP | 5 404 | 7.31 |
| SCOULLAR | GRN | 4 701 | 6.36 |
| DICKSON | CTA | 4 399 | 5.95 |
| MORGAN | DEM | 10 896 | 14.74 |
| #BYRNE | ALP | 48 499 | 65.63 |
| … | UNI | ||
| … | LP | ||
| … | NLP | ||
| … | OTH | ||
| Formal | 73 899 | 92.81 | |
| Informal | 5 727 | 7.19 | |
| TOTAL | 79 626 | 93.98 | |