Macquarie Fields By-election 2005 : Home

The Australian Labor Party (ALP) managed to retain the Macquarie Fields seat but suffered a 13 per cent swing towards the Liberal Party. Current New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma says the swing is a result of the recent controversy involving former federal ALP leader Mark Latham and his book The Latham Diaries. Nevertheless, the departure of former Planning and Infrastructure Minister Craig Knowles has left the seat open to new ALP candidate Steven Chaytor.

Chaytor studied at Sydney's University of Technology where he graduated with degrees in international studies and law. He worked as an advisor to former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam and entered local politics in 1999 as a city councillor for Campbelltown.