Australia

House of Representatives

Political system: Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament: Bicameral
IPU membership: Yes

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.

Results

About the election: The Liberal National coalition, led by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, reduced its share but retained an outright majority in the 150-member House of Representatives. It also became the largest force in the 76-member Senate. The Australian Labor Party (ALP), led by Mr. Bill Shorten, increased the number of seats won from 55 to 69 in the House of Representatives. During the election campaigning, the major parties focused on the health system, child care, tax cuts and climate change.

The 2016 elections followed the first "double dissolution" (see note) since 1987. As well as ending the term of office of the members of the House of Representatives, the double dissolution also brought an end to the terms of all 76 senators. On 8 May 2016, Prime Minister Turnbull (who had succeeded Mr. Tony Abbott as Liberal Party leader in September 2015) asked the Governor General, Sir Peter Cosgrove, to dissolve Parliament after the Senate twice rejected a bill that had been passed by the House of Representatives.

Note:

The House of Representatives is fully renewed every three years. By contrast, the Senate is a more continuous body: one half of the senators end their six-year term every three years on a rolling basis. However, both Chambers may be dissolved simultaneously in accordance with Section 57 of the Constitution, in case of an irreconcilable disagreement between the two Houses.

The terms of senators, elected on 2 July 2016, were taken to have commenced on 1 July 2016. The 72 state senators will be divided into two classes: short-term senators whose terms expire on 30 June 2019, and long-term senators whose terms expire on 30 June 2022. The four senators elected to represent the federal territories will serve a three-year term as normal, and on the same electoral timetable as members of the House of Representatives.

Source: http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Double_dissolution
Number of parties winning seats: 5
Percentage of parties winning seats: 8.8%
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition: 50.7%
Alternation of power after elections: No
Number of parties in government: 4
Names of parties in government: Liberal, Liberal National Party, The Nationals and Country Liberals (NT)

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group	Total
Liberal National coalition	76
Australian Labor Party (ALP)	69
Independents	2
The Greens	1
Katter's Australian Party (KAP)	1
Nick Xenophon Team	1

Members elected, by sex

Number of men elected: 107
Number of women elected: 43
Percentage of women elected: 28.7%
Women Directly Elected: 43
Other notes on the elections: Number of parties winning seats: 5, including one coalition.

Expected date of next elections: No later than 2 November 2019. Elections are due within 68 days of the dissolution of the House of Representatives, whose three-year term is due to expire on 30 August 2019.
Sources: Parliament (10.08.2016)

Australian Electoral Commission

ABC

The Sydney Morning Herald

The Liberal Party of Australia

The Australian Labor Party

New legislature

Total number of men after the election: 107
Total number of women after the election: 43
Percentage of women after the election: 28.7%
First-term parliamentarians: 35
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians: 23.3%
Date of the first session: 30 Aug 2016

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature: Tony Smith (Male)
Date of birth: 1967
Political party: Liberal Party
Date of election: 30 Aug 2016

Australia

House of Representatives

Election results

Background

Candidates

Voter turnout