List of Australian federal elections

This article provides a summary of results for the general elections to the Australian House of Representatives and Senate, respectively the lower and upper houses of Australia's federal bicameral legislative body, the Parliament of Australia. The number of seats has increased steadily over time, from 111 for the first election, to the current total of 226. The current federal government structure was established in 1900 by the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act, 1900.

Two groups have dominated politics in Australia: Labor and the Coalition, composed of the Liberal Party and the National Party. Since the foundation of the Liberal Party in 1944, these two groups have formed every government.

Although government has been a two-party system, the Senate has a multi-party tradition, beginning with the 1955 election, where one DLP candidate was elected (under the ALP-AC banner). Although the DLP ceased to be a force after Gough Whitlam took power in 1972, the Liberal Movement and its successor the Australian Democrats carved out their own niche. In the 1980s the NDP briefly gained election, and in the 1990s the Greens first joined the Senate, while more recently One Nation and Family First did the same.

In the past decade, the Democrats' federal parliamentary representation has disappeared, while the Greens have emerged at the national level to take their place. The Nationals' representation has also steadily declined, with their percentage of the vote hitting new lows. With the high-profile defection of Senator Julian McGauran to the Liberals in 2006, questions have been raised about the Nationals' viability, and proposals for a Liberal-National party merger have increased in strength.

Summary of results

House of Representatives

The total for the party forming government after the election is bolded. Parties that have never formed government are listed under "Others".

Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labour Free Trade Protectionist - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
1st 1901 Sir Edmund Barton The Protectionists do not gain a majority, and form a minority government with Labour support, while George Reid's Free Traders form the opposition. 14 28 31   2   75
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labour Free Trade Protectionist - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
2nd 1903 Alfred Deakin
(1856–1919)

Chris Watson
(1867–1941)
Sir George Reid
(1845–1918)
Alfred Deakin
(1856–1919)



Protectionist Alfred Deakin forms a minority government with Labour, but the coalition splits over a dispute on the Conciliation and Arbitration Bill.

Free Trade leader George Reid declines Government, so the Governor-General commissions Labour leader Chris Watson to form Government.

Watson resigns four months later and Free Trade forms Government under Reid, finally passing the Conciliation and Arbitration Act five months later.

Labour and the Protectionists return to Government in 1905 when Reid loses the confidence of the parliament.

 23 25 26     1 Revenue Tariff 75
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labour Anti-Socialist Protectionist - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
3rd 1906 Alfred Deakin
(1856–1919)

Andrew Fisher
(1862–1928)
Alfred Deakin
(1856–1919)


Protectionist Alfred Deakin forms another minority government, which remains in power largely due to the Anti-Socialists reluctance to pass a vote of no-confidence in it.

Deakin loses Labour's support in late 1908 and Andrew Fisher of the Labour Party becomes Prime Minister.

Alfred Deakin regains the Prime Ministership as leader of the new Commonwealth Liberal Party.

 26 27 16   1 1 Western Australian 75
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labour Commonwealth Liberal - - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
4th 1910 Andrew Fisher
(1862–1928)		 Labour wins control of the House of Representatives and the Senate under Andrew Fisher, becoming Australia's first elected federal majority. 43 31     1   75
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Commonwealth Liberal - - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
5th 1913 Joseph Cook
(1860–1947)		 The Commonwealth Liberals win a one-seat majority under Joseph Cook while Labor retains control of the Senate. 37 38         75
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Commonwealth Liberal - - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
6th 1914 Andrew Fisher
(1862–1928)

Billy Hughes
(1862–1952)

Labor forms a government under Andrew Fisher after the double dissolution election, where World War I breaks out in the middle of the campaign. Fisher resigns due to ill-health, and Labor forms government under Billy Hughes.

Hughes – a strong advocate of conscription – holds a national plebiscite on conscription to give his stance legitimacy. The plebiscite is defeated. On the 15 September 1916, Hughes is expelled from the Labor party. Hughes briefly forms the National Labor Party and forms Government, but then merges with the Commonwealth Liberal Party to form the Nationalist Party, with Hughes as Prime Minister and Joseph Cook as his deputy.

 42 32     1   75
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Nationalist - - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
7th 1917 Billy Hughes
(1862–1952)		 The Nationalists form a government under Billy Hughes. A second plebiscite on conscription is held and is defeated again in 1917. 22 53         75
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Nationalist Various Agrarian Parties[A] - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
8th 1919 Billy Hughes
(1862–1952)		 The Nationalists form another government under Billy Hughes with Independent support. 26 37 11   1   75
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Nationalist Country - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
9th 1922 Billy Hughes
(1862–1952)

Stanley Bruce
(1883–1967)

From around 1920, Hughes loses the support of many of the conservative elements of his party. The Nationalists lose their majority in the election. Earle Page declares that his Country Party will not serve under Hughes, forcing Hughes to resign a month after his re-election. His Treasurer Stanley Bruce forms a coalition Government with the Country Party. 29 26 14   1 5 Liberal 75
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Nationalist Country - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
10th 1925 Stanley Bruce
(1883–1967)		 The Coalition of Nationalists and the Country Party forms another government under Stanley Bruce. 23 37 14   1   75
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Nationalist Country - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
11th 1928 Stanley Bruce
(1883–1967)		 The Coalition forms another government under Stanley Bruce despite Labor gaining eight seats under Jim Scullin. 31 29 13   1 1 Country Progressives 75
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Nationalist Country - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
12th 1929 Jim Scullin
(1876–1953)		 Labor forms a government under Jim Scullin in an election where Prime Minister Stanley Bruce is defeated in his seat of Flinders. 46 14 10   4 1 Country Progressives 75
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor United Australia Party Country Lang Labor Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
13th 1931 Joe Lyons
(1879–1939)		 United Australia, forms a minority government under Joe Lyons. 14 34 16 4 1 6 Emergency Committee 75
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor United Australia Party Country Lang Labor Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
14th 1934 Joe Lyons
(1879–1939)		 The Coalition of the UAP and the Country Party forms a government under Joe Lyons. 18 28 14 9   5 LCL 74
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor United Australia Party Country Lang Labor Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
15th 1937 Joe Lyons
(1879–1939)

Sir Earle Page
(1880–1961)

Robert Menzies
(1894–1978)

The Coalition forms another government under Joe Lyons. 29 28 16   1   74
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor United Australia Party Country Lang Labor Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
16th 1940 Robert Menzies
(1894–1978)

Arthur Fadden
(1895–1973)

John Curtin
(1885–1945)

The Coalition forms a minority government under Robert Menzies.

Billy Hughes later replaces him as UAP leader, and Country Party leader Arthur Fadden replaces him as Coalition leader and Prime Minister. Fadden serves for only 40 days, until Labor and the independents defeat his budget.

Labor forms Government under John Curtin.

 32 23 14 4 1   74
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor United Australia Party Country Lang Labor Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
17th 1943 John Curtin
(1885–1945)

Frank Forde
(1890–1983)

Ben Chifley
(1885–1951)

Labor forms a government under John Curtin. 49 12 7   1 5 Country-National (3), Liberal Country, Country (QLD) 74
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal Country Lang Labor Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
18th 1946 Ben Chifley
(1885–1951)		 Labor forms a government under Ben Chifley. 43 15 11 1 1 3 LCL (2), Liberal Country 74
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal Country - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
19th 1949 Robert Menzies
(1894–1978)		 The Coalition forms a government under Robert Menzies, but lacks a Senate majority. Menzies uses the Senate’s rejection of the Commonwealth Bank Bill 1951 as a trigger for a double dissolution election. 47 55 19       121
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal Country - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
20th 1951 Robert Menzies
(1894–1978)		 The Coalition forms another government under Robert Menzies and gains control of the Senate after a double dissolution. 52 52 17       121
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal Country - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
21st 1954 Robert Menzies
(1894–1978)		 The Coalition forms another government under Robert Menzies. 57 47 17       121
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal Country - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
22nd 1955 Robert Menzies
(1894–1978)		 The Coalition forms another government under Robert Menzies. 47 57 18       122
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal Country - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
23rd 1958 Robert Menzies
(1894–1978)		 The Coalition forms another government under Robert Menzies. 45 58 19       122
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal Country - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
24th 1961 Robert Menzies
(1894–1978)		 The Coalition forms another government under Robert Menzies. 60 45 17       122
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal Country - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
25th 1963 Sir Robert Menzies
(1894–1978)

Harold Holt
(1908–1967)

The Coalition forms another government under Sir Robert Menzies. 50 52 20       122
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal Country - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
26th 1966 Harold Holt
(1908–1967)

John McEwen
(1900–1980)

John Gorton
(1911–2002)

The Coalition forms a government under Harold Holt. 41 61 21   1   124
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal Country - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
27th 1969 John Gorton
(1911–2002)

William McMahon
(1908–1988)

The Coalition forms a government under John Gorton. 59 46 20       125
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal Country - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
28th 1972 Gough Whitlam
(1916–2014)		 Labor forms its first government since 1949 under Gough Whitlam. 67 38 20       125
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal Country - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
29th 1974 Gough Whitlam
(1916–2014)

Malcolm Fraser
(1930–2015)

Labor forms another government under Gough Whitlam after a double dissolution triggered by a hostile Senate and resulting in the 1974 Joint Sitting.

The Coalition forms a government under Malcolm Fraser following his appointment as Prime Minister by Governor-General Sir John Kerr in the 1975 constitutional crisis.

 66 40 21       127
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal National Country Party - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
30th 1975 Malcolm Fraser
(1930–2015)		 The Coalition forms a government under Malcolm Fraser. 36 68 23       127
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal National Country Party - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
31st 1977 Malcolm Fraser
(1930–2015)		 The Coalition forms another government under Malcolm Fraser. 38 67 19       124
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal National Country Party - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
32nd 1980 Malcolm Fraser
(1930–2015)		 The Coalition forms another government under Malcolm Fraser. 51 54 20       125
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal Nationals - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
33rd 1983 Bob Hawke
(1929– )		 Labor forms a government under Bob Hawke after a double dissolution. 75 33 17       125
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal Nationals - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
34th 1984 Bob Hawke
(1929– )		 Labor forms another government under Bob Hawke. 82 45 21       148
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal Nationals - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
35th 1987 Bob Hawke
(1929– )		 Labor forms another government under Bob Hawke after a double dissolution over the Australia Card. 86 43 19       148
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal Nationals - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
36th 1990 Bob Hawke
(1929– )

Paul Keating
(1944– )

Labor forms another government under Bob Hawke. 78 55 14   1   148
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal Nationals - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
37th 1993 Paul Keating
(1944– )		 Labor forms a government under Paul Keating. 80 49 16   2   147
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal Nationals - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
38th 1996 John Howard
(1939– )		 The Coalition forms a government under John Howard. 49 75 19   5   148
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal Nationals - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
39th 1998 John Howard
(1939– )		 The Coalition forms another government under John Howard. 67 64 16   1   148
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal Nationals - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
40th 2001 John Howard
(1939– )		 The Coalition forms another government under John Howard. 65 69 13   3   150
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal Nationals - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
41st 2004 John Howard
(1939– )		 The Coalition forms another government under John Howard. 60 75 12   3   150
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal Nationals - Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
42nd 2007 Kevin Rudd
(1957– )

Julia Gillard
(1961– )

Labor forms a government under Kevin Rudd. 83 55 10   2   150
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal Nationals Greens Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
43rd 2010 Julia Gillard
(1961– )

Kevin Rudd
(1957– )

Labor forms a minority government with the support of 3 independents and 1 Green under Julia Gillard. 72 44 (+ 16 LNP and 1 CLP) 6 + (5 LNP) 1 4 1 WA Nationals 150
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal Nationals Greens Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
44th 2013 Tony Abbott
(1957– )



Malcolm Turnbull
(1954– )

The Coalition forms a government under Tony Abbott. 55 58 (+ 16 LNP and 1 CLP) 9 (+6 LNP) 1 2 2 (1) Katter's Australian Party
(1) Palmer United		 150
Election
Year		 Prime Minister Summary Labor Liberal Nationals Greens Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
45th 2016 Malcolm Turnbull
(1954– )		 The Coalition forms another government under Malcolm Turnbull. 69 45 (+ 15 LNP) 10 (+ 6 LNP) 1 2 2 (1) Katter's Australian Party
(1) Nick Xenophon Team		 150

Lower house primary, two-party and seat results since 1910

A two-party system has existed in the Australian House of Representatives since the two non-Labor parties merged in 1909. The 1910 election was the first to elect a majority government, with the Australian Labor Party concurrently winning the first Senate majority. A two-party-preferred vote (2PP) has been calculated since the 1919 change from first-past-the-post to preferential voting and subsequent introduction of the Coalition. ALP = Australian Labor Party, L+NP = grouping of Liberal/National/LNP/CLP Coalition parties (and predecessors), Oth = other parties and independents.

House of Representatives results and polling
Primary vote 2PP vote Seats
ALP L+NP Oth. ALP L+NP ALP L+NP Oth. Total
2 July 2016 election 34.7% 42.0% 23.3% 49.6% 50.4% 69 76 5 150
7 September 2013 election 33.4% 45.6% 21.1% 46.5% 53.5% 55 90 5 150
21 August 2010 election 38.0% 43.3% 18.8% 50.1% 49.9% 72 72 6 150
24 November 2007 election 43.4% 42.1% 14.5% 52.7% 47.3% 83 65 2 150
9 October 2004 election 37.6% 46.7% 15.7% 47.3% 52.7% 60 87 3 150
10 November 2001 election 37.8% 43.0% 19.2% 49.0% 51.0% 65 82 3 150
3 October 1998 election 40.1% 39.5% 20.4% 51.0% 49.0% 67 80 1 148
2 March 1996 election 38.7% 47.3% 14.0% 46.4% 53.6% 49 94 5 148
13 March 1993 election 44.9% 44.3% 10.7% 51.4% 48.6% 80 65 2 147
24 March 1990 election 39.4% 43.5% 17.1% 49.9% 50.1% 78 69 1 148
11 July 1987 election 45.8% 46.1% 8.1% 50.8% 49.2% 86 62 0 148
1 December 1984 election 47.6% 45.0% 7.4% 51.8% 48.2% 82 66 0 148
5 March 1983 election 49.5% 43.6% 6.9% 53.2% 46.8% 75 50 0 125
18 October 1980 election 45.2% 46.3% 8.5% 49.6% 50.4% 51 74 0 125
10 December 1977 election 39.7% 48.1% 12.2% 45.4% 54.6% 38 86 0 124
13 December 1975 election 42.8% 53.1% 4.1% 44.3% 55.7% 36 91 0 127
18 May 1974 election 49.3% 44.9% 5.8% 51.7% 48.3% 66 61 0 127
2 December 1972 election 49.6% 41.5% 8.9% 52.7% 47.3% 67 58 0 125
25 October 1969 election 47.0% 43.3% 9.7% 50.2% 49.8% 59 66 0 125
26 November 1966 election 40.0% 50.0% 10.0% 43.1% 56.9% 41 82 1 124
30 November 1963 election 45.5% 46.0% 8.5% 47.4% 52.6% 50 72 0 122
9 December 1961 election 47.9% 42.1% 10.0% 50.5% 49.5% 60 62 0 122
22 November 1958 election 42.8% 46.6% 10.6% 45.9% 54.1% 45 77 0 122
10 December 1955 election 44.6% 47.6% 7.8% 45.8% 54.2% 47 75 0 122
29 May 1954 election 50.0% 46.8% 3.2% 50.7% 49.3% 57 64 0 121
28 April 1951 election 47.6% 50.3% 2.1% 49.3% 50.7% 52 69 0 121
10 December 1949 election 46.0% 50.3% 3.7% 49.0% 51.0% 47 74 0 121
28 September 1946 election 49.7% 39.3% 11.0% 54.1% 45.9% 43 26 5 74
21 August 1943 election 49.9% 23.0% 27.1% 58.2% 41.8% 49 19 6 74
21 September 1940 election 40.2% 43.9% 15.9% 50.3% 49.7% 32 36 6 74
23 October 1937 election 43.2% 49.3% 7.5% 49.4% 50.6% 29 44 2 74
15 September 1934 election 26.8% 45.6% 27.6% 46.5% 53.5% 18 42 14 74
19 December 1931 election 27.1% 48.4% 24.5% 41.5% 58.5% 14 50 11 75
12 October 1929 election 48.8% 44.2% 7.0% 56.7% 43.3% 46 24 5 75
17 November 1928 election 44.6% 49.6% 5.8% 48.4% 51.6% 31 42 2 75
14 November 1925 election 45.0% 53.2% 1.8% 46.2% 53.8% 23 50 2 75
16 December 1922 election 42.3% 47.8% 9.9% 48.8% 51.2% 29 40 6 75
13 December 1919 election 42.5% 54.3% 3.2% 45.9% 54.1% 25 38 2 75
5 May 1917 election 43.9% 54.2% 1.9% – – 22 53 0 75
5 September 1914 election 50.9% 47.2% 1.9% – – 42 32 1 75
31 May 1913 election 48.5% 48.9% 2.6% – – 37 38 0 75
13 April 1910 election 50.0% 45.1% 4.9% – – 42 31 2 75
Polling conducted by Newspoll and published in The Australian. Three percent margin of error.

Senate

Parties that have never won multiple seats in consecutive elections are listed under "Others". Results represent the composition of the Senate after the elections. Double dissolutions are underlined and highlighted in puce.

Election
Year		 Labor[A] Liberal[B] National[C] Democratic
Labor		 Democrats Greens CLP Independent Other
parties		 Total
seats
1st 1901 8 11[D] 17               36
2nd 1903 8 12[D] 14           1 1 Revenue Tariff 36
3rd 1906 15 6[D] 13           2   36
4th 1910 22 14               36
5th 1913 29 7               36
6th 1914 31 5               36
7th 1917 12 24               36
8th 1919 1 35               36
9th 1922 12 24               36
10th 1925 8 25 3             36
11th 1928 7 24 5             36
12th 1931 10 21 5             36
13th 1934 3 26 7             36
14th 1937 16 16 4             36
15th 1940 17 15 4             36
16th 1943 22 12 2             36
17th 1946 33 2 1             36
18th 1949 34 21 5             60
19th 1951 28 26 6             60
20th 1953 29 26 5             60
21st 1955 28 24 6 2           60
22nd 1958 26 25 7 2           60
23rd 1961 28 24 6 1       1   60
24th 1964 27 23 7 2       1   60
25th 1967 27 21 7 4       1   60
26th 1970 26 21 5 5       3   60
27th 1974 29 23 6         1 1 Liberal Movement 60
28th 1975 27 26 6       1 1 1 Liberal Movement 64
29th 1977 27 27 6   2   1 1   64
30th 1980 27 28 3   5   1 1   64
31st 1983 30 23 4   5   1 1   64
32nd 1984 34 27 5   7   1 1 1 Nuclear Disarmament 76
33rd 1987 32 26 7   7   1 2 1 Nuclear Disarmament 76
34th 1990 32 28 5   8   1 1 1 WA Greens 76
35th 1993 30 29 6   7   1 1 2 Greens (WA) (2) 76
36th 1996 29 31 5   7   1 1 2 Greens (WA), Greens (Tas) 76
37th 1998 29 31 3   9 1 1 1 1 One Nation 76
38th 2001 28 31 3   8 2 1 2 1 One Nation 76
39th 2004 28 33 5   4 4 1   1 Family First 76
40th 2007 32 32 4     5 1 1 1 Family First 76
41st 2010 31 28 + (3 LNP) 2 1   9 1 1   76
42nd 2013 25 23 + (5 LNP) 3 + (1 LNP) 1   10 1 1 6 Family First,
Liberal Democrats,
Motoring Enthusiasts,
Palmer United (3)		 76
43rd 2016 26 21 + (3 LNP) 3 + (2 LNP)   9 1 11 Family First,
Liberal Democrats,
Jacqui Lambie,
Justice Party,
Nick Xenophon Team (3),
One Nation (4)		 76

Notes

A 1 Includes Famers and Settlers Party and Victorian Farmers Union
B 1 2 Includes results for the Free Trade Party for 1901 and 1903, the Anti-Socialist Party for 1906, the Commonwealth Liberal Party for 1910—1914, the Nationalist Party for 1917—1929, and the United Australia Party for 1931—1943.
C 1 2 Includes results for the Country Party for 1919—1974 and the National Country Party for 1975—1980.
D 1 2 3 4 5 6 Protectionist Party
E 1 2 3 4 Lang Labor

See also

References

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