| Parliament name |
Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name |
House of Representatives |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Senate
|
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
2 July 2016 |
| Purpose of elections |
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 |
Date of previous elections: 7 September 2013
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 9 May 2016
Timing of election: Early elections
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.
Number of seats at stake: 150 (full renewal)
Number of candidates: 994 (682 men, 312 women)
Percentage of women candidates: 31.4%
Number of parties contesting the election: 57
Number of parties winning seats: 5*
*Including one coalition.
Alternation of power: No
Number of parties in government: 4
Names of parties in government: Liberal, Liberal National Party, The Nationals and Country Liberals (NT)
Date of the first session of the new parliament: 30 August 2016
Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Tony Smith (Liberal Party)
|
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 2 July 2016 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
15'676'659
14'262'016 (90.98%)
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of votes |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% |
|
|
| Liberal National coalition |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Australian Labor Party (ALP) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Independents |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The Greens |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Katter's Australian Party |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Nick Xenophon Team |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
|
|
|
|
| Liberal National coalition |
76
|
|
|
|
|
| Australian Labor Party (ALP) |
69
|
|
|
|
|
| Independents |
2
|
|
|
|
|
| The Greens |
1
|
|
|
|
|
| Katter's Australian Party |
1
|
|
|
|
|
| Nick Xenophon Team |
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
107
43
28.67%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
| Comments |
Sources:
Parliament (10.08.2016)
http://vtr.aec.gov.au/HousePartyRepresentationLeading-20499.htm
http://www.aec.gov.au/election/key-facts.htm
http://vtr.aec.gov.au/HouseTurnoutByState-20499.htm
http://www.abc.net.au
http://www.smh.com.au
https://www.liberal.org.au/our-plan
http://www.alp.org.au/ |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
