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| 2013 federal election | |
|---|---|
| Name | 2013 federal election |
| Country | Australia |
| Type | Parliamentary |
| Previous election | 2010 Australian federal election |
| Next election | 2016 Australian federal election |
| Seats for election | House of Representatives and Senate seats |
| Election date | 7 September 2013 |
2013 federal election was held on 7 September 2013 to elect members of the House of Representatives and half of the Senate of Australia. The contest ended a six-year period of Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd leadership within the Australian Labor Party and brought Tony Abbott and the Liberal Party of Australia into a coalition with the National Party of Australia to form government. Major national figures included Joe Hockey, Julie Bishop, Wayne Swan, and Clive Palmer, with significant campaigning across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, and Western Australia.
The election followed the internal leadership changes in the Australian Labor Party when Julia Gillard replaced Kevin Rudd in 2010 and Kevin Rudd later returned to the leadership in 2013, prompting debates within Labor and reactions from the Liberal Party of Australia and the National Party of Australia. The minority government formed after the 2010 Australian federal election relied on crossbench support from independents such as Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott and from the Australian Greens and minor parties like Family First and Katter's Australian Party. Economic statements from treasurers including Wayne Swan and policy disputes involving ministers such as Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard shaped the lead-up alongside debates over the carbon pricing repeal and the role of Reserve Bank of Australia decisions.
The voting system used instant-preference voting for the House and proportional representation for the Senate, with compulsory enrollment and voting as required by the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 and administered by the Australian Electoral Commission. Redistributions conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission altered boundaries in states including Queensland and Victoria, affecting seats such as Griffith, Barton, and Denison. Changes to electorate composition referenced demographic data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics and court challenges involved institutions like the High Court of Australia in previous contests.
The Coalition campaign was led by Tony Abbott (Liberal) with senior ministers including Julie Bishop and Joe Hockey; policy announcements referenced infrastructure commitments affecting projects in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. The Australian Labor Party ran under Kevin Rudd with campaign emphasis from figures such as Wayne Swan and Chris Bowen. The Australian Greens contested under Christine Milne with prominent senators like Bob Brown active earlier, while smaller parties and independents included Clive Palmer of Palmer United Party, Bob Katter of Katter's Australian Party, and independents such as Andrew Wilkie. Media organizations like the ABC, Nine Network, and The Australian covered leaders' debates and policy launches, while unions including the Australian Council of Trade Unions and employer groups such as the Business Council of Australia campaigned on industrial and fiscal matters.
Prominent issues included the proposed repeal of the Clean Energy Act 2011 carbon pricing mechanism and energy policy debates involving companies like Origin Energy and BHP Billiton, while fiscal policy discussions focused on budget repair and deficit reduction promoted by Joe Hockey against Labor's spending proposals. Immigration and asylum seeker policies invoked references to Manus Regional Processing Centre, Nauru, and the DIAC practices debated in parliament. Health and education funding engaged stakeholders such as the Australian Medical Association, Catholic Education Commission of Victoria, and universities like The University of Sydney. Security and foreign policy saw attention on relations with United States, China, and regional ties within the Asia-Pacific and forums like the G20 and ASEAN discussions. High-profile leaders' debates involved Tony Abbott, Kevin Rudd, and Christine Milne as broadcast by networks such as the Seven Network.
Opinion polling by agencies including Newspoll, Morgan Research, and Essential Media tracked primary vote intention for the Liberal Party of Australia, Australian Labor Party, and Australian Greens, with two-party-preferred models projecting a swing toward the Coalition. Political analysts and commentators from outlets such as The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, and The Australian Financial Review interpreted polling volatility following leadership changes, and psephologists referenced historical patterns from the Australian Electoral Commission and past elections like the 1996 Australian federal election and 2007 Australian federal election for context.
The election resulted in a decisive victory for the Coalition led by Tony Abbott, which won an absolute majority in the House, while the Senate composition remained fragmented with seats held by Australian Greens, Liberal Party of Australia, Australian Labor Party, and minor parties including Palmer United Party and Family First. Seats changing hands included electorates in Brisbane, Sydney, and regional Queensland, with defeats for prominent Labor members such as Khalil (fictional) (note: placeholder) and gains for Liberal and National candidates including incumbents from Liberal Party of Australia. The Coalition secured swing margins informed by booth results in electorates like Warringah and Indi, and the final two-party-preferred tally reflected national swings recorded by the Australian Electoral Commission.
Following the result, Tony Abbott was sworn in as Prime Minister and appointed a ministry including Julie Bishop as Deputy Leader and Joe Hockey as Treasurer; cabinet formation referenced constitutional processes under the Constitution of Australia and the role of the Governor-General of Australia, then Quentin Bryce. Opposition leadership returned to Australian Labor Party figures such as Bill Shorten and senior shadow ministers including Anthony Albanese. The new government pursued policy priorities including the repeal of the Clean Energy Act 2011 and adjustments to budget settings, facing scrutiny from the Australian Greens, minor parties like Katter's Australian Party, and crossbench senators. The shift influenced Australia's engagement with international partners such as the United States, China, and members of the Commonwealth of Nations.