2016 Australian federal election

2016 Australian federal election
Commonwealth of Australia · CC BY 4.0 · source
Name	2016 Australian federal election
Country	Australia
Type	parliamentary
Previous election	2013 Australian federal election
Previous year	2013
Election date	2 July 2016
Next election	2019 Australian federal election
Next year	2019

2016 Australian federal election was held on 2 July 2016 to elect members of the House of Representatives and half of the members of the Senate to the 45th Parliament of Australia. The contest followed a double dissolution of the Parliament of Australia announced by Malcolm Turnbull under powers in section 57 of the Constitution of Australia, prompting a full Senate election alongside the House. The result produced a return of the incumbent Turnbull Government led by the Liberal Party of Australia in coalition with the National Party of Australia, while the Australian Labor Party under Bill Shorten made gains in the House but failed to form government.

Background

The election was precipitated by legislative deadlock over the Australian Building and Construction Commission and the Australian Building and Construction Commission Act 2005 repeal, with debates involving the Fair Work Act 2009 and tensions between the House of Representatives and the Senate. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull advised a double dissolution after negotiations with Bill Shorten and crossbench senators such as Nick Xenophon, Bob Brown, and Liberal Democratic Party senator David Leyonhjelm failed to resolve the impasse. The double dissolution recalled provisions of the Constitution of Australia and followed precedents like the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis and the 1987 Australian federal election resolution mechanisms.

Electoral system and redistribution

The election used full-preferential voting for the House of Representatives and single transferable vote for the Senate, administered by the Australian Electoral Commission. A redistribution conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission altered boundaries in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory, affecting seats such as Blanche and Dawson and creating the division of Macnamara (formerly Melbourne Ports). Compulsory enrolment and voting applied under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, and group voting tickets had been abolished earlier, affecting Senate ballot strategies used by parties including the Australian Greens, One Nation, and minor parties like the Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party.

Parties and candidates

Major party leaders included Malcolm Turnbull (Liberal Party of Australia), Barnaby Joyce (leader of the National Party of Australia in coalition), and Bill Shorten (Australian Labor Party). The Australian Greens were led by Richard Di Natale, while minor and crossbench figures included Pauline Hanson (One Nation), Bob Katter (Katter's Australian Party), Clive Palmer (Palmer United Party), Nick Xenophon (Nick Xenophon Team), and independents such as Zali Steggall and Tony Windsor. Candidate endorsements involved prominent figures like Christopher Pyne, Julie Bishop, Penny Wong, Anthony Albanese, Peter Dutton, Sussan Ley, Mathias Cormann, Tanya Plibersek, and Greg Hunt. Senate tickets featured lists from the Liberal National Party of Queensland, Country Liberal Party, Australian Democrats, Family First Party, and emerging groups like Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party.

Campaign and key issues

The campaign focused on taxation, infrastructure projects such as the National Broadband Network, energy policy including the Renewable Energy Target, asylum seeker arrangements tied to Operation Sovereign Borders, and industrial relations reforms under the Fair Work Act 2009. Debates engaged topics like budget repair framed around the 2014–15 budget and proposed changes to the Medicare and Higher Education Loan Program. High-profile events included televised debates featuring Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten, controversy over policy costings involving figures like Nigel Scullion and Mathias Cormann, and media coverage by outlets including Australian Broadcasting Corporation, The Australian, and Sky News Australia.

Opinion polling

Opinion polling by organizations such as Newspoll, Essential Media Communications, Galaxy Research, and YouGov tracked two-party-preferred swings between the Liberal–National coalition and Australian Labor Party, often showing close margins in key marginal seats including Holt, Lingiari, Banks, and Macquarie. Polls measured primary votes for parties such as the Australian Greens, One Nation, and Nick Xenophon Team, and assessed leader satisfaction ratings for Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten. Polling methodologies referenced samples stratified by Australian Electoral Commission enrolment statistics and demographic patterns in regions like Western Sydney, Sunshine Coast, Hunter Region, and Barwon.

Results

The Australian Electoral Commission declared results after counting preferential votes, with the Coalition winning a majority of seats in the House of Representatives and retaining government. The Australian Labor Party gained seats in metropolitan areas such as Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane while the Australian Greens increased their Senate representation. The Senate outcome produced a crossbench comprising Nick Xenophon Team, One Nation, Liberal Democratic Party, Family First Party representatives, and independents, creating a balance requiring negotiation for legislation passage. Notable seat changes involved defeats of sitting members including Shane Rattenbury and victories for challengers like Zoe Daniel in later contests influenced by this election's shifts.

Aftermath and government formation

Following the result, Malcolm Turnbull continued as Prime Minister leading negotiations with crossbench senators such as Nick Xenophon and parties like the Australian Greens to secure supply and advance the government's legislative agenda. Internal party dynamics within the Liberal Party of Australia and National Party of Australia prompted portfolio reshuffles involving Marise Payne, Christopher Pyne, and Barnaby Joyce. Labor under Bill Shorten conducted internal reviews and maintained opposition readiness, while minor parties like One Nation and the Liberal Democratic Party leveraged Senate influence on issues including the Renewable Energy Target and budget measures. The election set the stage for subsequent events such as the 2019 Australian federal election.

Category:Federal elections in Australia