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 halves 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. With the exception of the Greens (who won the 2002 Cunningham by-election and the seat of Melbourne at the 2010 general election), no other party has won election to Parliament since 1946

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 and later the Greens joined the Senate, and more recently One Nation and Family First have done 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 rased 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".

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.

Notes

^{A 1 2} Labor 1901—1910

^{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

• Chronology of Australian federal parliaments
• Elections in Australia
• List of political parties in Australia
• List of Australian federal by-elections
• Next Australian federal election

References

• "A database of elections, governments, parties and representation for Australian state and federal parliaments since 1890". University of Western Australia. http://elections.uwa.edu.au/. Retrieved 2009-02-15.