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1996 Australian federal election

Updated: Wikipedia source

1996 Australian federal election

The 1996 Australian federal election was held to determine the members of the 38th Parliament of Australia. It was held on 2 March 1996. All 148 seats of the House of Representatives and 40 seats of the 76-seat Senate were up for election. The Liberal/National Coalition led by Opposition Leader John Howard of the Liberal Party and coalition partner Tim Fischer of the National Party defeated the incumbent Australian Labor Party government led by Prime Minister Paul Keating in a landslide victory. The Coalition won 94 seats in the House of Representatives, the equal-largest number of seats won by a federal government to date (tied with Labor's win in 2025), and only the second time a party had won over 90 seats at a federal election; the first occurred in 1975. The election marked the end of the five-term, 13-year Hawke-Keating Government that began in 1983. Howard was sworn in as the new prime minister of Australia on 11 March 1996, along with the First Howard Ministry. This election was the start of the 11-year Howard Government; the Labor party would spend this period in opposition and would not return to government until the 2007 election. This was the first federal election that future prime minister Tony Abbott contested as a member of parliament, having entered parliament at the 1994 Warringah by-election. Future prime minister Anthony Albanese and future opposition leader Brendan Nelson also entered parliament at this election. Future prime ministers Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard were unsuccessful candidates for the House of Representatives and Senate respectively, but were elected to the House of Representatives at the next election, in 1998. Howard became the first Liberal leader to win an election from opposition since Robert Menzies in 1949. (Malcolm Fraser was caretaker prime minister in the 1975 election.) The victory also saw the Liberal Party gain enough seats to not require the support of the National Party, though John Howard opted to stay in the Coalition. As of 2025, this is the last time the Liberal Party has won an overall majority of seats in federal parliament. It is also the last where both major party leaders were born prior to 1946, the first year of the Post-war era.

Infobox

Registered
11,740,568 3.13%
Turnout
11,244,017 (95.77%)(0.02 pp)
Leader
John Howard
Party
Liberal–National Coalition
Leader since
30 January 1995 (1995-01-30)
Leader's seat
Bennelong (NSW)
Last election
65 seats
Seats won
94 seats
Seat change
29
First preference vote
5,142,161
Percentage
47.25%
Swing
2.98%
TPP
53.63%
TPP swing
5.07

Tables

House of Reps (IRV) – 1996–1998 – Turnout 94.99% (CV) — Informal 3.78%
Liberal/National Coalition
Liberal/National Coalition
Party
Liberal/National Coalition
Party
5,142,161
Party
47.25
Votes
+2.98
%
94
Swing
29
Two-party-preferred vote
Two-party-preferred vote
Party
Two-party-preferred vote
Party
Votes
%
Swing
Seats
Change
Liberal
4,210,689
38.69
+1.92
75
26
National
893,170
8.21
+1.04
18
2
Country Liberal
38,302
0.35
+0.02
1
1
Liberal/National Coalition
5,142,161
47.25
+2.98
94
29
Labor
4,217,765
38.75
−6.17
49
31
Democrats
735,848
6.76
+3.01
Greens
317,654
2.92
+1.09
Independents
262,420
2.41
−0.73
5
3
Others
208,004
1.91
+1.05
Total
10,883,852
148
1
Two-party-preferred vote
Liberal–National coalition
Win
53.63
+5.07
94
29
Labor
46.37
−5.07
49
31
Senate (STV GV) — 1996–99 – Turnout 95.20% (CV) — Informal 3.89%
Liberal–National coalition
Liberal–National coalition
Party
Liberal–National coalition
Party
4,792,682
Party
43.97
Votes
+0.92
%
20
Swing
37
Seats won
1
Total
Total
Party
Total
Party
10,899,037
%
40
Swing
76
Invalid/blank votes
Invalid/blank votes
Party
Invalid/blank votes
Party
395,442
Party
3.5
Turnout
Turnout
Party
Turnout
Party
11,294,479
Party
96.2
Registered voters
Registered voters
Party
Registered voters
Party
11,740,568
Source: Federal Elections 1996
Source: Federal Elections 1996
Party
Source: Federal Elections 1996
Party
Votes
%
Swing
Seats won
Seats held
Change
Liberal–National joint ticket
2,669,377
24.49
+0.09
6
N/A
Liberal
1,770,486
16.24
+0.65
12
31
2
National
312,769
2.87
+0.15
1
5
1
Country Liberal
40,050
0.37
+0.04
1
1
Liberal–National coalition
4,792,682
43.97
+0.92
20
37
1
Labor
3,940,150
36.15
−7.35
14
29
1
Democrats
1,179,357
10.82
+5.51
5
7
Greens
345,513
3.17
+0.67
1
2
Others
641,335
5.88
0
1
Total
10,899,037
40
76
Invalid/blank votes
395,442
3.5
Turnout
11,294,479
96.2
Registered voters
11,740,568
Source: Federal Elections 1996
· Seats changing hands
Party
Party
Seat
Party
Pre-1996
Member
Pre-1996
Margin
Pre-1996
Margin
Pre-1996
Member
Swing
Party
Bass, Tas
Bass, Tas
Seat
Bass, Tas
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Silvia Smith
Pre-1996
0.03
Swing
4.60
Post-1996
4.57
Post-1996
Warwick Smith
Post-1996
Liberal
Bowman, Qld
Bowman, Qld
Seat
Bowman, Qld
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Con Sciacca
Pre-1996
8.14
Swing
9.03
Post-1996
0.89
Post-1996
Andrea West
Post-1996
Liberal
Calare, NSW
Calare, NSW
Seat
Calare, NSW
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
David Simmons
Pre-1996
N/A
Swing
N/A
Post-1996
13.32
Post-1996
Peter Andren
Post-1996
Independent
Canberra, ACT
Canberra, ACT
Seat
Canberra, ACT
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Ros Kelly
Pre-1996
9.56
Swing
2.04
Post-1996
7.52
Post-1996
Bob McMullan
Post-1996
Labor
Canning, WA
Canning, WA
Seat
Canning, WA
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
George Gear
Pre-1996
0.19
Swing
0.88
Post-1996
0.69
Post-1996
Ricky Johnston
Post-1996
Liberal
Capricornia, Qld
Capricornia, Qld
Seat
Capricornia, Qld
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Marjorie Henzell
Pre-1996
2.78
Swing
6.40
Post-1996
3.62
Post-1996
Paul Marek
Post-1996
National
Curtin, WA
Curtin, WA
Seat
Curtin, WA
Pre-1996
Liberal
Pre-1996
Allan Rocher
Pre-1996
N/A
Swing
N/A
Post-1996
7.28
Post-1996
Allan Rocher
Post-1996
Independent
Dickson, Qld
Dickson, Qld
Seat
Dickson, Qld
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Michael Lavarch
Pre-1996
2.55
Swing
5.72
Post-1996
3.17
Post-1996
Tony Smith
Post-1996
Liberal
Eden-Monaro, NSW
Eden-Monaro, NSW
Seat
Eden-Monaro, NSW
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Jim Snow
Pre-1996
4.27
Swing
9.03
Post-1996
4.76
Post-1996
Gary Nairn
Post-1996
Liberal
Gilmore, NSW
Gilmore, NSW
Seat
Gilmore, NSW
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Peter Knott
Pre-1996
0.45
Swing
6.69
Post-1996
6.24
Post-1996
Joanna Gash
Post-1996
Liberal
Griffith, Qld
Griffith, Qld
Seat
Griffith, Qld
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Ben Humphreys
Pre-1996
5.90
Swing
7.37
Post-1996
1.47
Post-1996
Graeme McDougall
Post-1996
Liberal
Herbert, Qld
Herbert, Qld
Seat
Herbert, Qld
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Ted Lindsay
Pre-1996
3.31
Swing
9.90
Post-1996
6.59
Post-1996
Peter Lindsay
Post-1996
Liberal
Hughes, NSW
Hughes, NSW
Seat
Hughes, NSW
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Robert Tickner
Pre-1996
6.42
Swing
11.31
Post-1996
4.89
Post-1996
Danna Vale
Post-1996
Liberal
Kalgoorlie, WA
Kalgoorlie, WA
Seat
Kalgoorlie, WA
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Graeme Campbell
Pre-1996
N/A
Swing
N/A
Post-1996
10.35
Post-1996
Graeme Campbell
Post-1996
Independent
Kingston, SA
Kingston, SA
Seat
Kingston, SA
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Gordon Bilney
Pre-1996
1.45
Swing
3.46
Post-1996
2.01
Post-1996
Susan Jeanes
Post-1996
Liberal
Leichhardt, Qld
Leichhardt, Qld
Seat
Leichhardt, Qld
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Peter Dodd
Pre-1996
1.33
Swing
5.51
Post-1996
4.18
Post-1996
Warren Entsch
Post-1996
Liberal
Lilley, Qld
Lilley, Qld
Seat
Lilley, Qld
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Wayne Swan
Pre-1996
6.18
Swing
6.91
Post-1996
0.73
Post-1996
Elizabeth Grace
Post-1996
Liberal
Lindsay, NSW
Lindsay, NSW
Seat
Lindsay, NSW
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Ross Free
Pre-1996
10.22
Swing
11.80
Post-1996
1.58
Post-1996
Jackie Kelly
Post-1996
Liberal
Lowe, NSW
Lowe, NSW
Seat
Lowe, NSW
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Mary Easson
Pre-1996
5.01
Swing
7.48
Post-1996
2.47
Post-1996
Paul Zammit
Post-1996
Liberal
Macarthur, NSW
Macarthur, NSW
Seat
Macarthur, NSW
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Chris Haviland
Pre-1996
1.28
Swing
11.97
Post-1996
10.69
Post-1996
John Fahey
Post-1996
Liberal
Macquarie, NSW
Macquarie, NSW
Seat
Macquarie, NSW
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Maggie Deahm
Pre-1996
0.12
Swing
6.48
Post-1996
6.36
Post-1996
Kerry Bartlett
Post-1996
Liberal
Makin, SA
Makin, SA
Seat
Makin, SA
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Peter Duncan
Pre-1996
3.71
Swing
4.79
Post-1996
1.08
Post-1996
Trish Draper
Post-1996
Liberal
McEwen, Vic
McEwen, Vic
Seat
McEwen, Vic
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Peter Cleeland
Pre-1996
0.69
Swing
1.50
Post-1996
2.19
Post-1996
Fran Bailey
Post-1996
Liberal
McMillan, Vic
McMillan, Vic
Seat
McMillan, Vic
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Barry Cunningham
Pre-1996
0.53
Swing
2.60
Post-1996
2.07
Post-1996
Russell Broadbent
Post-1996
Liberal
Moore, WA
Moore, WA
Seat
Moore, WA
Pre-1996
Liberal
Pre-1996
Paul Filing
Pre-1996
N/A
Swing
N/A
Post-1996
15.48
Post-1996
Paul Filing
Post-1996
Independent
Moreton, Qld
Moreton, Qld
Seat
Moreton, Qld
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Garrie Gibson
Pre-1996
0.21
Swing
5.30
Post-1996
5.09
Post-1996
Gary Hardgrave
Post-1996
Liberal
Murray, Vic
Murray, Vic
Seat
Murray, Vic
Pre-1996
National
Pre-1996
Bruce Lloyd
Pre-1996
N/A
Swing
N/A
Post-1996
3.70*
Post-1996
Sharman Stone
Post-1996
Liberal
North Sydney, NSW
North Sydney, NSW
Seat
North Sydney, NSW
Pre-1996
Independent
Pre-1996
Ted Mack
Pre-1996
1.8
Swing
17.4
Post-1996
15.6
Post-1996
Joe Hockey
Post-1996
Liberal
Northern Territory, NT
Northern Territory, NT
Seat
Northern Territory, NT
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Warren Snowdon
Pre-1996
5.31
Swing
5.68
Post-1996
0.37
Post-1996
Nick Dondas
Post-1996
Country Liberal
Oxley, Qld
Oxley, Qld
Seat
Oxley, Qld
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Les Scott
Pre-1996
14.65
Swing
19.31**
Post-1996
4.66
Post-1996
Pauline Hanson
Post-1996
Independent
Page, NSW
Page, NSW
Seat
Page, NSW
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Harry Woods
Pre-1996
0.13
Swing
4.44
Post-1996
4.31
Post-1996
Ian Causley
Post-1996
National
Parramatta, NSW
Parramatta, NSW
Seat
Parramatta, NSW
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Paul Elliott
Pre-1996
3.24
Swing
7.11
Post-1996
3.87
Post-1996
Ross Cameron
Post-1996
Liberal
Paterson, NSW
Paterson, NSW
Seat
Paterson, NSW
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Bob Horne
Pre-1996
3.30
Swing
3.73
Post-1996
0.43
Post-1996
Bob Baldwin
Post-1996
Liberal
Petrie, Qld
Petrie, Qld
Seat
Petrie, Qld
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Gary Johns
Pre-1996
2.15
Swing
9.85
Post-1996
7.70
Post-1996
Teresa Gambaro
Post-1996
Liberal
Richmond, NSW
Richmond, NSW
Seat
Richmond, NSW
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Neville Newell
Pre-1996
1.78
Swing
8.53
Post-1996
6.75
Post-1996
Larry Anthony
Post-1996
National
Robertson, NSW
Robertson, NSW
Seat
Robertson, NSW
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Frank Walker
Pre-1996
5.56
Swing
9.12
Post-1996
3.56
Post-1996
Jim Lloyd
Post-1996
Liberal
Swan, WA
Swan, WA
Seat
Swan, WA
Pre-1996
Labor
Pre-1996
Kim Beazley
Pre-1996
0.22
Swing
3.93
Post-1996
3.71
Post-1996
Don Randall
Post-1996
Liberal
Wills, Vic
Wills, Vic
Seat
Wills, Vic
Pre-1996
Independent
Pre-1996
Phil Cleary
Pre-1996
n/a
Swing
4.37
Post-1996
n/a
Post-1996
Kelvin Thomson
Post-1996
Labor
Seat
Pre-1996
Swing
Post-1996
Party
Member
Margin
Margin
Member
Party
Bass, Tas
Labor
Silvia Smith
0.03
4.60
4.57
Warwick Smith
Liberal
Bowman, Qld
Labor
Con Sciacca
8.14
9.03
0.89
Andrea West
Liberal
Calare, NSW
Labor
David Simmons
N/A
N/A
13.32
Peter Andren
Independent
Canberra, ACT
Labor
Ros Kelly
9.56
2.04
7.52
Bob McMullan
Labor
Liberal
Brendan Smyth
6.58
14.1
Canning, WA
Labor
George Gear
0.19
0.88
0.69
Ricky Johnston
Liberal
Capricornia, Qld
Labor
Marjorie Henzell
2.78
6.40
3.62
Paul Marek
National
Curtin, WA
Liberal
Allan Rocher
N/A
N/A
7.28
Allan Rocher
Independent
Dickson, Qld
Labor
Michael Lavarch
2.55
5.72
3.17
Tony Smith
Liberal
Eden-Monaro, NSW
Labor
Jim Snow
4.27
9.03
4.76
Gary Nairn
Liberal
Gilmore, NSW
Labor
Peter Knott
0.45
6.69
6.24
Joanna Gash
Liberal
Griffith, Qld
Labor
Ben Humphreys
5.90
7.37
1.47
Graeme McDougall
Liberal
Herbert, Qld
Labor
Ted Lindsay
3.31
9.90
6.59
Peter Lindsay
Liberal
Hughes, NSW
Labor
Robert Tickner
6.42
11.31
4.89
Danna Vale
Liberal
Kalgoorlie, WA
Labor
Graeme Campbell
N/A
N/A
10.35
Graeme Campbell
Independent
Kingston, SA
Labor
Gordon Bilney
1.45
3.46
2.01
Susan Jeanes
Liberal
Leichhardt, Qld
Labor
Peter Dodd
1.33
5.51
4.18
Warren Entsch
Liberal
Lilley, Qld
Labor
Wayne Swan
6.18
6.91
0.73
Elizabeth Grace
Liberal
Lindsay, NSW
Labor
Ross Free
10.22
11.80
1.58
Jackie Kelly
Liberal
Lowe, NSW
Labor
Mary Easson
5.01
7.48
2.47
Paul Zammit
Liberal
Macarthur, NSW
Labor
Chris Haviland
1.28
11.97
10.69
John Fahey
Liberal
Macquarie, NSW
Labor
Maggie Deahm
0.12
6.48
6.36
Kerry Bartlett
Liberal
Makin, SA
Labor
Peter Duncan
3.71
4.79
1.08
Trish Draper
Liberal
McEwen, Vic
Labor
Peter Cleeland
0.69
1.50
2.19
Fran Bailey
Liberal
McMillan, Vic
Labor
Barry Cunningham
0.53
2.60
2.07
Russell Broadbent
Liberal
Moore, WA
Liberal
Paul Filing
N/A
N/A
15.48
Paul Filing
Independent
Moreton, Qld
Labor
Garrie Gibson
0.21
5.30
5.09
Gary Hardgrave
Liberal
Murray, Vic
National
Bruce Lloyd
N/A
N/A
3.70*
Sharman Stone
Liberal
North Sydney, NSW
Independent
Ted Mack
1.8
17.4
15.6
Joe Hockey
Liberal
Northern Territory, NT
Labor
Warren Snowdon
5.31
5.68
0.37
Nick Dondas
Country Liberal
Oxley, Qld
Labor
Les Scott
14.65
19.31**
4.66
Pauline Hanson
Independent
Page, NSW
Labor
Harry Woods
0.13
4.44
4.31
Ian Causley
National
Parramatta, NSW
Labor
Paul Elliott
3.24
7.11
3.87
Ross Cameron
Liberal
Paterson, NSW
Labor
Bob Horne
3.30
3.73
0.43
Bob Baldwin
Liberal
Petrie, Qld
Labor
Gary Johns
2.15
9.85
7.70
Teresa Gambaro
Liberal
Richmond, NSW
Labor
Neville Newell
1.78
8.53
6.75
Larry Anthony
National
Robertson, NSW
Labor
Frank Walker
5.56
9.12
3.56
Jim Lloyd
Liberal
Swan, WA
Labor
Kim Beazley
0.22
3.93
3.71
Don Randall
Liberal
Wills, Vic
Independent
Phil Cleary
n/a
4.37
n/a
Kelvin Thomson
Labor

References

  1. The Australian Greens were founded in 1992, but not all local organisations immediately affiliated. The Greens total inc
  2. Includes votes for the federal Australian Greens (261,677) as well as Greens Western Australia (57,006) and the Tasmania
  3. The independent senator was Brian Harradine (Tasmania).
  4. Ros Kelly (Labor) had won Canberra at the 1993 election, however she resigned in 1995 and Brendan Smyth (Liberal) won th
  5. Brendan Smyth (Liberal) had won Canberra at the 1995 by-election, however he contested the new seat of Namadgi.
  6. Originally ran as a Liberal candidate, however after her views on immigration became known she was disendorsed. However,
  7. "Newspoll archive since 1987"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20160303135154/http://polling.newspoll.com.au.tmp.anchor.net.au/cgi-bin/polling/display_poll_data.pl?url_caller=&mode=trend&page=show_polls&question_set_id=1
  8. "Section 44 of the Constitution"
    http://www.aph.gov.au/about_parliament/parliamentary_departments/parliamentary_library/publications_archive/archive/section44
  9. The Australian Financial Review
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