Federal Election 2010 – Update

This paper is intended as an update on the outcome of the Federal election of 21st August 2010.  It should be noted that the outcome of each House of Representatives and Senate election is not declared until the result is beyond doubt.

House of Representatives
The final outcome in the House of Representatives is yet to be confirmed. There are still five seats that are in doubt, including:
  • Hasluck (WA) – where the Liberal candidate is currently leading the count.
  • Dunkley (Vic) – where the Liberal incumbent is currently leading the count.
  • Boothby (SA) – where the Liberal incumbent is currently leading the count.
  • Brisbane (Qld) – where the Liberal candidate is currently leading the count.
  • Denison (Tas) – where a recount is taking place and after Labor won the initial count.
At present, Labor has 72 confirmed seats, the Coalition has 68 confirmed seats, the Greens have 1 seat and there are 4 elected Independents.
The 4 Independents include:
  • Tony Windsor (New England, NSW)
  • Rob Oakeshott (Lyne, NSW )
  • Bob Katter (Kennedy, QLD)
  • Tony Crook (O’Connor, WA) – Mr Crook is a member of the WA Nationals but he has stated that he will not be joining the Coalition party room.
The most likely outcome is a hung Parliament, where the Independents will choose which Party will form a minority government.
Further information about the constitutional conventions of minority government can be found here.
The Senate
The final outcome in the Senate is yet to be finalised. As of the close of counting on Saturday, the most likely outcome in the Senate is as follows:
Party
Continuing
New
Total
Labor
16
15
31
Coalition
16
18
34
Greens
3
6
9
Other
1
1
2
  • Regardless of who forms Government, the Greens will likely hold the balance of power in the Senate.
  • The new composition of the Senate will not come into effect until 1 July 2011.
  • Labor has lost 1 seat in the Senate, and now has a total of 31 seats.
  • The Coalition has lost 3 Senate seats and now has a total of 34 seats.
  • The Greens have won 4 additional seats and now have a total of 9 seats. The new Green Senators are:
–   Lee Rhiannon (NSW)
–   Richard Di Natale (VIC)
–   Larissa Waters (QLD)
–   Penny Wright (SA)
  • John Madigan from the Democratic Labor Party is likely to replace Senator Steve Fielding as a Senator for Victoria.
For further information, please contact your Hawker Britton consultant.
This paper will be updated as more information becomes available.