Three decades of Australian Federal elections

FEDERAL elections have taken us through some turbulent times in the past 30 years. We track the highs and lows.

• Federal Election likely on July 2 after Senate defeat

2013, SEPTEMBER 7

WINNER: TONY ABBOTT

KEVIN RUDD V TONY ABBOTT

RESULT: Coalition 90 ALP 55 GREEN 1 INDEPENDENT 4

JULIA Gillard started the election year with the shock move of declaring in January that Australians would go to the polls on September 14. This consigned Australians to nine months of campaigning. But on June 26 Rudd ousted Gillard, then subsequently called the election for September 7. Abbott announced a tougher asylum seeker policy and a grand, later abandoned paid parental leave scheme. Support for independents and microparties, particularly in the Senate, reached record highs. But Abbott recorded a decisive win in the lower house, with a swing against Labor of 4.5 per cent.

Prime Minister elect Julia Gillard holds a press conference in the party room in 2010.

2010, AUGUST 21

WINNER: JULIA GILLARD

JULIA GILLARD V TONY ABBOTT

RESULT: ALP 72 COALITION 73 GREEN 1 INDEPENDENT 4

A REMARKABLE election, if mainly because the ALP had already thrown Kevin Rudd under the bus and installed his deputy, Julia Gillard, as PM. The nation’s first female leader was under pressure because of the ­circumstances of her elevation. Tony Abbott demonstrated his brutal effectiveness by taking the Coalition to the brink of power, all but ensuring he would lead it to the next election. It took weeks for the election to be finalised then Labor stitched up a deal with the independents to form government.

Kevin Rudd and his wife Therese Rein celebrate during his acceptance speech.

2007, NOVEMBER 24, KEVIN RUDD

WINNER: KEVIN RUDD

JOHN HOWARD V KEVIN RUDD

RESULT: ALP 83 COALITION 65 INDEPENDENT 2

THIS proved an election too far for Howard who not only lost the Prime Ministership but became only the second PM in history to lose his seat at the same time. Kevin Rudd ran an irresistible campaign, dubbed Kevin07’, that expertly used FM radio and television to reach younger audiences who are traditionally disconnected from politics. The Coalition was also hurt by the implementation of its WorkChoices industrial relations program which was seen as unfair by many. Labor won a 5 per cent swing and finished 53-47 ahead on two party preferred.

Mark Latham waves after conceding defeat in 2004.

2004, OCTOBER 9: JOHN HOWARD

WINNER: JOHN HOWARD

JOHN HOWARD V MARK LATHAM

RESULT: COALITION 87 ALP 60 INDEPENDENT 3

LABOR under new leader Mark Latham started the campaign leading the polls. Latham had replaced the unpopular ­Simon Crean and Labor’s attempt at generational change contrasted well with the 64-year-old Howard. However, as the election year rolled on, Latham appeared increasingly unstable. Howard again defined the campaign by rhetorically asking: “Who do you trust to keep interest rates low?”. The Coalition won comfortably, increasing its margin by five seats, on the back of a 2 per cent swing.

Kim Beazley casts his ballot in 2001.

2001, NOVEMBER 10

WINNER: JOHN HOWARD

JOHN HOWARD V KIM BEAZLEY

RESULT: COALITION 82 ALP 65 INDEPENDENT 3

AN ELECTION held in the shadow of the September 11 attacks and only a few months after a ship called Tampa sparked national debate about how asylum seekers should be treated. The two issues conflated into one during the campaign and Howard positioned himself as a strong leader in difficult times with the election-defining phrase: “We will ­decide who comes to this country and under what circumstances.”

1998, OCTOBER 3

WINNER: JOHN HOWARD

JOHN HOWARD V KIM BEAZLEY

RESULT: COALITION 80 ALP 67 INDEPENDENT 1

JOHN Howard’s first campaign as Prime Minister was also nearly his last. The centrepiece of Howard’s battle was the introduction of a 10 per cent GST, the same tax that undid John Hewson in 1993. Howard survived the expected Labor scare campaign but saw a 40-seat Lower House majority trimmed to just 12. Labor even won the two-party preferred vote 51-49 as it secured a 5 per cent swing but it wasn’t enough, despite being Beazley’s finest electoral hour.

1996, MARCH 2

WINNER: JOHN HOWARD

PAUL KEATING V JOHN HOWARD

RESULT: COALITION 94 ALP 49 INDEPENDENT 5

AFTER 13 years, Labor’s ballot box ascendancy ended at the hands of John Howard. Paul Keating had destroyed both John Hewson and Alexander Downer but he could not master a reborn Howard. His line about the “recession we had to have’’ and his focus on big picture issues such as republicanism and indigenous affairs had left Keating isolated. The election saw a 5 per cent swing against the Government, with the ALP recording its lowest primary vote since the 1930s.

Paul and Annita Keating in 1993.

1993, MARCH 13

WINNER: PAUL KEATING

PAUL KEATING V JOHN HEWSON

RESULT: ALP 80 COALITION 65 INDEPENDENT 2

FAMOUSLY described by Keating as the “sweetest victory of all’’, the 1993 poll was seen as “unlosable’’ for the Liberals under new leader John Hewson. Hewson campaigned on his Fightback! manifesto. His worst moment was a TV interview when he couldn’t explain whether a birthday cake would cost more or less under his GST. The ALP won with a swing of 1.5 per cent.

Andrew Peacock during the 1990 election campaign.

1990, MARCH 24

WINNER: BOB HAWKE

BOB HAWKE V ANDREW PEACOCK

RESULT: ALP 78 COALITION 69
INDEPENDENT 1

IT WAS an unprecedented fourth straight win for the ALP and Bob Hawke – but it was a close-run thing. The Government needed Green and independent preferences to get over the line. The now-bizarre plan for a Multifunction Polis at Gillman triggered furious debate over whether it would become a Japanese “enclave”. Interest rates were on their way to record levels, so many commentators felt this was an election Peacock should have won.

Bob Hawke with wife Hazel after winning the 1987 election.

1987, JULY 11

WINNER, BOB HAWKE

BOB HAWKE V JOHN HOWARD

RESULT: ALP 86 COALITION 62

HAWKE became the first Labor PM to win three successive elections in Australia’s most recent double dissolution poll. He went to the election six months early to capitalise on instability within the Coalition. The double dissolution trigger was rejection of legislation for the Australia Card, a controversial plan for a national ID card for Australian citizens and foreign residents. The divided Coalition was further torn asunder by the shambles of the Joh for PM campaign. Despite all this, the Coalition achieved a swing of 1 per cent in its favour.