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2010 Federal Election

August 21, 2010

The 2007 Federal Election was held three months before the end of the Labor government’s first term. It took place in the aftermath of upheaval in the government and the replacement of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd with Julia Gillard.

Rudd’s leadership was destroyed on the night of June 23, 2010. Gillard became prime minister the next day. Three weeks later on July 17, Gillard announced the election would be held on August 21.

Gillard faced a resurgent Liberal Party now led by Tony Abbott, who had overthrown Malcolm Turnbull the previous December.

After a campaign beset by mis-steps and leaks, the ALP lost its majority in the election. It suffered a net loss of 11 seats and finished with 72 in the 150-seat House of Representatives. The coalition parties won 73. Adam Bandt won Melbourne for the Greens from the ALP, whilst the independent Andrew Wilkie won Denison in Tasmania, also from the ALP. Bob Katter was re-elected in the Queensland electorate of Kennedy, as were the two NSW rural independents, Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott.

After three weeks of negotiations, Gillard secured the agreement of the Greens, Wilkie, Windsor and Oakeshott, and formed a minority government with 76 votes to 73 in the House.

State of the Parties

This is the state of the parties in the House of Representatives, following the 2010 Federal Election.

House of Representatives Elections 2010
ALP LIB LNP NPA CLP GREENS OTHERS Total
NSW
26
16
–
4
–
–
2
48
VIC
22
12
–
2
–
1
–
37
QLD
8
–
21
–
–
–
1
30
WA
3
12
–
–
–
–
–
15
SA
6
5
–
–
–
–
–
11
TAS
4
–
–
–
–
–
1
5
ACT
2
–
–
–
–
–
–
2
NT
1
–
–
–
1
–
–
2
Total
72
45
21
6
1
1
4
150

 

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Malcolm Farnsworth
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