1996 Australian Senate election

The following tables show state-by-state results in the Australian Senate at the 1996 federal election. Senators total 35 coalition (31 Liberal, three coalition National, one CLP), 29 Labor, two Green, two non-coalition National, seven Democrats, and one Independent.^[1][2][3] Senator terms are six years (three for territories), and took their seats from 1 July 1996, except the territories who took their seats immediately.

1996 Australian Senate elections

← 1993 2 March 1996 1998 →
40 of the 76 seats in the Australian Senate 39 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party   Leader Robert Hill Gareth Evans Party Liberal–National Coalition Labor Leader since 3 April 1990 24 March 1993 Leader's seat South Australia Victoria Seats before 36 30 Seats won 20 14 Seats after 37 29 Seat change 1 1 Popular vote 4,792,682 3,940,150 Percentage 43.97% 36.15% Swing 0.92% 7.35%   Third party Fourth party   Leader Cheryl Kernot None Party Democrats Greens Leader since 23 April 1993 Leader's seat Queensland None Seats before 7 2 Seats won 5 2 Seats after 7 2 Seat change Popular vote 1,179,357 345,513 Percentage 10.82% 3.17% Swing 5.51% 0.67%
Senators elected in the 1996 federal election
Leader of the Senate before election Gareth Evans Labor Elected Leader of the Senate Robert Hill Liberal/National coalition

Australia

Senate (STV GV) — 1996–99 – Turnout 95.20% (CV) — Informal 3.89%

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 [a]		345,513	3.17	+0.67	1	2
	AAFI		137,604	1.26	+0.82
	Call to Australia		117,274	1.08	+0.06
	Shooters		114,724	1.05	+0.45
	Women's Party		49,131	0.45	+0.45
	Reclaim Australia		44,545	0.41	+0.41
	Democratic Labor		36,156	0.33	−0.03
	Better Future		18,960	0.17	+0.17
	Natural Law		17,082	0.16	−0.20
	No Aircraft Noise		17,043	0.16	−0.20
	Grey Power		13,401	0.12	−0.04
	Pensioner and CIR		9,040	0.08	−0.13
	The Seniors		8,268	0.08	+0.08
	Republican		7,778	0.07	−0.06
	One Australia		3,638	0.03	+0.03
	Indigenous Peoples		2,772	0.03	−0.03
	Independent EFF		2,430	0.02	+0.02
	Independents [b]		41,489	0.38	−1.99	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

New South Wales

Elected	#	Senator	Party
1996
1996	1	Bob Woods		Liberal
1996	2	Sue West		Labor
1996	3	David Brownhill		National
1996	4	Bruce Childs		Labor
1996	5	Helen Coonan		Liberal
1996	6	Vicki Bourne		Democrats
1993
1993	1	Michael Forshaw		Labor
1993	2	Michael Baume		Liberal
1993	3	John Faulkner		Labor
1993	4	John Tierney		Liberal
1993	5	Belinda Neal		Labor
1993	6	Sandy Macdonald		National

1996 Australian federal election: Senate: New South Wales

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Quota			526,041
	Coalition	1. Bob Woods (Lib) (elected 1) 2. David Brownhill (Nat) (elected 3) 3. Helen Coonan (Lib) (elected 5) 4. Abraham Constantin (Lib)	1,522,722	41.3	+2.4
	Labor	1. Sue West (elected 2) 2. Bruce Childs (elected 4) 3. Tom Wheelwright 4. Rima Barghout	1,370,918	37.2	−9.2
	Democrats	1. Vicki Bourne (elected 6) 2. Arthur Chesterfield-Evans 3. Andrew Larcos 4. Troy Anderson	351,491	9.5	+4.6
	Greens	1. Karla Sperling 2. Peter Denton 3. Jane Elix 4. Murray Matson	85,004	2.3	+0.2
	Shooters	1. Richard Sims 2. Robyn Bourke 3. Daniel Redfern 4. Rodney Franich	74,032	2.0	+0.2
	Call to Australia	1. Alasdair Webster 2. Elaine Webster 3. Graeme McLennan 4. Bill Bird 5. Bruce Coleman	72,969	2.0	+0.5
	AAFI	1. John Phillips 2. Bevan O'Regan	61,811	1.7	+1.0
	Reclaim Australia	1. David Kitson 2. Carolyn O'Callaghan	44,545	1.2	+1.2
	ABFFOC	1. Teresa Findlay-Barnes 2. David Tribe	18,960	0.5	+0.5
	Women's Party	1. Darelle Duncan 2. Sarah Thew	17,417	0.5	+0.5
	No Aircraft Noise	1. Chris Nash 2. Sylvia Hale	17,043	0.5	+0.5
	The Seniors	1. Beryl Evans 2. Lorraine Welsh	8,268	0.2	+0.2
	Grey Power	1. John Verheyen 2. Theo Hetterscheid 3. Bob Segerstrom 4. Olga Pickering	5,173	0.1	+0.1
	Independent	Jade Hurley	4,765	0.1	+0.1
	Natural Law	1. Catherine Knoles 2. Ines Judd	3,702	0.1	−0.2
	Group I	1. Robert Schollbach 2. Amanda Stirling	3,632	0.1	+0.1
	Republican	1. Peter Breen 2. Kerry McNally 3. Valerie Housego 4. Assefa Bekele 5. Antoinette Fahey	2,846	0.1	+0.1
	Group K	1. Tony Galati 2. Sam Galati	1,128	0.0	0.0
	Group M	1. Robert Butler 2. Lindsay Cosgrove	657	0.0	0.0
	Independent	Morris Jones	485	0.0	0.0
	Independent	Dian Underwood	433	0.0	0.0
	Independent	Bill Bradley	383	0.0	0.0
	Independent	Gretel Pinniger	382	0.0	0.0
	Independent	Ray Patterson	295	0.0	0.0
	Independent	Ivor F	210	0.0	0.0
	Independent	John Barbara	57	0.0	0.0
	Independent	David Piggin	31	0.0	0.0
Total formal votes			3,682,283	96.2	−1.1
Informal votes			143,388	3.8	+1.1
Turnout			3,825,671	96.7	+0.2

Victoria

Elected	#	Senator	Party
1996
1996	1	Richard Alston		Liberal
1996	2	Robert Ray		Labor
1996	3	Rod Kemp		Liberal
1996	4	Barney Cooney		Labor
1996	5	Kay Patterson		Liberal
1996	6	Lyn Allison		Democrats
1993
1993	1	Stephen Conroy		Labor
1993	2	Jim Short		Liberal
1993	3	Kim Carr		Labor
1993	4	Julian McGauran		National
1993	5	Jacinta Collins		Labor
1993	6	Judith Troeth		Liberal

1996 Australian federal election: Senate, Victoria

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Quota			395,356
	Coalition	1. Richard Alston (Lib) (elected 1) 2. Rod Kemp (Lib) (elected 3) 3. Kay Patterson (Lib) (elected 5) 4. Robert Ettery (Nat) 5. Robyne Head (Lib) 6. Anthony Fernandez (Lib)	1,146,655	41.4	−2.7
	Labor	1. Robert Ray (elected 2) 2. Barney Cooney (elected 4) 3. Julia Gillard 4. Melanie Raymond	1,100,799	39.8	−5.2
	Democrats	1. Lyn Allison (elected 6) 2. John McLaren 3. Laurie Levy 4. Marj White	300,848	10.9	+6.9
	Greens	1. Peter Singer 2. Karen Alexander 3. Helen Lucas	81,273	2.9	+1.7
	AAFI	1. Dennis McCormack 2. Robyn Spencer	40,607	1.4	+1.4
	Democratic Labour	1. John Mulholland 2. Paul Cahill 3. Michael Rowe 4. Pat Crea 5. Matthew Cody 6. Christine Dodd	36,156	1.3	−0.1
	Shooters	1. Colin Wood 2. Neville Sayers 3. Gary Fliegner	19,573	0.7	+0.7
	Call to Australia	1. Ken Cook 2. Christine Chapman	16,497	0.6	−0.1
	Pensioner and CIR	1. Will Borzatti 2. Neil McKay	9,040	0.3	−0.5
	Natural Law	1. Stephen Griffith 2. Ngaire Mason	6,681	0.2	−0.2
	Independent	David Armstrong	3,321	0.1	+0.1
	Republican	1. Paul Dahan 2. Des Bergen	2,249	0.1	−0.1
	Group J	1. Joe Toscano 2. Steve Roper	2,038	0.1	+0.1
	Independent	Stephen Raskovy	619	0.0	0.0
	Independent	Maurice Smith	150	0.0	0.0
	Independent	Michael Good	110	0.0	0.0
	Independent	John Abbotto	96	0.0	0.0
	Independent	Neil Green	75	0.0	0.0
Total formal votes			2,767,485	96.4	−0.5
Informal votes			101,789	3.6	+0.5
Turnout			2,869,274	96.5	−0.1

Queensland

Elected	#	Senator	Party
1996
1996	1	Ian Macdonald		Liberal
1996	2	John Hogg		Labor
1996	3	Ron Boswell		National
1996	4	John Herron		Liberal
1996	5	Brenda Gibbs		Labor
1996	6	Cheryl Kernot		Democrats
1993
1993	1	Margaret Reynolds		Labor
1993	2	David MacGibbon		Liberal
1993	3	Bill O'Chee		National
1993	4	Mal Colston		Labor
1993	5	John Herron		Liberal
1993	6	John Woodley		Democrats

1996 Australian federal election: Senate, Queensland

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Quota			274,924
	Liberal	1. Ian Macdonald (elected 1) 2. John Herron (elected 4) 3. Debbie Kember	680,553	35.4	+3.9
	Labor	1. John Hogg (elected 2) 2. Brenda Gibbs (elected 5) 3. Bernadette Callaghan	583,850	30.3	−9.1
	National	1. Ron Boswell (elected 3) 2. Teresa Cobb 3. Terry Cranwell	288,199	15.0	+0.5
	Democrats	1. Cheryl Kernot (elected 6) 2. Tony Walters 3. Peter Collins 4. Annette Reed	254,219	13.2	+6.2
	Greens	1. Angela Jones 2. Desiree Mahoney 3. Libby Connors	46,285	2.4	−0.8
	AAFI	1. Cynthia Mayne 2. John Minogue	13,117	0.7	+0.7
	Women's Party	1. Mary Kelly 2. Lizbeth Yuille 3. Jenny Hughey	13,006	0.7	+0.7
	Shooters	1. Peter Salisbury 2. Bill Ison	12,146	0.6	+0.6
	Call to Australia	1. Harry Cook 2. Nan Cook	9,543	0.5	−0.1
	Group G	1. J Freemarijuana 2. Tony Kneipp	3,836	0.2	+0.2
	Natural Law	1. Kris Ayyar 2. John Price	3,656	0.2	0.0
	One Australia	1. Perry Jewell 2. Michael Grayson	3,638	0.2	+0.2
	Group F	1. Phillip Young 2. Harvie Ladlow	2,793	0.1	+0.1
	Indigenous Peoples	1. Sam Watson 2. Netta Tyson	2,772	0.1	+0.1
	Republican	1. Brian Buckley 2. David Bailey	2,683	0.1	+0.1
	Group H	1. Ian McNiven 2. Ray Smyth 3. Robert Marks	1,909	0.1	+0.1
	Group M	1. Maurice Hetherington 2. Ross Russell	738	0.0	0.0
	Group E	1. John Jones 2. Lee Jones	613	0.0	0.0
	Independent	Michelle Mac Nevin	594	0.0	0.0
	Independent	Ross McKay	154	0.0	0.0
	Independent	David Howse	91	0.0	0.0
	Independent	Chris Leth	67	0.0	0.0
Total formal votes			1,924,462	96.7	−1.3
Informal votes			64,979	3.3	+1.3
Turnout			1,989,441	95.1	−0.7

Western Australia

Elected	#	Senator	Party
1996
1996	1	Winston Crane		Liberal
1996	2	Jim McKiernan		Labor
1996	3	John Panizza		Liberal
1996	4	Mark Bishop		Labor
1996	5	Alan Eggleston		Liberal
1996	6	Andrew Murray		Democrats
1993
1993	1	Sue Knowles		Liberal
1993	2	Peter Cook		Labor
1993	3	Ian Campbell		Liberal
1993	4	Chris Evans		Labor
1993	5	Chris Ellison		Liberal
1993	6	Dee Margetts		Greens

1996 Australian federal election: Senate, Western Australia

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Quota			143,472
	Liberal	1. Winston Crane (elected 1) 2. John Panizza (elected 3) 3. Alan Eggleston (elected 5) 4. Michael Huston 5. Enzo Sirna 6. Clare Thompson	460,379	45.8	−2.6
	Labor	1. Jim McKiernan elected 2) 2. Mark Bishop (elected 4) 3. Michael Beahan 4. Catherine Crawford	341,580	34.1	−4.1
	Democrats	1. Andrew Murray (elected 6) 2. Don Millar 3. Shirley de la Hunty	93,937	9.4	+5.3
	Greens	1. Christabel Chamarette 2. Robin Chapple	57,006	5.7	+0.1
	National	1. Kevin McAnuff 2. Lynley Anderson	20,877	2.0	+0.3
	AAFI	1. Richard Haye 2. Robert Hammond	12,642	1.2	+1.2
	Women's Party	1. Mattie Turnbull 2. Kate Mudford	11,169	1.1	+1.1
	Call to Australia	1. Don Jackson 2. Marj Laurie	7,028	0.7	−0.5
	Group C	1. Tony Drake 2. Jean Robinson	1,518	0.1	+0.1
	Independent	Craig Bradshaw	1,023	0.1	+0.1
	Natural Law	Ros White	414	0.0	−0.3
	Independent	Vin Cooper	376	0.0	0.0
	Independent	Craig Mackintosh	346	0.0	0.0
Total formal votes			1,004,299	96.5	−1.4
Informal votes			36,369	3.5	+1.4
Turnout			1,040,668	95.6	−0.3

South Australia

Elected	#	Senator	Party
1996
1996	1	Robert Hill		Liberal
1996	2	Rosemary Crowley		Labor
1996	3	Natasha Stott Despoja		Democrats
1996	4	Grant Chapman		Liberal
1996	5	Chris Schacht		Labor
1996	6	Jeannie Ferris		Liberal
1993
1993	1	Amanda Vanstone		Liberal
1993	2	Nick Bolkus		Labor
1993	3	Nick Minchin		Liberal
1993	4	Dominic Foreman		Labor
1993	5	Alan Ferguson		Liberal
1993	6	Meg Lees		Democrats

1996 Australian federal election: Senate, South Australia

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Quota			133,397
	Liberal	1. Robert Hill (elected 1) 2. Grant Chapman (elected 4) 3. Jeannie Ferris (elected 6) 4. Maria Kortesis	428,053	45.8	+0.1
	Labor	1. Rosemary Crowley (elected 2) 2. Chris Schacht (elected 5) 3. Deirdre Tedmanson	301,094	32.2	−5.8
	Democrats	1. Natasha Stott Despoja (elected 3) 2. Ian Gilfillan 3. Judy Smith 4. Desea Tsagatos	135,730	14.5	+4.7
	Greens	1. Stephen Spence 2. Meryl McDougall	19,441	2.0	+0.4
	AAFI	1. Bert Joy 2. Stephen Wikblom	9,424	1.0	+1.0
	Shooters	1. Haydon Aldersey 2. Robert Low	8,973	1.0	+1.0
	Grey Power	1. Emily Gilbey-Riley 2. Gratton Darbyshire	8,228	0.9	+0.9
	Call to Australia	1. David Rodway 2. Brett Rodway	6,817	0.7	−0.4
	Group J	1. Kenneth Nicholson 2. Colin Shearing	6,286	0.7	+0.7
	Women's Party	1. Deborah McCulloch 2. Marg McHugh 3. Denise Tzumli	5,678	0.6	+0.6
	Independent EFF	1. David Dwyer 2. Alfred Walker	2,430	0.3	+0.3
	Group F	1. Michael Wohltmann 2. Jeanette Wohltmann	1,081	0.1	+0.1
	Independent	Geoffrey Wells	561	0.1	+0.1
Total formal votes			933,776	96.7	−1.0
Informal votes			31,552	3.3	+1.0
Turnout			965,328	96.4	−0.9

Tasmania

Elected	#	Senator	Party
1996
1996	1	Jocelyn Newman		Liberal
1996	2	Sue Mackay		Labor
1996	3	Paul Calvert		Liberal
1996	4	Nick Sherry		Labor
1996	5	John Watson		Liberal
1996	6	Bob Brown		Greens
1993
1993	1	Kay Denman		Labor
1993	2	Eric Abetz		Liberal
1993	3	John Coates		Labor
1993	4	Brian Gibson		Liberal
1993	5	Brian Harradine		Independent
1993	6	Shayne Murphy		Labor

1996 Australian federal election: Senate, Tasmania

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Quota			44,139
	Liberal	1. Jocelyn Newman (elected 1) 2. Paul Calvert (elected 3) 3. John Watson (elected 5)	130,552	42.2	+5.5
	Labor	1. Sue Mackay (elected 2) 2. Nick Sherry (elected 4) 3. Charles Touber	120,678	39.1	−3.6
	Greens	1. Bob Brown (elected 6) 2. Janet Dale	26,830	8.9	+2.0
	Democrats	1. Robert Bell 2. Julia Onsman 3. Philip Tattersall	22,006	7.1	+5.5
	National	1. Mary Jackson 2. Jeff Clayton	3,554	1.2	+1.2
	Women's Party	1. Claire Andersen 2. Lin MacQueen	1,881	0.6	+0.6
	Natural Law	1. Gregory Broszczyk 2. James James Harlow	1,811	0.6	+0.6
	Call to Australia	1. Don Rogers 2. Beryl Rogers	1,519	0.5	+0.5
Total formal votes			308,970	96.8	−0.6
Informal votes			10,083	3.2	+0.6
Turnout			319,053	96.9	+0.3

Australian Capital Territory

Elected	#	Senator	Party
1996
1996	1	Kate Lundy		Labor
1996	2	Margaret Reid		Liberal

1996 Australian federal election: Senate, Australian Capital Territory

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Quota			64,020
	Labor	1. Kate Lundy (elected 1) 2. Peter Conway	81,866	42.6	−6.0
	Liberal	1. Margaret Reid (elected 2) 2. Stephe Jitts	74,949	39.0	+4.0
	Democrats	1. Peter Main 2. Brent Blackburn	19,590	10.2	+3.3
	Greens	1. Deb Foskey 2. Jonathan Millar	11,297	5.8	−0.2
	Call to Australia	1. John Miller 2. James Liaw	2,901	1.5	+1.5
	Independent	Fred Skerbic	1,454	0.8	+0.8
	Independent	Bill Monaghan	597	0.3	+0.3
	Independent	Joanne Clarke	454	0.2	+0.2
	Independent	David Seaton	146	0.1	+0.1
Total formal votes			192,057	97.5	−0.9
Informal votes			4,860	2.5	+0.9
Turnout			196,917	96.2	−0.9

Northern Territory

Elected	#	Senator	Party
1996
1996	1	Grant Tambling		Liberal
1996	2	Bob Collins		Labor

1996 Australian federal election: Senate, Northern Territory

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
Quota			28,569
	Country Liberal	1. Grant Tambling (elected 1) 2. Kym Cook	40,050	46.7	+2.0
	Labor	1. Bob Collins (elected 2) 2. Susan Bradley	38,667	45.1	−10.2
	Greens	1. Margie Friel 2. Ilana Eldridge	5,453	6.4	+6.4
	Democrats	Geoff Carr	1,535	1.8	+1.8
Total formal votes			85,705	97.2	0.0
Informal votes			2,422	2.8	0.0
Turnout			88,127	89.2	+0.2

See also

• Candidates of the 1996 Australian federal election
• Members of the Australian Senate, 1996–1999

Notes

1. Includes votes for the federal Australian Greens (261,677) as well as Greens Western Australia (57,006) and the Tasmanian Greens (26,830), which had not yet aligned with the federal party.
2. The independent senator was Brian Harradine (Tasmania).