Australian federal election, 2001

Infobox Election
election_name = Australian federal election, 2001
country = Australia
type = parliamentary
ongoing = no
previous_election = Australian federal election, 1998
previous_year = 1998
next_election = Australian federal election, 2004
next_year = 2004
seats_for_election = All 150 seats to the Australian House of Representatives
and 40 (of the 76) seats to the Australian Senate

leader1 = John Howard
leader_since1 = 30 January 1995
party1 = Liberal/National coalition
leaders_seat1 = Bennelong
last_election1 = 80 seats
seats1 = 82
seat_change1 = +2
popular_vote1 = 5,655,791
percentage1 = 51.03%
swing1 = +2.01

leader2 = Kim Beazley
leader_since2 = 19 March 1996
party2 = Australian Labor Party
leaders_seat2 = Brand
last_election2 = 67 seats
seats2 = 65
seat_change2 = -2
popular_vote2 = 5,427,569
percentage2 = 48.97%
swing2 = -2.01

title = PM
before_election = John Howard
before_party = Liberal/National coalition
after_election = John Howard
after_party = Liberal/National coalition

Federal elections were held in Australia on 10 November, 2001. All 150 seats in the House of Representatives and 40 seats in the 76-member Senate were up for election. The incumbent Liberal Party of Australia led by Prime Minister of Australia John Howard and coalition partner the National Party of Australia led by John Anderson defeated the opposition Australian Labor Party led by Kim Beazley.

* *Leonie Short was elected to Ryan in a by-election earlier in 2001.

Background

Throughout much of 2001, the Coalition had been trailing Labor in opinion polls, thanks to dissatisfaction with the government's economic reform programme and high petrol prices. The opposition Australian Labor Party had won a majority of the two-party-preferred vote at the previous election and had won a series of state and territory elections. Labor also recorded positive swings in two by-elections, taking the Queensland seat of Ryan and coming close in Aston.

Issues

The September 11 attacks and the MV Tampa were strong influences in the minds of voters at this election, focusing debate around the issues of border protection and national security. The Howard Government also alleged during the campaign that asylum seekers had thrown children overboard from one of their vessels in an attempt to gain rescue by the Australian coastguard.

By moving the debate to national security, the government turned around the opposition's lead. The ALP recorded its lowest primary vote since 1934. [ [http://australianpolitics.com/elections/2001/ australianpolitics.com] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/federal_elections/2001/results/NATIONAL.htm Australian Electoral Commission Results]
* [http://elections.uwa.edu.au/ University of WA] election results in Australia since 1890
* [http://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/Australian_Electoral_History/House_of_Representative_1949_Present.htm AEC 2PP vote]
* [http://australianpolitics.com/elections/2001/ AustralianPolitics.com election details]
* [http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2004/guide/minorprefs.htm Preference flows - ABC]