Australian opinion polls pointed to a Labor victory for months. When the counting finished on 18 May 2019, Scott Morrison’s Coalition had pulled off one of the most surprising election wins in the country’s modern political history, securing a three-seat majority despite trailing in nearly every national poll.

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Date: 18 May 2019 · Winner: Liberal–National Coalition (Scott Morrison) · Seats Won: 77 of 151 · Opponent Seats: Labor: 68 · Parliament: 46th

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Election held on 18 May 2019 to elect the 46th Parliament (Wikipedia overview)
  • Coalition won 77 seats, securing a three-seat majority in the 151-seat House of Representatives (AEC official results)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact two-party preferred vote swings by individual electorate without full AEC breakdown
  • Primary vote percentages nationally from all sources
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • 46th Parliament convenes with Morrison as 30th Prime Minister
  • Next election cycle due by 2022 unless earlier election called
Key results from the 2019 Australian federal election
Metric Value Source
Election Date 18 May 2019 Wikipedia
Prime Minister Elected Scott Morrison (30th PM) Sky News Australia video
Winning Coalition Seats 77/151 AEC official tally
Labor Seats 68 Wikipedia election page
House Total Seats 151 Parliamentary Library paper
Liberal Party Seats 44 AEC official results
Nationals Seats 10 AEC official tally
LNP Queensland Seats 23 AEC official results
Other Parties/Independents 6 (Greens 1, Centre Alliance 1, Katter’s 1, Independents 3) Wikipedia election page

When was the last federal election held in Australia

The 2019 Australian federal election took place on 18 May 2019, marking the first time Australians went to the polls under the newly established 46th Parliament. This was the third consecutive federal election victory for the Liberal–National Coalition, following Tony Abbott’s win in 2013 and Malcolm Turnbull’s in 2016.

The election had originally been expected to be held later in the year, but the timing was moved earlier after the dissolution of the previous parliament. Australia operates on a maximum three-year term, with elections typically held between August and May of the third year. Compulsory voting ensures turnout remains consistently high, making Australian elections among the most participation-driven in the democratic world.

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) oversees the process, publishing official results through its Tally Room platform. The commission confirmed the election date as 18 May 2019 across all electoral divisions.

Election date and context

  • Election date: 18 May 2019
  • Parliament elected: 46th Parliament of Australia
  • Previous election: 2 July 2016 (Turnbull Coalition)
  • Context: Coalition had trailed Labor in most national opinion polls throughout the parliamentary term

What this means: The May timing fell within the standard electoral cycle, but the result defied nearly every pre-election poll projection, making the outcome particularly significant in Australian political history.

Who won the last federal election in Australia

Scott Morrison’s Liberal–National Coalition won the 2019 federal election, defying polls that had consistently shown Labor in the lead for most of the parliamentary term. Morrison, who had taken over as Prime Minister just eight months earlier following Malcolm Turnbull’s ousting in August 2018, secured a three-seat majority in the 151-seat House of Representatives.

The Coalition’s win was immediately labelled a political “miracle” by commentators and historians. Morrison himself framed the result as a rejection of Labor’s policy platform, particularly on taxation and economic management.

Morrison became Australia’s 30th Prime Minister after the victory. Bill Shorten, who led the Labor Party, conceded defeat on election night. The Coalition improved its position from 76 seats in the 2016 election to 77 seats in 2019, despite having trailed significantly in the polls for most of the preceding three years.

The paradox

Pollsters missed the mark: Morrison won despite trailing in nearly every major national poll. Queensland proved decisive — the Coalition secured 23 of 30 seats there, a performance that proved impossible to overturn elsewhere.

Scott Morrison and Coalition victory

  • Prime Minister: Scott Morrison (Liberal Party, seat of Cook, NSW)
  • Coalition partner: Nationals (led by Michael McCormack/Barnaby Joyce)
  • Coalition seats won: 77 of 151
  • Opposition Leader: Bill Shorten (Labor Party, seat of Maribyrnong, VIC)
  • Victory margin: Three-seat majority

Against all the odds, Scott Morrison has pulled off one of the most astounding victories in the history of Australian politics. — Nine News Australia broadcast

The implication: Morrison’s win demonstrated that national polling methodology struggled to capture regional shifts, particularly in Queensland and Western Australia, where economic concerns trumped Labor’s policy messaging.

How many seats did Labour win in the last election

The Australian Labor Party won 68 seats in the 2019 federal election, finishing as the official Opposition in the 46th Parliament. This represented a decrease from their 69-seat position following the 2016 election, even as the Coalition improved marginally from 76 to 77 seats.

Labor’s loss was particularly concentrated in Queensland and Western Australia, states where the Coalition’s economic messaging resonated more strongly with voters. In Queensland alone, the Coalition captured 23 of 30 available seats, effectively neutralizing gains Labor made in other states.

The remaining six seats in the House of Representatives were divided among minor parties and independents: Australian Greens (1 seat), Centre Alliance (1 seat in South Australia), Katter’s Australian Party (1 seat), and three independent MPs — a net gain of one independent seat compared to the 2016 result of two independents.

Seat breakdown by party

Four parties dominate the 151-seat House of Representatives after the 2019 election, with the combined Coalition and Labor total accounting for 145 seats.

House of Representatives seat distribution by party
Party/Group Seats Won Share of House
Liberal Party 44 29.1%
Nationals 10 6.6%
Liberal National Party (QLD) 23 15.2%
Labor Party 68 45.0%
Australian Greens 1 0.7%
Centre Alliance 1 0.7%
Katter’s Australian Party 1 0.7%
Independents 3 2.0%

What this means: Despite winning only 68 seats against Labor’s 68, the Coalition’s regional strength in Queensland and Western Australia provided the electoral margin needed to form government — a reminder that Australian elections are won seat by seat, not by national vote share.

Which party has won the most federal elections in Australia

The Liberal/National Coalition and its predecessor parties have won the most federal elections in Australian history since World War II. The coalition, a enduring alliance between the centre-right Liberal Party and the rural-focused Nationals, has dominated federal politics for the majority of the post-war era.

Labor has won elections periodically, particularly during economic downturns or when the Coalition has faced internal leadership turmoil, but the Coalition’s structural advantage — built through decades of electoral footprint in rural and semi-rural seats — has given it a long-term edge.

The 2019 victory marked the third consecutive federal election win for the Coalition, making it the third consecutive win for a Liberal prime minister since Tony Abbott’s surprise victory in 2013. Abbott’s win ended six years of Labor government under Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard.

Historical winners

Post-war federal election winners show a clear Coalition dominance, with Labor governments serving as exceptions rather than the rule.

  • Coalition federal election wins since 1945: 26 of approximately 31 elections
  • Labor federal election wins since 1945: 5 (1972, 1974, 1983, 1984, 2007)
  • Current streak: Coalition has won every federal election since 2013

“I think people genuinely wanted to keep the economic and security agenda and plan that was giving them a sense of confidence going.” — Scott Morrison victory speech For those interested in the specifics, you can find a detailed breakdown of Australian federal election wins since 1945, including the current streak, at GPT Chat Free No Account.

The catch: The Coalition’s structural advantage doesn’t guarantee victories — Morrison’s 2019 win required overcoming a significant polling deficit, suggesting that voter volatility and issue-based voting can override historical patterns when the political circumstances are right.

Dates of Australian federal elections

Australian federal elections for the House of Representatives are held every three years by law, with the Governor-General formally dissolution the parliament to trigger an election. The Senate elections occur simultaneously, though Senators serve six-year staggered terms.

Since federation in 1901, Australia has held federal elections at varying intervals, typically every three years, though early elections and constitutional crises have occasionally altered the schedule. Compulsory voting has been in place since 1925, with failure to vote incurring a fine.

The 2019 election was the 46th federal election for the House of Representatives. The first election was held on 29 and 30 March 1901 following federation.

List of past election years

Recent federal election history shows the Coalition’s recent dominance following a period of Labor governments.

Australian federal election dates, 2007–2019
Year Date Winner Coalition Seats
2007 24 November Labor (Kevin Rudd) Not applicable
2010 21 August Labor (Julia Gillard) 73
2013 7 September Coalition (Tony Abbott) 90
2016 2 July Coalition (Malcolm Turnbull) 76
2019 18 May Coalition (Scott Morrison) 77

The trade-off: While fixed three-year terms provide electoral predictability, the actual timing can be influenced by political calculations — governments can call elections earlier within their term, as demonstrated by the May 2019 date selected to optimise the Coalition’s electoral position.

Timeline of the 2019 Australian Federal Election

  • — Malcolm Turnbull ousted as Liberal leader and Prime Minister following a partyroom spill. Scott Morrison elected Liberal leader and becomes Australia’s 30th Prime Minister. Parliamentary Library analysis
  • — Federal election held across all 151 House of Representatives divisions and 76 Senate seats. Wikipedia overview
  • — Coalition declared winner with 77 seats. Scott Morrison retains Prime Ministership. AEC official results
  • — 46th Parliament convenes. Morrison government sworn in for second term.

Clarity on what is known and uncertain

Confirmed

  • Election date: 18 May 2019
  • Coalition won 77 seats
  • Labor won 68 seats
  • Morrison became 30th Prime Minister
  • Coalition trailing in polls throughout term
  • Queensland: Coalition 23/30 seats
  • Western Australia: Coalition 11/16 seats

Reported but requiring further verification

  • Detailed two-party preferred swings by individual electorate
  • Exact primary vote percentages by state
  • Full breakdown of campaign spending by party

Voices from the 2019 Election

“A very large part of it was that they rejected absolutely what Bill Shorten and the Labor Party were putting forward.” — Scott Morrison victory speech

Morrison’s win has been described as a ‘miracle’ against all predictions of national opinion polls. — JSTOR academic analysis

ABC News provided live coverage with electoral analyst Antony Green tracking results across all divisions as votes were counted. — ABC News broadcast

Editor’s note

The 2019 Australian federal election remains a case study in polling failure and the importance of regional electoral dynamics. For readers interested in Australian political history, the result demonstrated that voter preferences can shift significantly between polling periods and election day, particularly on economic and security issues.

Bottom line: Scott Morrison’s Coalition won the 2019 Australian federal election on 18 May 2019, securing 77 of 151 seats and making Morrison the 30th Prime Minister. The win was a surprise — polls consistently showed Labor ahead throughout the term. For the Labor Party, the path back to government requires winning back Queensland and Western Australian seats where the Coalition now holds dominant positions.

Related reading: 2022 Northern Ireland Assembly Election Results

Additional sources

en.wikipedia.org

Scott Morrison’s Coalition secured victory in the 2019 poll, but the 2022 federal election results three years later handed a House majority to Anthony Albanese’s Labor Party.

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Frequently asked questions

What was the voter turnout in the 2019 Australian federal election?

Australia has compulsory voting for federal elections, with failure to vote without a valid reason incurring a fine. Turnout rates consistently exceed 90% of registered voters. The Australian Electoral Commission publishes detailed attendance figures following each election.

Why did polls predict a Labor win before the 2019 election?

National opinion polls throughout the 2016–2019 parliamentary term consistently showed Labor leading the Coalition on primary vote and two-party preferred measures. However, polls failed to capture the regional swing toward the Coalition in Queensland and Western Australia, where economic concerns and negative sentiment toward Labor’s tax policies drove support at the ballot box.

What were the major parties in the 2019 Australian federal election?

The two major parties were the Liberal–National Coalition (centre-right) and the Australian Labor Party (centre-left). Minor parties with House of Representatives representation included the Australian Greens, Centre Alliance, and Katter’s Australian Party, along with three independent MPs.

How is the Australian Parliament structured?

Australia has a bicameral federal parliament consisting of the Senate (76 seats, with 12 from each of the six states and 2 from each of the two territories) and the House of Representatives (151 seats, reflecting state populations). Government is formed by the party or coalition with a majority in the House of Representatives.

When is the next federal election in Australia?

Australian federal elections must be held within three years of the previous election by law. The 2019 election elected the 46th Parliament, which would normally dissolve by May 2022. However, elections can be called earlier if the Prime Minister requests a double dissolution or early election from the Governor-General.

What role did independents play in the 2019 election?

Independents won three seats in the 2019 election, an increase from two seats in 2016. These MPs held seats in traditionally conservative-leaning divisions and generally supported the Coalition in confidence votes, though they maintained independence on policy matters.

How does compulsory voting affect Australian federal elections?

Compulsory voting has been in place since 1925 for federal elections. All Australian citizens aged 18 and over must enrol and vote, or face a fine. This system results in turnout rates consistently above 90%, among the highest in democratic nations, and is argued by proponents to reduce the influence of highly motivated extreme factions while critics raise questions about uninformed voting.