The ‘bullets’ below shows the seats that are not up for election, under the “Continuing” column, along with those each party has won and is likely to win, according to the ABC elections computer. 40 of the 76 Senate seats are being decided at this election – 2 of 40 seats remain in doubt 2 weeks after the election (5.6.22).
PartyTotal seats – Continuing Senators / This Election: Won / Likely
- Liberal / National Coalition – 31
- Labor Party – 26
- The Greens – 12
- One Nation – 2
- Jacqui Lambie Network – 2
- David Pocock – 1
- United Australia Party – 0
- Other parties – 0
Senate Facts
- 40 of 76 seats are facing election. Seats not up for election are continuing.
- 39 seats needed to form majority.
- The Senate is made up of 76 senators. 12 from each of the six states two each for the territories.
- There is a total of 421 nominated candidates running for the Senate.
Commentary on Result
The overall result sees a significant shift towards candidates and parties that would not neccessarily block legislation introduced by the Albanese government.
- Labor has 26 seats, unchanged from the last parliament. Labor has lost a seat to the Greens in New South Wales but gained a seat from the Liberal Party in Western Australia.
- The Greens have 12 seats, a gain of three. The Greens have gained one seat from Labor in New South Wales, one at the expense of either the LNP or One Nation in Queensland, and another through the demise of Nick Xenophon Team representation in South Australia.
- Labor plus the Greens have 38 seats, enough to block hostile Senate motions, but not enough ton pass legislation.
- To pass Legislatipon Labor will need the support of the Greens and one crossbench Senator, or possibly the support of one of more Coalition parties.
- This is where the victory of ACT Independent David Pocock could be critical, taking a seat from the Liberal Party and breaking the major parties’ monopoly on ACT Senate seats. Campaigning on many of the issues backed by ‘teal’ independents in the lower house, Pocock could on some issues be the critical 39th seat Labor needs to pass legislation.
- Others on the cross bench are two Jacqui Lambie Network Senators, with Lambie joined after the 2022 election by Tammy Tyrrell.
- Pauline Hanson’s One nation should continue with two Senators, though Pauline Hanson herself is in a tight contest with the LNP’s Amanda Stoker in the race for the final Queensland seat.
- The South Australian Senate race has seen the demise of the Nick Xenophon/Centre Allince team with both Rex Patrick and Stirling Griff defeated, the Greens winning one seat and the Liberals possibly the second though there reamains an outside chance One Nation could take the final South Australian seat.
- Coalition representation will be reduced from 36 seats to 33 seats and maybe as low as 31. The Coalition has lost a seat to Labor in Western Australia, to the Jacqui Lambie Network in Tasmania, to David Pocock in the ACT and probably one seat to the Greens in Queensland.
- The Liberal Party is in a tussle for the final seat in South Australia versus One Nation, and probably versus the United Australia Party in Victoria. Winning both would bring the Coalition to 33 seats.
[Tax Month – May 2022 – Previous Month, 5.6.22]