2010 Australian Grand Prix
The victory was Button's first of the season; the result moved him to third place in the Drivers' Championship, two points behind Massa and a further four adrift of Fernando Alonso. Lewis Hamilton dropped to fourth while Nico Rosberg maintained fifth position. McLaren reduced the gap to Ferrari in the World Constructors' Championship to be sixteen points behind. Mercedes increased their hold on third place, while Renault's strong result allowed them to tie with Red Bull for fourth place, with seventeen races left in the season.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Background
The Grand Prix was contested by twelve teams with two drivers each. The teams (also known as constructors) were Red Bull, Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari, Renault, Williams, Force India, Sauber, Toro Rosso, Lotus, Hispania and Virgin. Tyre supplier Bridgestone brought four different tyre types to the race: two dry compounds (soft "options" and hard "primes) and wet-weather compounds (intermediates and full wet). The Soft compound was distinguished by a green stripe on the tyre's side-walls with the Wet compound tyre identified by a green line at the bottom of the tyre's central groove.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Background
As was the case for all of the 2010 Grands Prix, the rules stipulated that all cars should use both types of tyre during the course of the race unless the driver used any one of two wet-weather compounds. Each driver was limited to eleven sets of dry tyres for the weekend. The circuit organisers installed a new combination kerb on the turn nine apex and artificial grass along with kerbs were extended downstream on the exits of the second and twelfth turns.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Background
Before the race Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso led the Drivers' Championship with 25 points, ahead of team-mate Felipe Massa (18 points) and McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton (15). Sebastian Vettel was fourth on twelve points and Nico Rosberg of Mercedes was fifth on ten points. In the Constructors' Championship Ferrari were leading with 43 points, twenty-two points ahead of their rival McLaren in second. Mercedes were in third place with 18 points with Red Bull a further two points adrift in fourth. Force India were in fifth on two points. Alonso had won the previous race in Bahrain with his team-mate Massa finishing second. Hamilton secured third place.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Background
The reigning Drivers' Champion Jenson Button who had won the 2009 Australian Grand Prix was pleased to be returning to Albert Park and set himself the target of finishing on the podium. After losing victory in Bahrain because of a faulty spark plug, Vettel was certain that Red Bull could challenge for the victory in Australia: "I think, coming out of Bahrain, we have a very good car. There is no reason why we shouldn't be competitive here."


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Background
Vettel's teammate Mark Webber who was entering his ninth Australian Grand Prix said: "It would be a beautiful feeling to win your home race, I don't think there's any driver who wouldn't like to have a chance to win their own Grand Prix." Webber also denied a suggestion by Hamilton that he would retire after the end of the season if he won the championship. Hamilton predicted that he would encounter less problems than in Bahrain and hoped he would have a good result in Melbourne.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Background
An issue concerning the start time of the race reemerged from the previous year. The start time was moved later in the day to allow European audiences to not get up early to view the event on television but it courted controversy as visibility was poor and it was retained for 2010. Lotus driver Jarno Trulli suggested the race should be started one hour earlier, while Webber, the Grand Prix Drivers' Association director, said the reason was due to commercial pressure.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Background
Some teams made modifications to their cars in preparation for the event. Virgin Racing were granted permission from Formula One's governing body the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) to change the size of their car's fuel tanks because their capacity was not large enough for their drivers to complete a Grand Prix at full speed; the chassis would not be ready until the Spanish Grand Prix on 9 May. McLaren had to modify the opening of their diffusers following a rule clarification from the FIA.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Background
The team was also requested by the stewards in Bahrain to change the configuration of their front wing end-plates to a safer rounded shape for Australia. Sauber became the first team to introduce their version of McLaren's F-duct system though the air was directed onto the main section of the body wing and the F-duct itself was positioned on the car's sidepods.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Practice
Three practice sessions were held before the Sunday race—two on Friday, and a third on Saturday. The Friday morning and afternoon sessions each lasted 90 minutes. The third session was held on Saturday morning and lasted an hour. Before the practice sessions, the pit lane speed limit was lowered from 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) to 60 kilometres per hour (37 mph) after a request was made from race director Charlie Whiting on safety grounds.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Practice
In the first practice session which was held in dry weather conditions, Robert Kubica set the fastest time early in the session with a lap of 1:26.927, almost two-tenths of a second faster than Rosberg. Button was third-fastest, ahead of Massa and Vettel. Alonso, Hamilton, Sébastien Buemi, Vitaly Petrov and Vitantonio Liuzzi rounded out the session's top ten drivers. Sauber driver Kamui Kobayashi caused the session to be suspended after forty minutes when he ran over a cone on the inside of turn eleven which tore off half his front wing and ran wide into the turn twelve gravel trap. A second suspension was caused after Kobayashi's second front wing broke off going into the third corner and debris was scattered across the circuit.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Practice
In the second practice session which was marked by intermittent rain showers, Hamilton recorded the fastest lap of the day, a 1:25.801; his teammate Button was second quickest and battled his teammate for quickest lap-time. Webber was third fastest, ahead of Michael Schumacher as both drivers took advantage of a drying track. Petrov and Buemi were fifth and sixth. Adrian Sutil, Liuzzi, Rubens Barrichello and Rosberg rounded out the top ten. Vettel lost control of the rear of his car and beached it in the turn six gravel trap in the final three minutes of the session.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Practice
In the final practice session where traffic was heavy, Webber set the fastest lap of the weekend so far with a lap time of 1:24.719 which was set during the session's closing minutes. Alonso (who was fastest for four minutes of the session after making changes to his rear suspension and front ride height) was two-tenths of a second slower in second. Schumacher set the fastest time in the first sector to record the third fastest time. He was followed by Vettel and Rosberg. McLaren teammates Button and Hamilton were sixth and seventh. Sutil, Massa and Liuzzi completed the top ten ahead of qualifying and were within one second off Webber's pace.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Qualifying
The qualifying session held on Saturday afternoon was split into three parts. The first part ran for 20 minutes and eliminated the cars from qualifying that finished the session 18th or lower. The second part of qualifying lasted 15 minutes and eliminated cars that finished in positions eleven to 17. The final session ran for ten minutes and determined pole position to tenth. Cars which competed in the final session of qualifying were not allowed to change tyres before the race, and as such started the race on the tyres that they set their quickest lap on.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Qualifying
The session was held in overcast conditions; the air and track temperature was 23 °C (73 °F). Vettel set the fastest time in all three sessions and achieved his second consecutive pole position of the season and his first at Albert Park with a time of 1:23.919 despite running wide after exiting a corner on his pole lap.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Qualifying
He was joined on the front row of the grid by teammate Webber who set a lap time 0.116 seconds off Vettel's pace and lost the chance to take pole in the third session's closing minutes after he lost time in the middle sector but was quickest in the first and final sectors. Alonso set a time of 1:24.111 to start from third place on the grid and was pleased on how qualifying went for himself.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Qualifying
Button lacked grip and had excessive oversteer which caused him to lose time and set the fourth quickest lap but was happy with the package of his car. Massa struggled with getting his tyres up to the optimum temperature causing him to have no grip but managed to qualify fifth. The two Mercedes drivers used the soft compound tyres but only managed sixth and seventh positions with Rosberg ahead of Schumacher; Rosberg was disappointed after he made mistakes on his final run which cost him time while Schumacher also used the hard compound tyre and was caught up in traffic.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Qualifying
Barrichello took eighth and believed he could have set a faster lap because he encountered traffic during the third session. Kubica pushed hard during the session as his car was not easy to drive and managed ninth. Sutil rounded out the top ten but believed he could have done better as he struggled to get his soft compound tyres up to temperature after doing two runs in the third session.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Qualifying
Hamilton, who qualified eleventh, was the fastest driver not to advance into the final session. His best time of 1:25.184 was nearly 1.1 seconds slower than Vettel's pace in the second session. He was held up by traffic during the first run of the second session which meant he made an early pit stop for new tyres and to have a clear track. However Hamilton struggled with finding time in the final sector of the track.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Qualifying
Buemi took twelfth, with Liuzzi in thirteenth; the latter encountered a large amount of traffic in the final sector of the circuit despite going faster in the first two sectors. Pedro de la Rosa pushed hard in qualifying to take 14th position with Nico Hülkenberg in the slower Williams 15th. Kobayashi took 16th and Jaime Alguersuari started from 17th position. Vitaly Petrov failed to move beyond the first qualifying session; the Renault driver qualified in 18th as he felt his car was not balanced correctly which meant he was unable to set good sector times on his final run.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Qualifying
He also backed off in the final corners on his penultimate run of the session. The Lotus cars of Heikki Kovalainen and Trulli lined up in 19th and 20th respectively, with Trulli experiencing a problem with his seat which caused it to bounce in his car. Virgin Racing drivers Timo Glock and Lucas di Grassi lined up in the eleventh row of the grid, with Hispania drivers Bruno Senna and Karun Chandhok qualifying on the final two positions on the grid in 23rd and 24th.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Qualifying, Qualifying classification
The fastest lap in each of the three sessions is denoted in bold.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Race
The conditions on the grid were wet before the race; the air temperature ranged between 26 to 29 °C (79 to 84 °F) and the track temperature ranged from 24 to 28 °C (75 to 82 °F). The race began at 17:00 DST (UTC+11). All cars started on the intermediate compound tyre. Virgin Racing nominated to start Glock and di Grassi from pit lane after replacing the fuel collectors on their cars because issues in qualifying forced them to run with more fuel than would be ideal.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Race
Trulli attempted to start the race from the pit lane after his Lotus suffered a hydraulic pump failure on the grid, but the team were unable to rectify the problem and Trulli did not start. When the race started, Vettel maintained his advantage heading into the first corner while Massa made a fast start to slot into second position ahead of Webber. Kubica had an excellent getaway, rising from ninth to fourth position by the end of the first lap. Hamilton made up three positions over the same distance.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Race
At the first corner Button's front left wheel made contact with Alonso's right rear tyre, causing the Spanish driver to spin and dropped to 22nd position. Schumacher was collected by Alonso and sustained a broken front wing. Further around the lap, Kobayashi damaged his front wing from contact with another car at turn three, which became detached going into turn six and made heavy contact with the side of Hülkenberg and Buemi. The incident prompted the deployment of the safety car. Schumacher drove into the pit lane to fit a new front wing.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Race
Racing resumed at the end of lap four when the safety car pulled into the pit-lane with Vettel leading Massa. Kubica attempted to pass Webber but the Australian maintained his position by moving to the outside. Schumacher attempted to pass di Grassi for 19th position on the same lap. di Grassi managed to retake the position from Schumacher by driving around the outside of Ascari corner, but Schumacher got ahead of di Grassi on the pit straight.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Race
At the end of the first racing lap, Vettel led Massa by 1.1 seconds, who in turn was followed by Webber, Kubica, Rosberg, Button, Hamilton, Sutil, Barrichello and Petrov. Hamilton passed his teammate Button for sixth at turn three on lap six. Senna stopped on the circuit to retire with an hydraulic failure on the same lap. Massa slowed on the next lap which caused Webber to move into second. Button called his team to bring out slick tyres and endured a large amount of water to enter the pit lane on lap seven.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Race
Button slid off the circuit at turn three, while Vettel had a 1.2 second over teammate Webber by the eighth lap. The track started to dry which resulted in most of the field pitting for soft dry tyres. Vettel made a pit stop from the lead on lap nine. Webber took over the lead for one lap before his pit stop on the tenth lap. He went off at the first corner, and fell behind Massa.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Race
Petrov missed the braking point for Whiteford corner on lap ten and spun off into the gravel trap which caused his car to become beached and retired. Sutil briefly took over the lead until he made a pit stop on lap twelve and got out of his car to retire because he lost power in his engine.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Race
Thus, Vettel regained the first position as he began to slowly pull away from Button who was 1.7 seconds behind Vettel on lap 13 with Kubica a further two seconds adrift in third. Alonso had moved into tenth position by lap 13 and gained a further after he overtook de la Rosa at turn nine on the same lap. Alonso passed Barrichello for eighth on the 14th lap and set a new fastest lap on the following lap, a 1:31.573. Hamilton and Webber passed Alonso for fifth and sixth positions at the start of lap 16.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Race
Webber attempted to defend fifth place from Hamilton but went wide into the gravel trap at turn three and fell down to eighth. Massa immediately overtook Hamilton around the outside on the same lap. Hamilton started to battle Massa (who had graining on his right-rear tyre) for fifth position with Webber and Alonso starting to close the gap to the two drivers. Massa slid his car at turn 16 at the end of lap 21 which allowed Hamilton to pass Massa on the inside at Brabham corner although Hamilton sustained minor damage to his front wing.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Race
Hamilton defended Massa's attempt to pass him at Whiteford corner, while Alonso slowed which allowed Webber to pass him. Hamilton overtook Rosberg on the outside of turn eleven. Vettel had sparks coming from his left-front wheel and a large amount of vibrations built up in his car. This caused Vettel to lose torque drive between the front left axle and wheel, and spun into the gravel trap at Ascari corner on lap 26. Vettel's retirement promoted Button into the lead. Rosberg attempted to retake fourth from Hamilton at Ascari corner but was unable to because of the presence of yellow-flags. Webber passed Massa for fifth position at Whiteford corner two laps later. di Grassi drove to his garage to retire with an issue with his car's hydraulics on lap 29.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Race
Hamilton closed up on Kubica by the same lap; Hamilton attempted to overtake Kubica while in traffic but Kubica fended off Hamilton's attempt. Hamilton feigned passing manoeuvres at the Brabham and Whiteford corners with the latter attempt resulting in Hamilton losing time to Kubica and fell back in front of Rosberg. Webber made a pit stop for soft compound tyres on lap 33, while Hamilton tried another pass on Kubica on the back straight but Kubica closed the door on Hamilton.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Race
Rosberg made his pit stop for tyres one lap later and came out level with Webber as Rosberg exited the pit lane, but Webber's extra momentum allowed him to move ahead of Rosberg. Despite going fastest overall in the first and second sectors of the track after making a pit stop on lap 35, Hamilton went wide at Ascari corner on lap 37 which allowed Webber to briefly move ahead of Hamilton before the McLaren driver regained the position.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Race
Hamilton and Webber began to close on Alonso at the rate of two seconds a lap after setting a new fastest lap of the race, a 1:28.591 on lap 40 while Massa started to close the gap to Kubica. di Grassi rejoined the race on lap 39 but returned to the pit lane two laps later. Glock made a pit stop and his mechanics retired him from the race on the 45th lap because a camber shim on his car was loose and it caused the left rear suspension to move around.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Race
Hamilton caught Alonso on lap 49 but was unable to pass the Ferrari driver because Hamilton struggled with tyre degradation. Schumacher dived up the inside to attempt an overtake Alguersuari for eleventh place at Ascari corner on lap 56 and the two drivers wheels made contact before Schumacher got ahead at the Stewart corner.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Race
Hamilton attempted to pass Alonso around the outside at Ascari corner on the same lap but Alonso closed the door on Hamilton. Webber took advantage but missed his braking point because his front wing stopped producing downforce which prevented him from reducing his speed and locked his tyres. He collided one of Hamilton's rear tyres, sending both drivers into the gravel trap. Both drivers managed to continue and Webber drove into the pit lane to replace his front wing.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Race
Button had maintained his lead upfront and crossed the start/finish line after 58 laps to win his first race of the 2010 season and his second consecutive Australian Grand Prix. Kubica finished second 12 seconds behind Button, with Massa in third. Alonso held off Rosberg in the final laps to finish fourth. Hamilton recovered to finish in sixth, Liuzzi took seventh with Barrichello close behind in eighth, Webber finished ninth and Schumacher passed de la Rosa on the final lap at Whiteford corner for tenth, the final points scoring position. de la Rosa fell behind fellow Spaniard Alguersuari to finish in twelfth with Kovalainen and Chandhok the last of the classified finishers.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Race, Post-race
The top three drivers appeared on the podium to collect their trophies and in a later press conference. Button said it was "very special" that he won in his second race for the McLaren team as it taken him time to get used to his car. He felt that his confidence was increasing and hoped something similar would occur in the following race of the year. Kubica said that he had not been expecting to finish on the podium and thanked the effort of his Renault team for helping him achieving his second-place result.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Race, Post-race
He also said that his team were not with the pace of the top three teams but felt the race was "a good example of not giving up". Massa's third-place finish was his best at the Melbourne Grand Prix and said it was fantastic that he had secured one second and third place podium finishes in the season's first two events. He praised his team for selecting a strategy of not making a pit stop after 20 laps of the race had been completed and felt it was good for all of the top three finishers.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Race, Post-race
Hamilton was disappointed not to have finished in a higher position and accused Webber of "not thinking" following the collision between the two drivers on the 57th lap. Although Webber apologised to Hamilton he was issued with an reprimand by the stewards. He said that he wanted to achieved a podium finish but that it was a "tough day" for the Red Bull team and had been determined to not give up.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Race, Post-race
Vettel believed he could have won the race had he not been affected by a car failure saying that Red Bull were pushing and trying to do the best they could and wanted to ensure that he clinched victory in the Malaysian Grand Prix. Alonso declared himself to be very happy with his fourth-place result despite being involved in the first lap collision. He said that he was not thinking about Massa at the time but scoring points but claimed he had the perfect car to win the race.


2010 Australian Grand Prix, Race, Post-race
The result meant Alonso remained the leader of the Drivers' Championship with 37 points with his teammate Massa reducing the deficit to four points. Button's victory meant he moved into third place with 31 points and Hamilton fell down to fourth. Rosberg remained in fifth position on 20 points. In the Constructors' Championship Ferrari remained the leader although McLaren cut their lead to be 16 points behind. Kubica's second place allowed Renault to tie Red Bull for fourth place with 18 points each, with seventeen races remaining in the season.


2010 Australian Labor Party leadership spill
A leadership spill occurred in the Australian Labor Party on 24 June 2010. Kevin Rudd, the Prime Minister of Australia, was challenged by Julia Gillard, the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, for the leadership of the Australian Labor Party. Gillard won the election unopposed after Rudd declined to contest, choosing instead to resign. Gillard was duly sworn in as prime minister by Quentin Bryce, the Governor-General, on 24 June 2010 at Government House, becoming Australia's first female prime minister.


2010 Australian Labor Party leadership spill
Gillard was the Deputy Leader of the Labor Party since 4 December 2006, and was appointed Deputy Prime Minister of Australia after Labor's landslide victory in the 2007 federal election. She was also appointed the Minister for Education and Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.


2010 Australian Labor Party leadership spill, Background
Rudd and Gillard became Leader and Deputy Leader of the Australian Labor Party on 4 December 2006, during the fourth and final term of the Howard Government. The pair successfully challenged sitting Leader Kim Beazley and Deputy Leader Jenny Macklin in a joint-ticket leadership election, brought about by opinion polls suggesting that Rudd was far more popular with the public than Beazley.


2010 Australian Labor Party leadership spill, Background
Under the leadership of Rudd and Gillard, Labor defeated the Liberal/National Coalition at the 2007 federal election by a landslide. The Rudd Ministry was sworn in by Governor-General Michael Jeffery on 3 December, with Rudd becoming the first Labor prime minister in over a decade, and Gillard becoming the first-ever female deputy prime minister. Rudd also appointed Gillard as Minister for Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.


2010 Australian Labor Party leadership spill, Background
After an initial long period of popularity, by mid-2010 polls began to detect disaffection both with the direction of the Government and the leadership style of Kevin Rudd; several opinion polls in April and May 2010 suggested that Labor would lose the next election. According to the ABC's 7:30 Report, the seeds for Gillard to challenge Rudd were sown by "Victorian Right factional heavyweights" Bill Shorten MP and Senator David Feeney, who had between them secured the support of "New South Wales power broker" Mark Arbib. Feeney and Arbib discussed the matter of a potential leadership challenge with Gillard on the morning of 23 June and began a numbers count to establish the feasibility of a leadership challenge. The pair found that there was enough support for Gillard for the challenge to proceed.


2010 Australian Labor Party leadership spill, Background
Declining approval for both the Labor Party and Rudd personally were attributed to many factors, including problems with the Home Insulation Program, a significant delay to a planned carbon emissions reduction scheme, the proposed introduction of the Resource Super Profits Tax, and the election of Tony Abbott as Leader of the Opposition. Senior Labor MPs conceded that the ALP's primary vote had dropped below 30% in some key marginal seats, a figure which if replicated at a federal election would have seen a Labor defeat.


2010 Australian Labor Party leadership spill, Background
The leadership challenge was finally sparked after the influential Australian Workers' Union officially switched its support from Rudd to Gillard. AWU Secretary Paul Howes told the Australian Associated Press and ABC's Lateline that he and AWU President Bill Ludwig had decided to support Gillard as prime minister after making an assessment that a change in leadership was in the best interest of their membership.


2010 Australian Labor Party leadership spill, Challenge
On the morning of 23 June 2010, NSW senator Mark Arbib, Victorians Shorten and David Feeney, and South Australian Don Farrell visited Gillard to tell her that enough Labor MPs and senators had lost confidence in Prime Minister Rudd to make a challenge feasible. By midday, Arbib and Feeney told Gillard that they could guarantee her the support of the majority of right-wing members from New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia, giving Gillard enough support to win the leadership and become prime minister.


2010 Australian Labor Party leadership spill, Challenge
Arbib and Feeney told Gillard that most of the Labor Party were convinced they would lose the next election if Rudd continued as prime minister. They also said that they believed Labor would be able to win with Gillard as prime minister. Party sources later told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that Gillard agreed that Labor faced electoral defeat with Rudd at the helm.


2010 Australian Labor Party leadership spill, Challenge
After holding meetings throughout the evening, Rudd addressed the media at 10:30 pm to announce that Gillard had asked for him to either resign as prime minister or hold a leadership election the following day to determine the Leadership of the Labor Party. Rudd stated that a leadership election would take place the following day and that he would stand as a candidate.


2010 Australian Labor Party leadership spill, Challenge
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the final catalyst for the challenge against Rudd was "sparked by a report (in the Herald of 23 June) that Mr Rudd had used his Chief of Staff, Alister Jordan, to sound out the backbench over the past month on the level of support for him. This followed a Herald/Nielsen poll which showed the government would lose if an election were held then", and that "Rudd's action was regarded as a sign that he did not trust the repeated assurances by Ms Gillard that she would not stand".


2010 Australian Labor Party leadership spill, Results
All 115 Labor Members of the House of Representatives and Senators were eligible to vote in the ballot. A total of 58 votes was required to secure a majority win the leadership ballot.


2010 Australian Labor Party leadership spill, Results
Whilst announcing the leadership election, Rudd initially declared that he would re-nominate himself for the leadership, even in the face of growing support for Gillard. However, by the morning of the vote it had become clear he did not have the support to secure a majority in the vote. Hours before the vote was due to take place, Rudd announced that he was withdrawing his candidacy and resigned as Leader of the Labor Party with immediate effect. This left Gillard to assume the leadership unopposed. Wayne Swan, Treasurer of Australia at the time, was elected to fill Gillard's now vacant position as Deputy Leader, also unopposed. Rudd resigned as prime minister at midday, and Gillard was sworn in as the first female prime minister of Australia shortly afterwards.


2010 Australian Labor Party leadership spill, Aftermath
On 17 July 2010, just 23 days after becoming prime minister, Gillard received the agreement of Governor-General Quentin Bryce to hold a snap election for 21 August 2010. After a close contest between Gillard's Labor and Tony Abbott's Liberal/National Coalition, the election resulted in the first hung parliament since the 1940 election. Gillard was able to secure the support of one Greens MP and three Independent MPs in order to allow Labor to form a minority government, and Gillard was sworn in as prime minister for a second time on 14 September 2010. Kevin Rudd, who had successfully re-contested his seat at the election, accepted an offer to become Minister for Foreign Affairs.


2010 Australian Labor Party leadership spill, Aftermath
Rudd regained the leadership, and the prime ministership, at the June 2013 Australian Labor Party leadership spill, shortly before Labor lost government at the 2013 Australian federal election.


2010 Australian Manufacturers' Championship
The 2010 Australian Manufacturers' Championship was a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing championship for car manufacturers. It was the 25th manufacturers title to be awarded by CAMS and the 16th to be contested under the Australian Manufacturers' Championship name. The championship, which was open to closed, four seat, production automobiles, also incorporated the 2010 Australian Production Car Championship for drivers. Mitsubishi Motors won their second consecutive Manufacturers' Championship, while Stuart Kostera, driving a Mitsubishi, won the Production Car Championship.


2010 Australian Manufacturers' Championship, Calendar
All rounds other than Rounds 1 & 4 were contested over two one-hour races.


2010 Australian Manufacturers' Championship, Points system
Only registered manufacturers were eligible to score points in the Australian Manufacturers' Championship. Each registered manufacturer could nominate up to two cars, irrespective of class, which were the only cars eligible to score points for that manufacturer at that round of the championship.


2010 Australian Manufacturers' Championship, Points system
Drivers registered for the Australian Production Car Championship were eligible to score points towards that title regardless of Manufacturer registration.


2010 Australian Men's Curling Championship
The 2010 Australian Men's Curling Championship was held from  ? to ? June2010 at the Naseby Curling Club in Naseby, New Zealand. The winners of this championship will represent Australia at the 2010 Pacific Curling Championships.


2010 Australian Open
The 2010 Australian Open was a tennis tournament that took place in Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, from 18 to 31 January. It was the 98th edition of the Australian Open, and the first Grand Slam event of the year.


2010 Australian Open
In the singles competition, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams were the defending champions. Williams was able to retain her title with a win over Justine Henin, 6–4, 3–6, 6–2 in the final, while Nadal retired in his quarterfinals match against Andy Murray owing to a quadriceps injury. Roger Federer was the men's champion, defeating finalist Andy Murray in straight sets 6–3, 6–4, 7–6(11).


2010 Australian Open
In doubles, the 2009 champion pairs were successful in their respective title defenses – Bob and Mike Bryan in men's doubles and Serena and Venus Williams in women's doubles. Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi were not able to defend their mixed doubles title because they withdrew from the event beforehand. In mixed doubles, Cara Black and Leander Paes won the title, which made a mixed doubles career grand slam for Black.


2010 Australian Open, Point distribution
Below is a series of tables for each of the competitions showing the ranking points on offer for each event.


2010 Australian Open, Seniors, Men's Doubles
Bob Bryan /  Mike Bryan defeated  Daniel Nestor /  Nenad Zimonjić, 6–3, 6–7(5–7), 6–3


2010 Australian Open, Seniors, Women's Doubles
Serena Williams /  Venus Williams defeated  Cara Black /  Liezel Huber, 6–4, 6–3


2010 Australian Open, Seniors, Mixed Doubles
Cara Black /  Leander Paes defeated  Ekaterina Makarova /  Jaroslav Levinský, 7–5, 6–3


2010 Australian Open, Seniors, Mixed Doubles
This was the pair's 3rd consecutive grand slam final and the 4th overall. The victory makes Paes India's joint-lead grand slam winner alongside his ex- doubles partner Mahesh Bhupathi with a total of 11 grand slam doubles titles. This title gave Black a career mixed doubles grand slam, which Black has won one of each slam in mixed doubles.


2010 Australian Open, Juniors, Boys' Doubles
Justin Eleveld /  Jannick Lupescu defeated  Kevin Krawietz /  Dominik Schulz, 6–4, 6–4


2010 Australian Open, Juniors, Girls' Doubles
Jana Čepelová /  Chantal Škamlová defeated  Tímea Babos /  Gabriela Dabrowski, 7–6(1), 6–2


2010 Australian Open, Other events, Wheelchair Men's Doubles
Stéphane Houdet /  Shingo Kunieda defeated  Maikel Scheffers /  Robin Ammerlaan, 6–2, 6–2


2010 Australian Open, Other events, Wheelchair Women's Doubles
Florence Gravellier /  Aniek Van Koot defeated  Lucy Shuker /  Daniela Di Toro, 6–3, 7–6(2)


2010 Australian Open, Other events, Wheelchair Quad Doubles
Nicholas Taylor /  David Wagner defeated  Peter Norfolk /  Johan Andersson, 6–2, 7–6(5)


2010 Australian Open, Protected ranking
The following players were accepted directly into the main draw using a protected ranking:


2010 Australian Open, Qualifiers entries, Men's Qualifiers entries
The following players received lucky loser spots in the Men's Draw:


2010 Australian Open, Prize money
All prize money is in Australian dollars (A$); doubles prize money is distributed per pair.


2010 Australian Open Grand Prix
The 2010 Australian Open Grand Prix was a badminton tournament which took place at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre in Melbourne, Australia on 13–18 July 2010 and had a total purse of $50,000.


2010 Australian Open – Boys' Doubles
Francis Casey Alcantara and Hsieh Cheng-peng were the defending champions, but Hsieh did not compete in the Juniors this year. Alcantara partnered up with Guilherme Clézar, but they lost in the second round 5–7, 6–4, [6–10] against Jason Kubler and Benjamin Mitchell.


2010 Australian Open – Boys' Doubles
Justin Eleveld and Jannick Lupescu won in the final 6–4, 6–4, against Kevin Krawietz and Dominik Schulz.


2010 Australian Open – Boys' Singles
Yuki Bhambri was the defending champion, but did not compete in the Juniors this year.


2010 Australian Open – Boys' Singles
The Boys' Singles tournament of the 2010 Australian Open started in the week of 25 January, the second week of the main tournament. Tiago Fernandes won in the final 7–5, 6–3, against Sean Berman.


2010 Australian Open – Boys' Singles, Seeds
Note: Daniel Berta was, at the end of 2009, ranked world no. 1 among the juniors, but forgot to apply for a place in the tournament; he was given a wild card for the qualification round, through which he qualified for the main tournament.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries
The 2010 Australian Open described in detail, in the form of day-by-day summaries.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Hit for Haiti (17 January)
A day prior to the tournament, a charity match called Hit for Haiti was held to raise funds to aid victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. The event was proposed by Roger Federer, and was organised in under 24 hours. It was held in Rod Laver Arena at 2 pm and lasted about 90 minutes; tickets cost A$10 for adults and were free for children under 12. Nine players participated, in two teams (named after the colours in the Haitian flag).


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Hit for Haiti (17 January)
Team Red consisted of Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Lleyton Hewitt, and Samantha Stosur, and Team Blue was Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick, Kim Clijsters, and late substitute Bernard Tomic. Former player and current TV analyst Jim Courier served as the chair umpire. Players wore microphones during play, and competed in doubles, mixed doubles, and other arrangements. Team Red defeated Team Blue, 7–6. Additional donations were solicited at the event, and several other players – including Marcos Baghdatis and Maria Sharapova – donated money directly. An early count had at least A$159,000 raised; later reports put the figure around A$400,000.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 1 (18 January)
The 2010 Australian Open started with inclement weather in southeastern Australia. Rain temporarily suspended play on the outer courts, allowing play on only Rod Laver Arena and Hisense Arena, which have retractable roofs. Play was able to begin on the outer courts approximately an hour later. The rain continued intermittently throughout the day, forcing some matches to be postponed until Day 2.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 1 (18 January)
Men's singles play was started by Andy Roddick on the main courts as he defeated Thiemo de Bakker in straight sets 6–1, 6–4, 6–4. The fifth seed Andy Murray followed by beating qualifier Kevin Anderson 6–1, 6–1, 6–2. Fourth-seed Juan Martín del Potro took four sets to defeat American Michael Russell 6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 6–2. Australian Bernard Tomic prevailed in straight sets against qualifier Guillaume Rufin. Rafael Nadal won in his match against Peter Luczak 7–6(0), 6–1, 6–4, despite struggling in the first set. 13th-seed Radek Štěpánek lost to Ivo Karlović in a lengthy five set match, 2–6, 7–6(5), 6–4, 3–6, 6–4. Ivan Ljubičić and Fernando González made it to the next round. The match between Matthew Ebden and Gaël Monfils was suspended at 2–2(30–15).


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 1 (18 January)
World number 14 Maria Sharapova lost a 191-minute opening match with her former doubles partner, world number 58 Maria Kirilenko 7–6(4), 3–6, 6–4. This marked the first time since 2003 that Sharapova lost in the first round of a Grand Slam. The Belgian trio of Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin and Yanina Wickmayer all won their matches on the first day. Seeded players Flavia Pennetta and Kateryna Bondarenko also made it through. Spanish player María José Martínez Sánchez was the first to win, scoring a double bagel over Evgeniya Rodina. The match between eighth seed Jelena Janković and Monica Niculescu was suspended.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 2 (19 January)
Roger Federer defeated Igor Andreev 4–6, 6–2, 7–6(2), 6–0. Lleyton Hewitt also advanced soundly against Ricardo Hocevar, winning 6–1, 6–2, 6–3. Third-seeded and 2008 Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic defeated Daniel Gimeno-Traver, 7–5, 6–3, 6–2. The men's side saw many upsets, the largest of which was Robin Söderling's loss against Spaniard Marcel Granollers 5–7, 2–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–2.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 2 (19 January)
American John Isner won his first match as a seeded player at a grand slam in a lengthy match against Andreas Seppi 6–3, 6–3, 3–6, 5–7, 6–4. Louk Sorensen became the first Irish player to advance to the second round of a Grand Slam in defeating Lu Yen-hsun 6–4, 3–6, 6–2, 6–1. Nikolay Davydenko won in straight sets and David Ferrer did not drop a single game against Frederico Gil before the Portugal native retired 6–0, 6–0, 2–0.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 2 (19 January)
On the women's side, world number one Serena Williams defeated Urszula Radwańska 6–2, 6–1, and Australian Samantha Stosur won her match at Rod Laver Arena 6–1, 3–6, 6–2. Venus Williams, seeded sixth, also won her opening match 6–2, 6–2 over Lucie Šafářová. 18th seed Virginie Razzano and 25th seed Anabel Medina Garrigues both lost in straight sets, while 23rd seed Dominika Cibulková fell in three sets. Perhaps the most notable women's match of the day, however, involved two unseeded players.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 2 (19 January)
Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová defeated Regina Kulikova 7–6(5), 6–7(10), 6–3 in a match that lasted 4 hours, 19 minutes—the longest women's match by time in a Grand Slam event in the open era, and believed to be the second-longest women's match ever. The record for longest women's match in a Grand Slam in the Open Era was later beaten, however, in next year's Australian Open.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 3 (20 January)
In the second round, defending champion Rafael Nadal defeated Lukáš Lacko 6–2, 6–2, 6–2 and 2009 semifinalist Andy Roddick defeated Thomaz Bellucci 6–3, 6–4, 6–4. Andy Murray, Gaël Monfils, Fernando González, Stanislas Wawrinka and John Isner all followed through in straight sets, while Philipp Kohlschreiber and Ivan Ljubičić needed four sets to get through. Juan Martín del Potro survived against American James Blake 6–4, 6–7(3), 5–7, 6–3, 10–8 and Marin Čilić against Australian wildcard Bernard Tomic 6–7(6), 6–3, 4–6, 6–2, 6–4. 29th seed Victor Troicki fell to Florian Mayer and Tomáš Berdych to Evgeny Korolev.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 3 (20 January)
On the women's side, Alyona Bondarenko won her match in straight sets, while her sister, Kateryna, lost in straight sets. Justine Henin defeated fifth seed Elena Dementieva 7–5, 7–6(6). Russians Dinara Safina, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Vera Zvonareva, Alisa Kleybanova, Nadia Petrova and Maria Kirilenko all recorded straight sets victories. They were joined by Kim Clijsters and Caroline Wozniacki, and Jelena Janković. Two other seeds also fell with 25th seed María José Martínez Sánchez and 28th seed Elena Vesnina. Flavia Pennetta was defeated by Yanina Wickmayer in straight sets.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 4 (21 January)
Day 4 saw world number one Roger Federer, Lleyton Hewitt, 2009 semifinalist Fernando Verdasco, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Mikhail Youzhny and Nikolay Davydenko win in straight sets. 2008 champion Novak Djokovic needed four sets to advance. Five-set matches of the day consisted of Tommy Haas' defeat of Janko Tipsarević 4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 1–6, 6–3; Albert Montañés' defeat of Stéphane Robert 4–6, 6–7(3), 6–2, 6–3, 6–2; Nicolás Almagro's win over Benjamin Becker 6–4, 6–2, 3–6, 4–6, 6–3; Juan Mónaco's two-set recovery over Michaël Llodra 3–6, 3–6, 7–6(5), 6–1, 6–3; and Marcos Baghdatis' defeat of David Ferrer 4–6, 3–6, 7–6(4), 6–3, 6–1.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 4 (21 January)
In the women's side the situation was the same as many seeds cruised through with Serena Williams and Venus Williams leading the way as they both won in straight sets. they were followed by Vera Zvonareva, good friends Caroline Wozniacki, Victoria Azarenka and Agnieszka Radwańska, Slovakian Daniela Hantuchová, Francesca Schiavone, Shahar Pe'er and Carla Suárez Navarro. While Li Na survived against Ágnes Szávay in three sets. The two remaining Australian in the women's draw also won in straight sets as Samantha Stosur defeated Kristina Barrois 7–5, 6–3 and Wildcard Casey Dellacqua outlasting Karolina Šprem 7–6(4), 7–6(6). However two seeds fell as Sabine Lisicki fell in three to Alberta Brianti and former number one Ana Ivanovic also fell in three to Argentine Gisela Dulko 6–7(6), 7–5, 6–4 in an error filled match.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 5 (22 January)
7th seed Andy Roddick won a three-hour match against Feliciano López 6–7(4), 6–4, 6–4, 7–6(3). fourth seed Juan Martín del Potro defeated Florian Mayer 6–3, 0–6 6–4, 7–5. 14th seed Marin Čilić beat 19th seed Stanislas Wawrinka 4–6, 6–4, 6–3, 6–3. Rafael Nadal, the defending champion, lost a set in his victory against Philipp Kohlschreiber 6–4, 6–2, 2–6, 7–5. Ivo Karlović defeated 24th seed compatriot Ivan Ljubičić 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 7–6(7). Andy Murray won in straight sets over Florent Serra. Chilean Fernando González beat Evgeny Korolev 6–7(5), 6–3, 1–6, 6–3, 6–4. The day's most significant upset was 33rd seed John Isner's defeat of 12th seed Gaël Monfils 6–1, 4–6, 7–6(4), 7–6(5).


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 5 (22 January)
In the women's draw world, 2009 runner-up Dinara Safina defeated Elena Baltacha 6–1, 6–2 in 57 minutes. Belgian Yanina Wickmayer needed three sets to defeat Sara Errani 6–1, 6–7(4), 6–3. Maria Kirilenko advanced to the fourth round with a tight win over Roberta Vinci 7–5, 7–6(4). Svetlana Kuznetsova also made it through but struggled against German qualifier Angelique Kerber 3–6, 7–5, 6–4. Alisa Kleybanova lost to Justine Henin in three sets 3–6, 6–4, 6–2. China's Zheng Jie upset 11th seed Marion Bartoli in three sets 5–7, 6–3, 6–0. Alyona Bondarenko won her first match over eighth seed Jelena Janković 6–2, 6–3. Nadia Petrova defeated 15th seed Kim Clijsters 6–0, 6–1.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 6 (23 January)
Day 6 began with the announcement that 20th seed Mikhail Youzhny was withdrawing from his third round encounter with Łukasz Kubot due to a right wrist injury. First, Roger Federer defeated the 31st seed, Spaniard Albert Montañés 6–3, 6–4, 6–4. Novak Djokovic won his match against Denis Istomin 6–1, 6–1, 6–2 in 97 minutes. Thirtieth seed Juan Mónaco was defeated by Russian sixth seed Nikolay Davydenko 6–0, 6–3, 6–4. Nicolás Almagro, the 26th seed, won in straight sets over Alejandro Falla.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 6 (23 January)
10th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga prevailed over Tommy Haas 4 6–4, 3–6, 6–1, 7–5 after coming back from a 3–5 deficit in the fourth set. Stefan Koubek retired due to a fever against Fernando Verdasco after losing the first set 6–1. The encounter between Australian Lleyton Hewitt and Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis ended with a retirement from the latter at 6–0, 4–2, due to a shoulder pain.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 6 (23 January)
Australian hopeful Samantha Stosur defeated Italian Alberta Brianti 6–4, 6–1. Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Wozniacki cruised through against Tathiana Garbin and Shahar Pe'er respectively, both winning in straight sets. Ninth seed Vera Zvonareva had an easy first set but struggled in the second against Gisela Dulko 6–1, 7–5. Sixth seed Venus Williams ended the comeback of Australian wildcard Casey Dellacqua in straight sets 6–1, 7–6(4). Top seed and defending champion Serena Williams defeated Carla Suárez Navarro 6–0, 6–3. 16th seed Li Na prevailed over 22nd seed Daniela Hantuchová 7–5, 3–6, 6–2. The only upset in the women's side occurred with Italian 17th seed Francesca Schiavone's straight set win over Polish 10th seed Agnieszka Radwańska 6–2, 6–2.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 7 (24 January)
The day began with Andy Murray's defeat of American John Isner 7–6(4), 6–3, 6–2. They were followed by defending champion Rafael Nadal and Ivo Karlović, where Nadal prevailed in four sets 6–4, 4–6, 6–4, 6–4. Marin Čilić defeated defending US Open Champion Juan Martín del Potro 5–7, 6–4, 7–5, 5–7, 6–3 to advance to the quarterfinals. The last match of the day saw Andy Roddick defeat Fernando González 6–3, 3–6, 4–6, 7–5, 6–2.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 7 (24 January)
In the women's side, Chinese Zheng Jie took on Ukrainian Alyona Bondarenko, where Zheng won 7–6(5), 6–4. 19th seed Nadia Petrova took on third seed Svetlana Kuznetsova and won 6–3, 3–6, 6–1. Belgian Justine Henin took on compatriot Yanina Wickmayer 7–6(3), 1–6, 6–3. Dinara Safina retired against Maria Kirilenko 4–5 (30–40) due to a recurring back problem.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 8 (25 January)
Venus Williams reached the Women's Singles Quarterfinals after defeating Francesca Schiavone 3–6, 6–2, 6–1. Williams will proceed against Li Na who defeated US-Open finalist Caroline Wozniacki 6–4, 6–3. Titleholder Serena Williams was successful against Australian Samantha Stosur, making Victoria Azarenka her next combatant.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 8 (25 January)
Men's Singles ranking number 1 Roger Federer won against Lleyton Hewitt 6–2, 6–3, 6–4 in a continuously one-sided match. Novak Djokovic defeated Łukasz Kubot 6–1, 6–2, 7–5, having reached the Men's Singles Quarterfinals. The longest matches of the day were presented by Nikolay Davydenko who beat Fernando Verdasco and Nicolás Almagro defeated by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in both five sets.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 9 (26 January)
In the first Quarterfinal match of the men's side saw Marin Čilić taking on Andy Roddick. In the first set the two players exchange break at 5–5 to go to a tie-break which Čilić won. After the first set Roddick received a medical treatment to his neck. In the second set Čilić broke at 3–2 to lead 4–2 after Roddick received a medical treatment once again and then Čilić closed it out 6–3. In the third set Roddick broke in the second game and close it out 6–3 in the third.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 9 (26 January)
Roddick then led 4–0 in the fourth with two breaks and closed it out 6–2 to go to a decider. In the fifth set Roddick had three break opportunities in the first game but was not able to convert. Čilić then broke at the fourth game and close the match out 6–3 in the decider. The second quarterfinal was between Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray In the first set Nadal broke early to lead 2–1 but Murray broke back immediately to bring it to 2–2.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 9 (26 January)
Murray then won the next three games to lead 5–2 and then close it out 6–3 in the first. In the second set Nadal led 4–2 with a break but Murray once again broke back immediately to 4–3 and then it stayed on serve to go to a tie-break which Murray won 7–2. In the third set Murray led 3–0 when Nadal retired due to Knee Injury.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 9 (26 January)
In the first Quarterfinal match of the women's side saw Justine Henin and Nadia Petrova. In the first set Henin broke to lead 3–2 but Petrova broke back at the eighth game to put it 4–4. Henin then served for the set at 5–4 but was broken back then it went to a tie-break, which Henin won 7–3. In the second set Petrova led 3–0 with two service break but let Henin back in as Henin broke back to lead 4–3.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 9 (26 January)
They then stayed on serve until the 12th game where Henin broke the Petrova serve to win the set 7–5 and the match. The match was followed by an encounter between Maria Kirilenko and Zheng Jie. The first set went lopsided as Zheng won five straight games after 1–1 to take the set 6–1. Kirilenko then received treatment for her leg after the first set. In the second set Zheng broke immediately in the first game to lead 1–0 and then stayed on serve to 5–3. At the 10th game Kirilenko double faulted at match point to give Zheng the match 6–1 6–3.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 10 (27 January)
Day 10 of the Men's side saw world number one Roger Federer taking on Nikolay Davydenko. The first set went the Russian's way as he broke the Federer serve at the third and fifth game and won the set 6–2. He then made a 3–1 leverage and had break point for 4–1 but failed as Federer held for 2–3. From then on Davydenko's unforced errors rose greatly. Federer took advantage and won 13 straight games to take the second set 6–3 and the third 6–0.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 10 (27 January)
At 2–1 in the fourth, Davydenko went back to 3–3 but lost serve to go down 5–6 and Federer closed it out to take the set 7–5 and the match. The last Quarterfinal of the day featured 2008 Australian Open finalists Novak Djokovic and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. In the first set both players broke each other for 2–1 Djokovic. Djokovic then broke in the sixth game and serve for the set at 5–3 but Tsonga crawled back in to push it to a tie-break, which he won 10–8.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 10 (27 January)
In the second Djokovic broke in the first game but gave it right back as he was broken in the eighth game, they then went again to tie-break which Djokovic won 7–5. the third set was dominated by Djokovic winning it 6–1 even though he looked like he was struggling. Tsonga then took advantage of his wounded opponent as he convincingly won the next two set 6–3 6–1 to have a clash with Federer in the semifinals.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 10 (27 January)
The second Quarterfinal day of the Women' side saw Venus Williams taking on Li Na first. The first set saw Venus take the first four games, However Li got one of the breaks back to go 2–4. Venus then took the next two games to take the set 6–2. In the second set Venus took command as she led 2–0. Then both players traded break 4–2 Venus. Venus the served for the match at 5–4 but Li broke back to 5–5 then it went to a tie-break which Li won 7–4.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 10 (27 January)
Venus then took the first game and then six successive breaks happened to push it to 4–3 Venus. Li then held serve after saving break point to go four all. At that point three successive breaks then transpired as Li served it out to win the set 7–5 and the match to join compatriot Zheng Jie in the Semifinals. The next match saw defending champion Serena Williams taking on Victoria Azarenka. In the first set Serena suffered her first broken service game of the tournament as she was broken in the first game.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 10 (27 January)
Both then held serve after cancelling break point to go 2–1 Azarenka. Serena then broke back to level it at 2–2. Azarenka then took the next three games to take a commanding 5–2 lead breaking Serena twice more. Serena then fought back getting one of the break back to go 4–5 down, but Azarenka was able to take the set 6–4. In the second set Azarenka took a commanding 4–0 lead. Azarenka appeared to be in cruise control for advancing to the semifinals, but Serena muscled her way back to take five straight games, to take the lead 5–4. And then it went to a tie-break, which Serena won 7–4. Azarenka then held serve to 1–0 but Serena then took the next five games to lead 5–1 and closed it out 6–2 to meet Li in the semifinals.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 11 (28 January)
In the men's action Andy Murray took on Marin Čilić. In the first set saw Čilić taking the first break as he broke in the fifth game. He then took a 5–3 lead and broke the Murray serve to win the set 6–3. In the second set Murray broke the Čilić serve at the fifth game and stayed on serve to win the set 6–4. In the third set Murray won the only break of the set at the seventh game and closed it out 6–4 to take a 2–1 lead. In the fourth set it was 1–1 until Murray won four straight games and closed out the match by winning the fourth set 6–2 to advance to his second Grand Slam final.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 11 (28 January)
The Women's singles semifinals saw Chinese players Li Na and Zheng Jie taking defending champion Serena Williams and Justine Henin respectively. First on court was world number one and defending champion Serena Williams taking on Li Na, with Li just having beaten Venus Williams. In the first set, Serena broke at the first game to take a 1–0 lead. From then on it stayed on serve, however Serena was not able to close it out at 5–4 as Li broke to level it to 5–5. It then head into a tie-break, which Serena won 7–4, with a second serve ace.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 11 (28 January)
The second set recorded no breaks of serve as both players faced break points. It then went to a tie-break. Serena then won the tie-break 7–1 with once again an ace. In the second semi-finals were two unseeded players clashed as Justine Henin took on Zheng Jie. This match was lopsided from 1–1 as Henin took 11 straight games to win the match 6–1 6–0 to advance to her second straight final.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 12 (29 January)
Roger Federer won in the match with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the 2008 finalist, 6–2, 6–3, 6–2. This marks the fifth time Federer made the final at the Australian Open.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 12 (29 January)
Serena and Venus Williams won in the final against Cara Black and Liezel Huber 6–4, 6–3. The Australian Open women's doubles title in 2010 gives them back-to-back championships, and four overall in doubles at this slam. This was the eleventh women's Grand Slam doubles title of their careers.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 13 (30 January)
World Number One and defending champion Serena Williams and wildcard entrant Justine Henin met in the first grand slam final played between the two, with Serena leading their head-to-head 7–6. Both players then held serve for 2–1 with Serena saving three break points in two games. Serena then broke at the fourth game and held serve to take a 4–1 lead again saving break points. Henin then got the break back at the seventh game to take it to 4–4.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 13 (30 January)
It then stayed on serve to go 5–4 Serena, however Serena was able to break at the second opportunity to win the set 6–4. In the second set, both players traded breaks at the third and fourth game to level it 2–2. Serena then held serve to lead 3–2, and then Henin won the next four games and 10 straight points from 3–3 deuce to win the set 6–3. In the decider both players once again traded breaks at the third and fourth game to level it to 2–2.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 13 (30 January)
The defending champion then won the next four games and closed it out in her second championship point to win the set 6–2, which gave Serena her fifth Australian Open title. This was a record breaking fifth Australian Open title for Serena, which broke the tie she shared with Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong, Steffi Graf, and Monica Seles who all won four Australian Open titles in the Open Era.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 13 (30 January)
In addition, this title increased her slam total to 12, which tied the overall fifth place mark by Billie Jean King and Suzanne Lenglen, which makes Serena the fourth most decorated grand slam champion in the open era of women's tennis. Serena was the first woman to win back-to-back titles since Jennifer Capriati did so back in 2001–02.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 13 (30 January)
The Bryan brothers won their fourth title in men's doubles by winning over the team of Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjić in three sets by a score of 6–3, 6–7(5), 6–3.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 13 (30 January)
Boys' and girls' singles competition concluded. Brazilian Tiago Fernandes defeated Sean Berman 7–5, 6–3 in the boys' singles final. In the girls' single final Karolína Plíšková from the Czech Republic avenged the defeat of her twin sister, winning 6–1, 7–6(5), against British player Laura Robson.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 14 (31 January)
India's Leander Paes and Zimbabwe's Cara Black won the mixed doubles title against the pair of Ekaterina Makarova of Russia and the Czech Republic's Jaroslav Levinský in straight sets 7–5, 6–3. This was Paes's 11th doubles Grand Slam title, and the pair's second together after the 2008 US Open.


2010 Australian Open – Day-by-day summaries, Day 14 (31 January)
In the men's final, Roger Federer defeated Andy Murray to win his 16th Grand Slam title and increase his own record. It was also his fourth Australian Open title, which tied him with Andre Agassi in most titles won in the Open Era. Federer took the first and second sets with one break in each. In the third set, Federer fought back from 2–5 down to send the set into a tiebreaker. He went on to defeat Murray in a protracted third-set tiebreaker 6–3, 6–4, 7–6(11).


2010 Australian Open – Girls' Doubles
Christina McHale and Ajla Tomljanović were the defending champions, but they did not compete in the juniors this year.


2010 Australian Open – Girls' Doubles
Jana Čepelová and Chantal Škamlová won the tournament, defeating Tímea Babos and Gabriela Dabrowski in the final, 7–6(7–1), 6–2.


2010 Australian Open – Girls' Singles
Ksenia Pervak was the defending champion, but did not compete in the juniors this year.


2010 Australian Open – Girls' Singles
Karolína Plíšková won the tournament, defeating Laura Robson in the final, 6–1, 7–6(7–5).


2010 Australian Open – Men's Doubles
Bob and Mike Bryan were the defending champions, and successfully defended their title after winning 6–3, 6–7(5), 6–3, against Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjić.


2010 Australian Open – Men's Singles
Roger Federer defeated Andy Murray in the final to win the Men's Singles tennis title at the 2010 Australian Open.


2010 Australian Open – Men's Singles
Rafael Nadal was the defending champion, but retired due to a right knee injury in the quarter-finals against Murray.


2010 Australian Open – Men's Singles
This was also the last Grand Slam tournament for former World No. 1, 1997 Australian Open Finalist and 1998 French Open Champion Carlos Moya, 2001 Australian Open Semifinalist Sébastien Grosjean and 2006 Australian Open Quarterfinalist Fabrice Santoro.


2010 Australian Open – Mixed Doubles
Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi were the defending champions, but withdrew before their first round match against Carly Gullickson and Bernard Tomic. They were replaced in the draw by Akgul Amanmuradova and Rik de Voest.


2010 Australian Open – Mixed Doubles
Cara Black and Leander Paes won the mixed doubles title at the 2010 Australian Open, defeating Ekaterina Makarova and Jaroslav Levinský in the final 7–5, 6–3.


2010 Australian Open – Wheelchair Men's Doubles
Robin Ammerlaan and Shingo Kunieda were the defending champions, but they did not compete together. Amerlaan partnered up with Maikel Scheffers and Kunieda partnered up with Stéphane Houdet. They met in the final. Houdet and Kunieda defeated Ammerlaan and Scheffers 6–2, 6–2 to win the title.


2010 Australian Open – Wheelchair Men's Singles
Shingo Kunieda was the defending champion and won in the final 7–6(3), 2–6, 7–5, against Stéphane Houdet.


2010 Australian Open – Wheelchair Quad Doubles
Nicholas Taylor and David Wagner were the defending champions, and they won 6–2, 7–6(5) against Peter Norfolk and Johan Andersson.


2010 Australian Open – Wheelchair Quad Singles
Peter Norfolk defended his 2009 title with a 6–2, 7–6(7–4) win over David Wagner in the final.


2010 Australian Open – Wheelchair Quad Singles, Draw, Round Robin
Standings are determined by: 1) Number of wins; 2) Number of matches; 3) In two-players-ties, head-to-head records; 4) In three-players-ties, percentage of sets won, or of games won; 5) Steering Committee decision.


2010 Australian Open – Wheelchair Women's Doubles
Korie Homan and Esther Vergeer are the defending champions, but Vergeer chose not compete this year. Homan partnered up with Jiske Griffioen, but they withdrew in the semifinals. Florence Gravellier and Aniek Van Koot won in the final 6–3, 7–6(7–2) against Lucy Shuker and Daniela Di Toro.


2010 Australian Open – Wheelchair Women's Singles
Esther Vergeer was the defending champion, but she chose not to participate this year. Korie Homan defeated Florence Gravellier 6–2, 6–2 in the final.


2010 Australian Open – Women's Doubles
Serena Williams and Venus Williams were the defending champions, and successfully defended their 2009 Australian Open title with a 6–4, 6–3 win over top-seeded Cara Black and Liezel Huber in the final.


2010 Australian Open – Women's Singles
Serena Williams was the defending champion and successfully defended her title, defeating the unranked Justine Henin in the final, 6–4, 3–6, 6–2, to win the Women's Singles title at the 2010 Australian Open. This was Henin's first Grand Slam tournament since the 2008 Australian Open, following her retirement in May 2008. Henin was unseeded for a Grand Slam for the first time since the 2001 Australian Open and was awarded a Wild Card. With her win, Serena broke the Open Era record held by Margaret Court, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles and Evonne Goolagong Cawley for the largest number of Australian Open titles.


2010 Australian Open – Women's Singles
Li Na entered the WTA top 10 for the first time in her career by reaching the semifinal, becoming the first Chinese player to achieve this feat.


2010 Australian Open – Women's Singles, Seeds
Note: Yanina Wickmayer, who would have been placed in the entry list on the initial entry cutoff date of 7 December 2009 and seeded 16th, entered late and played the qualifying tournament.


2010 Australian Open – Women's Singles Qualifying
The 2010 Australian Open was a tennis tournament that took place in Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, from 18 to 31 January. It was the 98th edition of the Australian Open, and the first Grand Slam event of the year.


2010 Australian Rally Championship
The 2010 Australian Rally Championship is series of six rallying events held across Australia, including the international event 2010 International Rally of Queensland. It is the 43rd season in the history of the competition.


2010 Australian Rally Championship
Husband and wife team Simon and Sue Evans won their fourth Australian Rally Championship in five years. Driving their own privately prepared Subaru Impreza the duo became the first pair to win the Championship in vehicles of three different manufacturers.


2010 Australian Rally Championship, Season review
After winning the 2009 championship in a Mitsubishi the Evans returned in 2010 with a Subaru, while after a several year lay-off the Pedder brothers in a two car team of Mitsubishis. Scott Pedder was instantly competitive, winning the opening round of the series, the all-tarmac Rally Tasmania. Simon Evans and his brother Eli, driving a JAS Motorsport built Honda Civic Type-R, shared the second places. With the dirt-surface season commencing with the Forest Rally, Peddar won both heats again from Evans.


2010 Australian Rally Championship, Season review
Former factory Ford rallyist Darren Windus making a one-off appearance at his home event in a Toyota and Ryan Smart, also Toyota mounted shared the third places. Next the Australian Championship returned to Coffs Harbour when Simon Evans won his first Heat for the year and backed it up immediately. Pedder was second in Heat 1 but rolled out of the rally in Heat 2. Mitsubishi driver Nathan Quinn finished second in Heat 2, with Smart taking a pair of thirds.


2010 Australian Rally Championship, Season review
At Rally SA Evans won Heat 1 from Pedder and Mitsubishi driver Justin Dowel, but Heat 2 saw Evans win unopposed as an accident took Pedder out of the rally and the championship. While co-driver John Mortimer was largely unhurt, Pedder sustained a knee and ankle injuries ruling him out of a return to the championship in 2010. Evans won the heat from Quinn and Eli Evans.


2010 Australian Rally Championship, Season review
Evans won the International Rally of Queensland, the ARCs annual get-together with the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship. Glen Raymond was second in a Mitsubishi with Mark Pedder third. The victory was enough for Evans to secure his fourth championship. Reymond struck back at his home event when Evans and Pedder stuck trouble and the Mitsubishi driver raced home to take a popular win Rally Victoria. Fellow Mitsubishi drivers Justin Dowel and Mark Pedder finished second and third. The podium finish for Pedder allowed him to tie on points with Ryan Smart for runner's up in the championship. The countback worked in Smart's favour giving him and sister Rebecca Smart second place in the title.


2010 Australian Rally Championship, Season review
Scott Pedder still had enough points to finish fourth in the title, four points ahead of Queensland Mitsubishi driver Steven Shepheard. Glen Raymond and Eli Evans all finished the season within ten points of Scott Peddar.


2010 Australian Rally Championship, Season review
Mitsubishi won the manufacturers title, 444 points to Subaru's 432. Eli Evans in the Honda took out the two-wheel drive title convincingly. Mitsubishi driver Michael Boaden won the Privateer's Cup.


2010 Australian Rally Championship, Teams & Drivers
The following are the competitors from the 2010 ARC season.


2010 Australian Short Course Swimming Championships
Coordinates: The 2010 Australian Short Course Swimming Championships were held at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre from Wednesday 14 July to Sunday 18 July. They were organised by Swimming Australia and sponsored by Telstra.


2010 Australian Short Course Swimming Championships
The events were spread over five days of competition featuring heats in the morning, with semifinals and finals in the evening session. The format of the meet consisted of heats for all individual events with semifinals in the 50 and 100 m individual events. The 200 and 400 m events consisted of A and B finals with no semifinals whilst the 800 and 1500 m freestyle and relay events consisted of timed finals only.


2010 Australian Short Course Swimming Championships, Medal winners, Men's events
Legend: WR – World record; CR – Commonwealth record; OR – Oceanian record; AR – Australian record; ACR – Australian All Comers record; Club – Australian Club record


2010 Australian Short Course Swimming Championships, Medal winners, Women's events
Legend: WR – World record; CR – Commonwealth record; OR – Oceanian record; AR – Australian record; ACR – Australian All Comers record; Club – Australian Club record


2010 Australian Sports Sedan season
The 2010 Australian Sports Sedan season was the 26th season of Australian Sports Sedan motor racing in which a national championship or national series has been contested. The season featured the 2010 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series, which began on 6 March 2010 at Wakefield Park and ended on 24 October at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit after fifteen races. The series was televised on SBS program Speedweek.


2010 Australian Sports Sedan season
The series was won by kart racer James Sera, contesting his first national circuit racing series in the Saab 9-3 of 2003 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series winner Dean Randle. Despite missing the opening round of the series Sera claimed the title by 17 points over 2008 champion Darren Hossack (Audi A4). Sera took six wins and six seconds from his twelve starts in a near perfect season. Hossack took six wins but took no points away from the Morgan Park round after an engine failure.


2010 Australian Sports Sedan season
Hossack finished almost 80 points clear of third in the points, multiple series champion Kerry Baily. Baily, driving a Nissan 300ZX, was one of three drivers to take a single race win, all at the season's opening round at Wakefield Park. The other two drivers were outgoing champion Des Wall (Chevrolet Corvette) and Mazda RX-7 driver Trent Young.


2010 Australian Sports Sedan season, Teams and drivers
The following drivers competed in the 2010 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series.


2010 Australian Sports Sedan season, Series calendar
The 2010 Kerrick Sports Sedan Series was contested over five rounds, each of which was held at Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships rounds.


2010 Australian Sports Sedan season, Points system
Points were awarded on a 20-17-15-13-12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2 basis for the top fifteen positions in each race, with each other finisher receiving 1 point. There were two bonus points allocated to the driver gaining pole position at each round.


2010 Australian Sports Sedan season, Series results
Note: The driver gaining pole position at each round is indicated in bold text


2010 Australian Superkart Championship
The 2010 Australian Superkart season covers national level Superkart racing in Australia during 2010. There were just two national level race meetings in 2010, both held on the calendar of the Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships, making up the 2010 Dunlop Australian Superkart Championship.


2010 Australian Superkart Championship
Darren Hossack, Martin Latta and Steven Tamasi won the Australian championships.


2010 Australian Superkart Championship, Australian Superkart Championship
The 2010 Dunlop Australian Superkart Championship was the 22nd running of the national championships for Superkarts. It began on 1 May 2010 at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit and will end on 15 August at Morgan Park Raceway after eight races. It was contested for three engine configuration based classes, 250 cc International, 250 National and 125 cc.


2010 Australian Superkart Championship, Australian Superkart Championship
A third national level event was scheduled for 29–30 May at Mallala Motor Sport Park for the non-gearbox Rotax Max family of classes, but did not go ahead due to poor competitor support. The event was later rescheduled for 29 October at Wakefield Park to be held as the 2010 Australian Rotax Superkart Nationals.


2010 Australian Superkart Championship, Teams and drivers
The following drivers competed in the 2010 Australian Superkart Championship. The series consisted of two rounds, with four races at each meeting.


2010 Australian Superkart Championship, Season review
Former 100 cc non-gearbox Superkart Champion Gary Pegoraro finally broke through to claim a round win of the Australian Superkart Championship after coming close on many occasions in the last four years. Pegoraro won the wet second race as well as the bonus point fourth race at Phillip Island and finished third in the other two races in a consistent and fast weekend.


2010 Australian Superkart Championship, Season review
2008 champion Darren Hossack capitalised on a mistake by Trevor Roberts on the second last corner to win race 3 and combined that with second places in races two and four to be just five points behind Pegoraro as Anderson Karts dominated the opening round. Visiting Northern Ireland racer Trevor Roberts finished third for the round on his first visit to Australia with second places in races one and three and a third in the fourth race. Race one winner Warren McIlveen sat fourth in the points, slowed by a disappointing result in race three.


2010 Australian Superkart Championship, Season review
Best of the rest was Anton Stevens, whose PVP claimed a third and a fourth over the weekend and was consistently fast near the front runners. Defending champion Sam Zavaglia had a lot of work to do to come from 40 points down and sat ninth behind Ilya Harpas and Chryss Jamieson.


2010 Australian Superkart Championship, Season review
Luke May and Martin Latta fought over the 250 National class all weekend, trading firsts and seconds. A third-place finish in race 2 for Latta made the difference and May led the series by two points. David Yuill led the rest of the resurgent class, competing for Australian championship status for the first time since 2006. Yuill was fast in the very wet second race on Sunday morning, finishing just behind May, well up in the top ten overall. Consistency put perennial 250 National race Frank Giglio fourth in the points, ahead of STR's Matthew Palmer, the de facto defending class champion.


2010 Australian Superkart Championship, Season review
Twice former 125 cc champion Darren Dunn made a blitzing return to the class, winning the final race of the weekend to pull ten points clear of defending champion Steven Tamasi. Tamasi won the first race of the weekend on Saturday afternoon but Sunday saw the teenager plagued with power issues which saw him last across the line in race four. The weekend saw each race claimed by a different racer; veteran Jeff Reed won race two to be third in the points behind Tamasi while race-three winner Anothony Lappas languished seventh after a pair of retirements slowed his weekend. Brad Stebbing and John Pellicano sat fourth and fifth.


2010 Australian Superkart Championship, Results and standings, Gearbox race calendar
The 2010 Dunlop Australian Superkart Championship season consisted of two rounds. Four races were held at both race meetings.


2010 Australian Superkart Championship, Results and standings, Drivers Championship
Points were awarded 20-17-15-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 based on the top fifteen race positions in first three races of each round. The fourth race of each round, which is longer than the others (eight laps vs five laps) awarded points for the top twenty race positions at 25-22-20-18-16-15-14-13-12–11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1. Points sourced from in part:


2010 Australian Swimming Championships
The 2010 Telstra Australian Swimming Championships were held from 16 March to 21 March 2010 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. They doubled as the national trials for the 2010 Commonwealth Games and 2010 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.


2010 Australian V8 Ute Racing Series
The 2010 Auto One V8 Ute Racing Series was a motor racing series for Ford Falcon and Holden utilities (commonly known as "utes"), built and conforming to V8 Utes series regulations and those holding valid licences to compete as issued by series organisers Spherix and Australian V8 Ute Racing Pty. Ltd. The series formed the tenth running of a national series for V8 Utes in Australia. The series began on 17 March 2010 at the Adelaide Street Circuit and ended on 2 December at the Homebush Street Circuit after 8 rounds.


2010 Australian V8 Ute Racing Series
The series was won by Grant Johnson, driving a Holden VE SS Ute.


2010 Australian V8 Ute Racing Series, Teams and drivers
The following drivers competed in the 2010 V8 Utes series


2010 Australian V8 Ute Racing Series, Race calendar
The 2010 V8 Utes Series consisted of eight rounds, all of which were held on the support programme of the V8 Supercar Championship Series.


2010 Australian federal budget
The 2010 Australian federal budget for the Australian financial year ended 30 June 2011 was presented on 11 May 2010 by the Treasurer of Australia, Wayne Swan, the third federal budget presented by Swan, and the third budget of the first Rudd Government.


2010 Australian federal budget
The budget forecast a return to surplus in 2012/13. Projections were based on a successful passing of the Resource Super Profits tax based on a 40% of mining company profits.


2010 Australian federal budget
The budget featured changes to regulation regarding savings from 1 July 2011. Tax will only have to be paid on half of the total interest earned so as to encourage people to save. There were changes to the way millions of Australians do their tax returns by decreasing their reliance on tax agents. Sport in Australia is set to receive a funding boost described as the largest in Australian history. The budget was the first ever to be released under a Creative Commons license.


2010 Australian federal budget, Forecasts, Deficit
The deficit for the 2010–2011 financial year was expected to be A$40.8 billion or 2.9% of gross domestic product.


2010 Australian federal budget, Revenue mix, Taxation
The Resource Super Profits tax (RSPT) was expected to generate $3 billion in revenue in 2011/12. However Julia Gillard replaced the RSPT with the Minerals Resource Rent Tax (MRRT). The new tax was expected to generate $10.5 billion in revenue during its first two years of operation beginning in 2012. By increasing the taxation on mining super profits the company taxation rate can be dropped to 29% in 2013–14 and 28% in 2014–15.


2010 Australian federal budget, Revenue mix, Taxation
Those able to save will receive a 50% tax discount on the first $1,000 of interest earned on their deposits.


2010 Australian federal budget, Expenditure mix, General government
More than $1 billion is planned to be spent on securing Australian borders. $120 million will be spent on improving the Christmas Island Immigration Reception and Processing Centre. Airport security is receiving $759 million over four years and to combat illegal fishing $163 million will be spent over the same period.


2010 Australian federal budget, Expenditure mix, General government
After recommendation which were made in the Ahead of the Game report the budget allocated funds for improving service delivery. More than $1 billion is to be spent on public-sector technology projects, particularly on applications development and simplification of interacting with clients using the internet. Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre is to receive extra funding so it can target of serious and organised crime, tax evasion and fraud.


2010 Australian federal budget, Expenditure mix, Social security and welfare
Compulsory superannuation rates are to increase from 9% to 12%.


2010 Australian federal budget, Expenditure mix, Infrastructure, transport and energy
$652 million was allocated to the Renewable Energy Future Fund which will develop solar, wind, geothermal and clean coal technologies. According to the Clean Energy Council the purpose of the fund is to "leverage private venture capital by encouraging partnerships between the Government and the private sector in the commercialisation of new renewable technologies and to encourage energy efficiency measures".


2010 Australian federal budget, Expenditure mix, Infrastructure, transport and energy
As part of the national road-building program New South Wales received the largest share at $717 million, then Queensland with $539 million and $260 million in Victoria.


2010 Australian federal budget, Expenditure mix, Education
Funding for an extra 70,000 vocational education places has been provided for in the budget.


2010 Australian federal budget, Expenditure mix, Defence
Defence spending was boosted $4.3 billion. $9.7 million was to be spent on combating domestic terrorist threats. Money was allocated for the establishment of the Counter Terrorism Control Centre and on an improved and more secure passport issuing system.


2010 Australian federal budget, Expenditure mix, Health
$2.2 billion in new funding was allocated to the National Health and Hospitals Network after agreement was reached with the states. $355 million was to be provided for the establishment of GP Super Clinics. An increase of 25% on the tax for cigarettes is expected to raise $5 billion over five years to help fund primary health care expenses. Payments will be made eligible so that every doctor's practice in the country may employ a nurse. These rebates were previously only available in rural area and were capped at $40,000.


2010 Australian federal budget, Expenditure mix, Health
Aged care received a boost of $132 million. Some of the money will be spent on investigating a national licensing and regulation system for personal care workers and $90 million was allocated to upgrading the qualifications of aged care nurses and personal care workers.


2010 Australian federal budget, Expenditure mix, Health
$467 million has been set aside for the provision of electronic health records to those who want it. Changes to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme will see $2.5 billion being saved over five years from the beginning of the 2010/11 financial year.


2010 Australian federal budget, Expenditure mix, Community services and culture
Elite sports in Australia have been allocated $237 million over four years and $71 million is planned to support community sports.


2010 Australian federal budget, Opposition and crossbench response
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott focused his attack on the mining industry tax, indicating he would rescind the tax if he could. Opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey claimed the budget was "based on false assumptions". Hockey suggested the budget was too reliant on a "great big new tax" and lacked any serious reform.


2010 Australian federal budget, Reception
The election year budget was described as an exercise in restraint that contained few surprises. The budget was faulted because it relies on strong terms of trade, demand from Asia, in particular China and a global recovery. It was praised by health and financial services sectors. The Australian Medical Association welcomed the extra funding for health. Catholic Health Australia reacted positively to the measures aimed at training and retaining medical and aged care staff.


2010 Australian federal budget, Reception
The Business Council of Australia was disappointed the MRRT would be used to return to surplus.


2010 Australian federal election
The 2010 Australian federal election was held on Saturday, 21 August 2010 to elect members of the 43rd Parliament of Australia. The incumbent centre-left Australian Labor Party led by Prime Minister Julia Gillard won a second term against the opposition centre-right Liberal Party of Australia led by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and Coalition partner the National Party of Australia, led by Warren Truss, after Labor formed a minority government with the support of three independent MPs and one Australian Greens MP.


2010 Australian federal election
Labor and the Coalition each won 72 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives, four short of the requirement for majority government, resulting in the first hung parliament since the 1940 election. Six crossbenchers held the balance of power. Greens MP Adam Bandt and independent MPs Andrew Wilkie, Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor declared their support for Labor on confidence and supply. Independent MP Bob Katter and National Party of Western Australia MP Tony Crook declared their support for the Coalition on confidence and supply. The resulting 76–74 margin entitled Labor to form a minority government. The Prime Minister, government ministers and parliamentary secretaries were sworn in on 14 September 2010 by the Governor-General Quentin Bryce. In November 2011, Coalition MP and Deputy Speaker Peter Slipper replaced Labor MP Harry Jenkins as Speaker of the House of Representatives, increasing Labor's parliamentary majority from 76–74 to 77–73.


2010 Australian federal election
In the 76-seat Senate, the Greens won one seat in each of the six states, gaining the sole balance of power with a total of nine seats, after previously holding a shared balance of power with the Family First Party and independent Nick Xenophon. The Coalition was reduced from 37 to 34 and Labor was reduced from 32 to 31. The two remaining seats were occupied by Xenophon and Victoria's new Democratic Labor Party Senator John Madigan. Family First Party Senator Steve Fielding was defeated. These changes took effect in the Senate on 1 July 2011.


2010 Australian federal election
More than 13 million Australians were enrolled to vote at the time of the election. Australia has compulsory voting (since 1925) and uses preferential ballot (since 1919) in single-member seats for the House of Representatives and single transferable vote (since 1949) with optional group voting tickets (since 1984) in the proportionally represented Senate. The election was conducted by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC).


2010 Australian federal election
As of 2021, this is the most recent federal election in which Labor formed government, and the most recent election in which the leader of the party forming government represented a division outside New South Wales.


2010 Australian federal election, Results, House of Representatives
Labor and the Coalition each won 72 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives, a loss of eleven and a gain of seven respectively. Labor retained a majority of seats in a majority of states against the Coalition − New South Wales (26 to 20), Victoria (22 to 14), South Australia (6 to 5), and Tasmania (4 to 0), but fell sharply in Queensland (8 to 21) with a pre-existing minority in Western Australia (3 to 11). Labor won their largest two-party preferred vote in Victoria and Tasmania since official two-party records began in 1949, and in South Australia, their fourth-largest.


2010 Australian federal election, Results, House of Representatives
On the crossbench, one member of the Australian Greens, one member of the National Party of Western Australia and four independent members held the balance of power. After gaining the support of four crossbenchers Labor was able to form a minority government.


2010 Australian federal election, Results, House of Representatives
A year after the election, The Age summarised the collective positions of the crossbenchers as one of "no regrets". On 24 November 2011, the Coalition's Peter Slipper replaced Labor's Harry Jenkins as Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives, increasing Labor's parliamentary majority from 75–74 to 76–73. On 21 January 2012 Andrew Wilkie withdrew his support for Labor, changing the majority to 75–73.


2010 Australian federal election, Results, Senate
The Senate has 76 seats. Forty seats were up for election; six in each of the six states and two in each of the two territories. The terms of the four senators from the territories commenced on election day, all other terms took effect from 1 July 2011. The Coalition holds 34 seats and Labor holds 31 seats, with the balance of power shifting solely to the Australian Greens with nine seats, after previously holding a shared balance of power with the Family First Party and independent Nick Xenophon. The Labor government requires the support of at least eight non-Labor Senators to pass legislation.


2010 Australian federal election, Results, Senate
Labor and the Coalition incurred swings against them in votes and seats. The Greens received a four percent swing and won a seat in each of the six states at the election, a first for an Australian minor party. John Madigan (Victoria) of the Democratic Labor Party won a seat, while Steve Fielding (Victoria) of the Family First Party lost his seat. Xenophon was not required to stand at this election but will be up for re-election at the next. Minor parties not winning a seat but receiving a notable swing include the Australian Sex Party (+2.0), the Liberal Democratic Party (+1.7) and the Shooters and Fishers Party (+1.4).


2010 Australian federal election, Results, Divisions changing hands
Members in italics did not re-contest their House of Representatives seats at this election. Six notional boundary redistributed seats were contested at this election. Based on booths contested at the previous election, the seats redistributed by the AEC from being marginal Coalition seats to marginal Labor seats – Dickson, Gilmore, Herbert, Macarthur and Swan – were all retained by the Coalition. Greenway was redistributed to become a marginal to fairly safe Labor seat, and was retained by Labor.


2010 Australian federal election, Background, House of Representatives
The Labor Party, led by Julia Gillard, and the Liberal Party, led by Tony Abbott, were the predominant parties to contest the election. The smaller National Party led by Warren Truss is in a coalition with the Liberal Party. Following the 2007 federal election, the 150-member Australian House of Representatives consisted of 83 Labor-held seats, 65 Coalition seats (55 Liberal and 10 National), and two seats held by independents. The Australian Greens won 8 per cent of the 2007 vote, and the Family First Party won 2 per cent, with the Greens winning 1 seat in the lower house.


2010 Australian federal election, Background, House of Representatives
The coalition total was reduced to 64 seats when Rob Oakeshott, former state Nationals turned independent MP, won the seat of Lyne at the September 2008 Lyne by-election, resulting from the resignation of former Howard minister and Nationals leader Mark Vaile. The April 2008 Gippsland by-election, resulting from the resignation of the former Howard minister and Nationals MP Peter McGauran, saw the Nationals' Darren Chester retain the seat, receiving a swing of 6%.


2010 Australian federal election, Background, House of Representatives
The Liberals suffered a swing in the September 2008 Mayo by-election resulting from the resignation of former Howard minister and Liberal leader Alexander Downer, and came close to losing the seat to the Greens candidate. The Liberals retained seats at the Bradfield and Higgins by-elections in December 2009. The member for Ryan, Michael Johnson, was expelled from the Liberal National Party on 20 May 2010, reducing the Coalition to 63 seats.


2010 Australian federal election, Background, Redistributions
Since the previous national election in 2007 there were a number of redistributions. These realignments of electorate boundaries are regularly undertaken by the Australian Electoral Commission and they maintain similar voter numbers in each electorate. They saw Labor's notional number of seats increase to 88 with the coalition's notional number decreased to 59, with independents in three. The swing required by the opposition to win majority government had decreased by approximately 0.1 percent.


2010 Australian federal election, Background, Redistributions
The redistribution of electoral divisions for Western Australia made the Liberal held Swan notionally Labor, and vastly changed Kalgoorlie and O'Connor, with the former being safer for the Liberals, and the latter becoming more marginal. Kalgoorlie was also renamed Durack. The redistribution also damaged the WA Nationals' chances of a House of Representatives seat. Tasmania was also redistributed but, while there were some changes to boundaries, little changed in terms of seat margins.


2010 Australian federal election, Background, Redistributions
New South Wales lost a seat to Queensland due to population changes for the second election in a row. The Labor Party suggested the abolition of the marginal Liberal seat of Macarthur, while the Liberal Party suggested that Liberal-held Hume and National-held Riverina be merged to create a new seat called "Bradman" in honour of Sir Donald Bradman. The National Party suggested the abolition of the Labor-held city seat of Banks.


2010 Australian federal election, Background, Redistributions
The draft New South Wales redistribution, published in August 2009, proposed that Reid be abolished and that Lowe be renamed "McMahon" in honour of former Prime Minister Sir William McMahon. In response to widespread criticism of the abolition of the name "Reid", the finalised redistribution, published in October 2009, instead had Lowe renamed "Reid" and Prospect replaced with McMahon. Boundary changes also resulted in the Liberal seats of Macarthur, Greenway and Gilmore becoming notionally Labor-held, with major changes to other seats, including Calare, Parkes and Macquarie.


2010 Australian federal election, Background, Redistributions
In Queensland, the seat of Wright was created as a Liberal-held seat based on the Gold Coast hinterland. The redistribution saw the status of Blair change from marginal Labor to a safe Labor seat. The status of marginal Liberal seats Dickson and Herbert also changed to marginal Labor seats.


2010 Australian federal election, Background, Redistributions
A redistribution for Victoria commenced in 2010, but was not finalised before the election was called.


2010 Australian federal election, Background, Senate
In the 76-member Australian Senate, from July 2008 to June 2011, the Labor and Liberal parties hold 32 seats each, and the Liberals' coalition partner, the National Party (including one CLP), five seats. The balance of power rests with the crossbench, consisting of:


2010 Australian federal election, Background, Senate
For a majority, the government requires an additional seven votes from non-Labor senators. If the Liberal Party chooses to vote with the Labor Party, support from the crossbench is not required.


2010 Australian federal election, Background, Senate, Senate terms expiring
The party composition of these 40 senators whose terms will expire is:


2010 Australian federal election, Background, Senate, Senate terms expiring
These seats are listed in order of election for the six states and two territories:


2010 Australian federal election, House of Representatives opinion polling, Newspoll
The election-eve Newspoll of over 2000 voters reported Labor on a 50.2 percent two-party-preferred vote. A post-election Newspoll taken 27–29 August 2010 of 1134 voters revealed 47 percent wanted a Gillard Labor government, to 39 percent for an Abbott Coalition government, while 14 percent were uncommitted. There was no difference between male and female voters. Ages 18–34 and 34–49 were even stronger for Labor, while those above 50 bucked the trend preferring the Coalition 45 percent to 40 percent.


2010 Australian federal election, House of Representatives opinion polling, Poll of 28,000
A JWS Research "mega-poll" was conducted by robocall late in the campaign and published by Fairfax. It polled an Australian record of 22,000 voters in 54 marginal seats and a further 6,000 in safe seats. It revealed a national two-party-preferred vote for Labor of 51.6 percent. Losses in Queensland and New South Wales were offset by the gains of Dunkley, McEwen (both 57 percent for Labor), and Cowper and Boothby (both 54 percent for Labor), finishing with a total of 79 Labor, 68 coalition, 3 independent.


2010 Australian federal election, House of Representatives opinion polling, Two-party-preferred vote
The graph shows a timeline of the estimates by three main polling companies – Roy Morgan (green), Nielsen (blue), and Newspoll (red) – of the two-party-preferred vote for Labor from January 2008 to 20 July 2010. The pink dot on the left side represents the actual 2PP vote for Labor in the November 2007 election.


2010 Australian federal election, House of Representatives opinion polling, Primary vote
The graph shows a timeline of Newspoll's estimates of the primary vote for Labor (red), the Coalition (blue), the Greens (green), and other parties or independent candidates (magenta) from 2007 to 2010. The four dots on the left side represent the actual vote for each party in the November 2007 election.