2016 Australian federal budget, Taxes and income, Income and business taxes
Over 6,000 Sole traders, employing 1.5 million workers, will also receive a lower tax cut of 2.5% to 26.0%, subject to the same turnover threshold eligibility as small businesses and along with the same increase in turnover threshold over time. The unincorporated small business tax discount will also be increased by 3%, up to a fixed rate of 8%, with the turnover threshold being increased to $5 million. After 2016–17, it is expected that the discount for unincorporated small businesses will increase to 16% by stages, before the 2026-27 financial year.


2016 Australian federal budget, Taxes and income, Income and business taxes
In the forecast for the budget, Big businesses will receive a 5% cut to the corporate income tax rate, down to the OECD average of 25%, within a decade; the first reduction in the corporate tax rate in 15 years. While the rate will stay fixed at 30% in the meantime, the Turnbull Government plans to reduce it to a rate equal to the small and medium business tax rate of 27.5% in 2023-24, before being reduced to 27% in 2024-25, 26% in 2025-26, and eventually a fixed rate of 25% in 2026-27.


2016 Australian federal budget, Taxes and income, Superannuation
The budget made changes to the superannuation arrangements and thresholds.


2016 Australian federal budget, Programs and expenditure, Aged care
The government changed the scoring of the Aged Care Funding Instrument, which allocates the government subsidy per person in aged care, by assessing their care needs. There was some additional funding for regional aged care facilities, but the net effect of the budget is "a reduction of $902.7 million over five years".


2016 Australian federal budget, Programs and expenditure, Social security
In the 2016 budget, the Turnbull Government planned to cease the clean energy supplement of $4.40 for people beginning Newstart after 20 September.


2016 Australian federal budget, Programs and expenditure, Infrastructure
Over $33 billion will be spent to deliver "critical and innovative" infrastructure, including road and rail upgrades. Out of this infrastructure fund, $115 million will be pledged towards the construction of the Western Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek over two years, with $89 million dedicated towards planning, development, land acquisitions and construction security, and $26.2 million dedicated towards design research for a proposed extension of the South West Rail Link towards Badgerys Creek. It will be the only ongoing infrastructure project in Sydney to see an increase in funding from the previous federal budget.


2016 Australian federal budget, Programs and expenditure, Infrastructure
In total, $2.9 billion will be spent on infrastructure in New South Wales, including $1.7 billion towards construction of the Sydney Metro's extension into the city and southwest, and $78.3 million towards design and development of the Parramatta Light Rail. In Melbourne, $3 billion is still available for the Government of Victoria to spend on the proposed East West Link, which had been previously accepted by former Liberal Premier Denis Napthine, but rejected by Labor Premier Daniel Andrews after his election in 2014, who vowed instead to fund and construct the Melbourne Metro Rail Project, without federal support. Despite this, it was recommended to the Victorian Government that federal support of $857.2 million be spent on the Melbourne Metro, in addition to $20.2 million for the Murray Basin Rail project, taken from the Federal Government's Asset Recycling Initiative.


2016 Australian federal budget, Programs and expenditure, Infrastructure
The $4 billion sale of the Australian Rail Track Corporation, proposed by the preceding Abbott Government, was completely dropped by the Turnbull Government, in favor of developing and constructing the long-proposed inland rail line linking Melbourne and Brisbane. $594 million will be spent towards research and land acquisition, though there is no funding as of yet for construction of the line, which is projected to cost around $10.7 billion.


2016 Australian federal budget, Programs and expenditure, Infrastructure
The Federal Government will also allocate over $2 billion to the establishment of the National Water Infrastructure Loans Facility, which will allow concessional loans to state and territory governments, helping to fund the construction of dams, pipelines, and groundwater recharge projects from July 2016. The new bank will replace the National Water Infrastructure Development Fund, which was established in 2015, and allocated only $500 million. The National Water Infrastructure Loans Facility will exist for 10 years, and State and Territory governments will have a deadline of 25 years to repay money taken from the fund. Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources Barnaby Joyce stated that funding proposals for over 60 water infrastructure projects had been received by the federal government at the time of the budget's release.


2016 Australian federal budget, Programs and expenditure, Employment
$751.7 million will be dedicated to funding a new workfare program targeted at unemployed youth under 25, known as the "Youth Jobs PaTH" (Prepare-trial-hire). It is an alternative for the "work for the dole" scheme introduced by the Abbott Government in the previous budget. Slated to commence on 1 April 2017 and aiming to engage over 30,000 young jobseekers, the program will feature three stages; the first stage being an intensive pre-employment skills training course, five months after job seekers register with the Department of Employment's "jobactive" service.


2016 Australian federal budget, Programs and expenditure, Employment
The second stage with see job seekers introduced into the workplace through at least 120,000 four to twelve-week internships provided in cooperation with jobactive and participating businesses, where businesses will receive an upfront payment of $1000 for each intern they take on, and interns will be paid an additional $200 a fortnight, on top of their income support payments. In the third and final stage, businesses who hire participants as employees will be given a wage subsidy of $10,000 for hiring "less than job ready" seekers and $6,500 for more job ready seekers, billed as the "Youth Bonus wage subsidy".


2016 Australian federal budget, Programs and expenditure, Employment
To fund the program, $500 million will be axed from the work for the dole scheme, in addition to the $240 million Job Commitment Bonus. Furthermore, as of October 2016, "the most prepared job seekers" will now require at least 12 months of registration with jobactive for work for the dole, instead of the six months required before the change, forecast to save $494.2 million over four years.


2016 Australian federal budget, Reception
The budget received mixed reactions from various sections of the community. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation produced two extensive publications − Budget 2016: Winners and losers and Budget 2016 cheat sheet: What you need to know.


2016 Australian federal election
The 2016 Australian federal election was a double dissolution election held on Saturday 2 July to elect all 226 members of the 45th Parliament of Australia, after an extended eight-week official campaign period. It was the first double dissolution election since the 1987 election and the first under a new voting system for the Senate that replaced group voting tickets with optional preferential voting.


2016 Australian federal election
Unusually, the outcome could not be predicted the day after the election, with many close seats in doubt. After a week of vote counting, no party had won enough seats in the House of Representatives to form a majority government. Neither the Liberal/National Coalition's incumbent Turnbull Government nor the Australian Labor Party's Shorten Opposition were in a position to claim victory. During the uncertain week following the election, contradicting his earlier statements, Turnbull negotiated with the crossbench.


2016 Australian federal election
He secured confidence and supply support from Bob Katter, Andrew Wilkie and Cathy McGowan in the event of a hung parliament and resulting minority government, as seen in 2010. On 10 July, Shorten conceded defeat, acknowledging that the Coalition had enough seats to form either minority or majority government. Turnbull claimed victory later that day. In the closest federal majority result since 1961, the ABC declared on 11 July that the Coalition could form a one-seat majority government.


2016 Australian federal election
In the 150-seat House of Representatives, the one-term incumbent Coalition government was reelected with a reduced 76 seats, marking the first time since 2004 that a government had been reelected with an absolute majority. Labor picked up a significant number of previously government-held seats for a total of 69 seats, recovering much of what it had lost in its severe defeat of 2013. On the crossbench, the Greens, the Nick Xenophon Team, Katter's Australian Party, and independents Wilkie and McGowan won a seat each.


2016 Australian federal election
For the first time since federation, the post-election opposition won more seats than the post-election government in the two most populous states, New South Wales and Victoria. One re-count was held by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) for the Division of Herbert, confirming that Labor won the seat by 37 votes.


2016 Australian federal election
The final outcome in the 76-seat Senate took over four weeks to complete despite significant voting changes. Announced on 4 August, it revealed a reduced plurality of 30 seats for the Coalition, 26 for Labor, and a record 20 for crossbenchers including 9 Greens, 4 from One Nation and 3 from the Xenophon Team. Former broadcaster and Justice Party founder Derryn Hinch won a seat, while Jacqui Lambie, Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm and Family First's Bob Day retained theirs. The Coalition will require nine additional votes for a Senate majority, an increase of three.


2016 Australian federal election
Both major parties agreed to allocate six-year terms to the first six senators elected in each state, while the last six would serve three-year terms. Labor and the Coalition each gained a six-year Senator at the expense of Hinch and the Greens, who criticised the major parties for rejecting the "recount" method despite supporting it in two bipartisan senate resolutions in 1998 and 2010.


2016 Australian federal election
A number of initially-elected senators were declared ineligible a result of the 2017–18 Australian parliamentary eligibility crisis, and replaced after recounts.


2016 Australian federal election, Results, House of Representatives, Divisions changing hands
Members in italics did not re-contest their House of Representatives seats at this election.


2016 Australian federal election, Results, House of Representatives, Divisions changing hands
As a result of the 2015 boundary redistribution, the New South Wales Liberal-held seats of Barton, Dobell and Paterson became notionally marginal Labor seats.


2016 Australian federal election, Results, House of Representatives, Divisions changing hands
A re-count commenced on 19 July in the Queensland division of Herbert. Prior to the re-count, Labor was provisionally ahead of its LNP candidate by eight votes. On 31 July the Australian Electoral Commission announced Labor had won Herbert by 37 votes. The LNP was considering a legal challenge to the result.


2016 Australian federal election, Results, Senate
The final Senate result was announced on 4 August. The incumbent Liberal/National Coalition government won 30 seats, a net loss of three—the Coalition lost four Senators, one each from New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia, but gained a Senator in Victoria. The Coalition later lost South Australian Liberal Senator Cory Bernardi, who quit to form the Australian Conservatives party and thus join the Crossbench. The Labor opposition won 26 seats, a gain of one—a Senator in Western Australia. The number of crossbenchers increased by two to a record 20. The Liberal/National Coalition will require at least ten additional votes to reach a Senate majority, an increase of four.


2016 Australian federal election, Candidates
At the close of nominations on 9 June 2016, there were 1,625 candidates in total—994 for the House of Representatives and 631 for the Senate. The number of Senate candidates was the highest ever at an Australian election, increased from 529 in 2013.


2016 Australian federal election, Marginal seat pendulum
Based on the post-election pendulum for the 2013 Australian federal election, this Mackerras pendulum was updated to include new notional margin estimates due to redistributions in New South Wales, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory. The net effect of the redistributions reduced the Liberal/National Coalition from 90 to a notional 88 seats and increased Labor from 55 to a notional 57 seats.


2016 Australian federal election, Marginal seat pendulum
While every federal election after 1961 has been won by those that also won the majority of federal seats in New South Wales, unusually nearly half of all marginal government seats are in New South Wales at this election, of which nearly half are in Western Sydney and the other half in rural and regional areas, and with no more than a few seats each in every other state.


2016 Australian federal election, Marginal seat pendulum
Assuming a theoretical uniform swing, for the Labor opposition to get to 76 seats and majority government would require Labor with 50.5 per cent of the two-party vote from a 4.0-point two-party swing or greater, while for the incumbent Coalition to lose majority government would require the Coalition with 50.2 per cent of the two-party vote from a 3.3-point two-party swing or greater.


2016 Australian federal election, Marginal seat pendulum
Though the seats of O'Connor and Durack are marginal Liberal seats, margins are based on the two-candidate preferred result against the National Party of Australia (WA) rather than the two-party preferred result against Labor, on which all other marginal seats are based. O'Connor and Durack are not included for Labor majority calculation but are included for Coalition loss of majority calculation.


2016 Australian federal election, Marginal seat pendulum
Though the seats of Dobell, Paterson and Barton were Liberal wins at the previous election, redistributions changed them to notionally marginal Labor seats.


2016 Australian federal election, Marginal seat pendulum
Pat Conroy is the current MP for the Division of Charlton which is being renamed the Division of Hunter at the next election.


2016 Australian federal election, Electoral system
Elections in Australia use a full-preferential system in one vote, one value single-member seats for the 150-member House of Representatives (lower house) and in time for this election changed from full-preferential group voting tickets to an optional-preferential single transferable vote system of proportional representation in the 76-member Senate (upper house). Voting is compulsory, by Westminster convention, but subject to constitutional constraints. The decision as to the type of election and its date is for the Prime Minister, who advises the Governor-General to set the process in motion by dissolving the lower or both houses and issuing writs for election.


2016 Australian federal election, Electoral system
House of Representatives ballot paper used in the Division of Higgins.


2016 Australian federal election, Election date
Section 13 of the constitution requires that in half-Senate elections the election of state senators must take place within one year before the places become vacant. Since the normal terms of half the senators would have ended on 30 June 2017, the writs for a half-Senate election could not be issued earlier than 1 July 2016, and the earliest possible date for a simultaneous House/half-Senate election would have been 6 August 2016. There is no constitutional requirement for simultaneous elections for the Senate and the House of Representatives, and there are precedents for separate elections; however, governments and the electorate have long preferred that elections for the two Houses take place simultaneously.


2016 Australian federal election, Election date
A House-only election can be called at any time during a parliamentary term. Whether held simultaneously with a Senate election or separately, an election for the House of Representatives was required to have been held on or before 14 January 2017, which is calculated under provisions of the constitution and the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 (CEA). Section 28 of the Constitution of Australia provides that the term of a House expires three years from the first sitting of the House, unless it is dissolved earlier. The previous federal election was held on 7 September 2013.


2016 Australian federal election, Election date
The 44th Parliament of Australia opened on 12 November 2013 and its term would have expired on 11 November 2016. Writs for an election can be issued up to ten days after a dissolution or expiry of the House. Up to 27 days can be allowed for nominations, and the actual election can be set for a maximum of 31 days after close of nominations, resulting in the latest possible House of Representatives election date of Saturday, 14 January 2017.


2016 Australian federal election, Election date
A double dissolution cannot take place within six months before the date of the expiry of the House of Representatives. That meant that a double dissolution could not be granted after 11 May 2016. Allowing for the same stages indicated above, the last possible date for a double dissolution election was 16 July 2016.


2016 Australian federal election, Election date
On 2 November 2015, Prime Minister Turnbull stated: "I would say around September–October [2016] is when you should expect the next election to be." However, in December 2015, ABC News reported that some "senior Liberal MPs" had been seeking an election as early as March 2016. An election held at this time would have required a separate half-Senate election to be held in late 2016 or early 2017.


2016 Australian federal election, Election date
On 21 March 2016, Turnbull announced that the parliament would be recalled for both houses to sit on 18 April to consider for a third time the bills to reinstate the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC). Turnbull also said that if the Senate failed to pass the bill, then there would be a double dissolution of parliament and an election would be held on 2 July. The delivery of the federal budget was also brought forward from 10 May to 3 May. On 18 April, the Senate once again rejected the bills to reinstate the ABCC.


2016 Australian federal election, Election date
On 8 May Malcolm Turnbull attended Government House to advise the Governor-General to issue the writs for a double dissolution on 9 May. This confirmed the date of the election; 2 July 2016. In the weeks after 8 May, there were 132,000 additions to the electoral roll, and a total of 687,000 enrolment transactions, and it was estimated that 95% of eligible Australians were enrolled for the election, with a participation rate of those under 24 of 86.7%.


2016 Australian federal election, Election date, Double dissolution triggers
By 18 April 2016 there were four bills that met the requirements of Section 57 of the constitution for a double dissolution.


2016 Australian federal election, Election date, Double dissolution triggers
On 19 April the Prime Minister confirmed that, following the 2016 federal budget set for 3 May, he would advise the Governor-General to call a double dissolution election on Saturday 2 July. Any or all of these four bills could have been cited in his advice. On Sunday 8 May 2016, Turnbull visited Government House and formally advised Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove to dissolve both Houses of Parliament and issue the writs for a double dissolution election to be held on 2 July 2016. The advice was based on Parliament's inability to pass the following three bills:


2016 Australian federal election, Election date, Double dissolution triggers
The Governor-General accepted the advice and dissolved both houses of the Parliament the following day, 9 May 2016.


2016 Australian federal election, Election date, Constitutional and legal provisions
The constitutional and legal provisions which impacted on the choice of election dates include:


2016 Australian federal election, Election timeline
On 8 May 2016, the office of the Governor-General released documents relating to the calling of the election. The documents set out a timeline of key dates for the election.


2016 Australian federal election, Background
The Coalition won the 2013 federal election with 90 of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives, on a swing of 17 seats or 3.6 points on a two-party basis, defeating the six-year Labor government. Labor held 55 seats, and crossbenchers held the remaining five. The Abbott Government was sworn into office on 18 September 2013.


2016 Australian federal election, Background
Kevin Rudd resigned as Labor's leader following the defeat of the party. Chris Bowen became the interim leader in the approach to a leadership election. Two candidates, Anthony Albanese and Bill Shorten, declared their candidacy; Shorten was declared the winner on 13 October 2013.


2016 Australian federal election, Background
As a result of lost ballot papers, on 18 February 2014 the High Court of Australia, sitting as the Court of Disputed Returns, ordered a new half-Senate election for Western Australia, which was held on 5 April 2014.


2016 Australian federal election, Background
Senator John Madigan resigned from the Democratic Labour Party and became an independent Senator in September 2014, citing long-term internal party tensions.


2016 Australian federal election, Background
On 24 November 2014, Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie resigned from the Palmer United Party and on 13 March 2015, Queensland Senator Glenn Lazarus also announced his resignation from the Palmer United Party; both then sat as independents.


2016 Australian federal election, Background
On 14 September 2015, the incumbent Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, was challenged for the leadership of the Liberal Party and thus the prime ministership by Malcolm Turnbull, the Minister for Communications. Turnbull won the vote 54–44 and on 15 September was sworn in as prime minister, starting the Turnbull government. On 11 February 2016 Warren Truss, the Deputy Prime Minister, announced his decision to retire from politics at the 2016 federal election and immediately stood aside as Leader of the Nationals. Barnaby Joyce was elected as Leader and was sworn as the Deputy Prime Minister, and Fiona Nash was elected as Deputy Leader of the Nationals. Truss also resigned from the Turnbull Ministry.


2016 Australian federal election, Background
Ian Macfarlane attempted to defect from the Liberal to the National party room with accompanying demands for additional Nationals cabinet representation, and the Mal Brough–James Ashby diary controversy deepened in the last week of the campaign. Along with the unexpected by-election swing and Turnbull's significantly lessened personal ratings in the concurrent December Newspoll, some News Corp Australia journalists claimed that Turnbull's honeymoon was over.


2016 Australian federal election, Background
The Nick Xenophon Team (NXT) listed many candidates throughout Australia, with ABC psephologist Antony Green indicating NXT had a "strong chance of winning lower house seats and three or four Senate seats".


2016 Australian federal election, Background
Liberal Senator Michael Ronaldson announced on 18 December 2015 that he would leave parliament before the next election, after moving from the outer ministry in the Abbott government to the backbench in the Turnbull government. He resigned on 28 February 2016, and the casual vacancy was filled by James Paterson on 9 March 2016.


2016 Australian federal election, Background
Labor Senator Joe Bullock announced on 1 March 2016 that he would be resigning from the Senate after the autumn sittings of parliament, citing—among other reasons—his opposition to same-sex marriage being at odds with the Labor Party's platform to bind its members in a supporting vote after 2019. Bullock tendered his resignation to Senate President Stephen Parry on 13 April 2016. The casual vacancy was filled by Pat Dodson on 28 April 2016.


2016 Australian federal election, Background
Palmer United Party leader Clive Palmer announced on 4 May 2016 that he would not recontest his seat of Fairfax at the election. On 23 May he also ruled out running for a Senate seat.


2016 Australian federal election, Background
In the lower house seat of Brisbane, both the Liberal-National and Labor candidates were openly gay; a first in Australian federal political history.


2016 Australian federal election, By-elections
In the 44th Parliament, there were three by-elections. Rudd resigned from Parliament on 22 November 2013, triggering the 2014 Griffith by-election, which was held on 8 February, with Terri Butler retaining the seat for Labor.


2016 Australian federal election, By-elections
On 21 July 2015, Liberal Don Randall died, triggering the 2015 Canning by-election, which was held on 19 September. Andrew Hastie retained the seat for the Liberal Party, having to rely on preferences after suffering a substantial swing to the Labor candidate.


2016 Australian federal election, By-elections
Joe Hockey was not retained as Treasurer in the Turnbull Ministry, and announced his resignation from Parliament shortly afterwards, triggering the 2015 North Sydney by-election which was held on 5 December. The seat was retained for the Liberal Party by Trent Zimmerman. Zimmerman won with 48.2% of the primary vote after a larger-than-predicted 12.8-point swing against the Turnbull Coalition government. This was only the second time in North Sydney since federation that the successful Liberal candidate failed to obtain a majority of the primary vote and had to rely on preferences.


2016 Australian federal election, By-elections
Zimmerman faced a double-digit primary vote swing—more than triple that of the 2015 Canning by-election—despite the absence of a Labor candidate. Labor has never been successful in the safe Liberal seat. The Liberal two-candidate vote of 60.2% against independent Stephen Ruff compares with the previous election vote of 65.9% against Labor. The reduction of 5.7 points cannot be considered a "two-party/candidate preferred swing"—when a major party is absent, preference flows to both major parties do not take place, resulting in asymmetric preference flows.


2016 Australian federal election, Redistributions and name changes
In November 2014 the Australian Electoral Commission announced that a redistribution of electoral boundaries in New South Wales and Western Australia would be undertaken before the next election. A determination of the states' membership entitlements under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 meant that Western Australia's entitlement increased from 15 to 16 seats, and New South Wales' decreased from 48 to 47 seats. A redistribution also occurred in the Australian Capital Territory, as seven years had elapsed since the last time the ACT's boundaries were reviewed.


2016 Australian federal election, Redistributions and name changes
On 16 November 2015, the AEC announced that a redistribution of electoral boundaries in Tasmania would be deferred until after the election, as the Electoral Act provides that a redistribution shall not commence where there is less than a year until the expiry of the House of Representatives (i.e., 11 November 2016).


2016 Australian federal election, Redistributions and name changes
In October 2015, the AEC announced plans to abolish the seat of Hunter. Electors in the north of Hunter would have joined New England, while the roughly 40% remainder would have become part of Paterson, where the Liberal margin would have been reduced from a fairly safe 9.8 points to an extremely marginal 0.5 point as a result. Hunter was first contested at the inaugural 1901 federal election; the AEC's naming guidelines require it to make "every effort" to preserve the names of the original federal divisions. The Commission proposed renaming Charlton to Hunter, and in honour of deceased Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, renaming Throsby to Whitlam.


2016 Australian federal election, Redistributions and name changes
The final proposal, however, saw Charlton abolished, with Hunter moving slightly eastward to take in much of Charlton's territory. Additionally, Paterson was made more compact and pushed well to the south, taking in some heavily Labor territory that had previously been in Hunter and Newcastle. This had the effect of erasing the Liberals' majority in Paterson; Labor now had a notional majority of 0.5 per cent.


2016 Australian federal election, Redistributions and name changes
The new seat created in Western Australia was the Division of Burt, named after the Burt family, specifically Sir Archibald Burt, Septimus Burt and Sir Francis Burt and centred on the south-east areas of metropolitan Perth.


2016 Australian federal election, Redistributions and name changes
The Division of Fraser in the ACT was renamed Division of Fenner, to honour the late scientist Professor Frank Fenner. The AEC announced that the name Fraser would be used for a future division in Victoria, named in honour of Malcolm Fraser, a former Prime Minister.


2016 Australian federal election, Senate voting changes
Following the previous election, the Abbott Government announced it would investigate changing the electoral system for the Senate. On 22 February 2016, the Turnbull Government announced several proposed changes. In the Senate, the changes had the support of the Liberal/National Coalition, the Australian Greens, and Nick Xenophon. The legislation passed both houses of the Parliament of Australia on 18 March 2016 after the Senate sat all night debating the bill.


2016 Australian federal election, Senate voting changes
The changes abolished group voting tickets (GVTs) and introduced optional preferential voting, along with party logos on the ballot paper. The ballot paper continues to have a box for each party above a heavy line, with each party's candidates in a column below that party's box below the solid line. Previously, a voter could either mark a single box above the line, which triggered the party's group voting ticket (a pre-assigned sequence of preferences), or place a number in every box below the line to assign their own preferences.


2016 Australian federal election, Senate voting changes
As a result of the changes, voters may assign their preferences for parties above the line (numbering as many boxes as they wish), or individual candidates below the line, and are not required to fill all of the boxes. Both above and below the line voting are now optional preferential voting. For above the line, voters will be instructed to write at least their first six preferences; however, a "savings provision" will still count the ballot if less than six were given.


2016 Australian federal election, Senate voting changes
As a result, fewer votes are expected to be classed as informal; however, more ballots will "exhaust" as a result (i.e. some votes are not counted towards electing any candidate). For below the line, voters will be required to number at least their first 12 preferences. Voters will be free to continue numbering as many preferences as they like beyond the minimum number specified. Another savings provision will allow ballot papers with at least 6 below the line preferences to be formal, catering for people who confuse the above and below the line instructions.


2016 Australian federal election, Senate voting changes
Antony Green, a psephologist for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, wrote several publications on various aspects of the proposed Senate changes. As with every double dissolution election the entire Senate is re-elected (12 seats per state rather than the usual half Senate election of six seats per state). Consequently, the number of votes required to earn a seat (the "quota") is halved. Due to the abolition of GVTs, it is no longer possible to create "calculators" that assess, with reasonable accuracy, the eventual senate election outcome.


2016 Australian federal election, Senate voting changes
Therefore, according to Antony Green, "my working guide is that if a party has more than 0.5 of a quota, it will be in the race for one of the final seats." His calculation of the percentage of primary-vote required for the first six full- and half-quotas at this election is as follows:


2016 Australian federal election, Newspaper endorsements
In its pre-election editorial endorsements, the press overwhelmingly backed the Coalition over Labor—only the Sunday edition of the Melbourne Age plumped for the Opposition.


2016 Australian federal election, Newspaper endorsements, Sunday editions
Among the Sunday papers, Turnbull was preferred by Sydney's Sun-Herald and Sunday Telegraph, Melbourne's Sunday Herald Sun, the Sunday Mail in Brisbane, the Sunday Times in Perth and the Sunday Mail in Adelaide. Labor won the endorsement of only the Sunday Age in Melbourne. The Sunday Tasmanian and Sunday Territorian did not publish endorsements prior to this election.


2016 Australian federal election, Newspaper endorsements, Sunday editions
Labor's close ties to the union movement were of concern to many papers, even to the supportive Sunday Age, which described the issue as "vexed" and unresolved. Others went further, fearful that Shorten would not "free Labor from the union shackles that too often oppose sensible reforms," in the words of the Sun-Herald. "Mr Shorten still remains more union boss than potential prime minister," concluded the Sunday Telegraph. Shorten, the Sunday Herald Sun concurred, "is not a man to stand up to militant unions."


2016 Australian federal election, Newspaper endorsements, Sunday editions
On the economy, there was general concern about the sustainability of Labor's approach to public spending. "Even an economic illiterate could see [Shorten's] 10-year economic "plan" was forged in fantasy land," opined the Sunday Times, "On this dangerous policy alone, Labor should not be given the opportunity to govern." The Sunday Age, however, took the view that increased taxation, and with it increased spending on education, should take priority: "a smarter society will be more productive."


2016 Australian federal election, Newspaper endorsements, Sunday editions
Though the Sun-Herald was supportive of some Labor policies, it said Shorten had failed to make "a compelling case that Australia needs a new government." Invoking the instability of Australian politics since 2010, the paper was unenthusiastic about electing "our sixth prime minister in six years." Turnbull, the Sun-Herald concluded, deserved "a chance to establish his own mandate."


2016 Australian federal election, Newspaper endorsements, Sunday editions
The need for political stability was emphasised by the Perth Sunday Times and Adelaide Sunday Mail: at that time both states faced an uncertain future due to recent downturns in mining, steelmaking and shipbuilding. The expectation that any Labor government would govern in minority gave the Mail pause. Australia, it wrote, "needs stability ... this country has suffered enough through balance-of-power ... politicians". Both backed the Coalition as the best alternative to, in the Times' words, "steer us through these turbulent times."


2016 Australian federal election, Newspaper endorsements, Sunday editions
The Brisbane Sunday Mail summed up the general view among the papers of Turnbull: "yet to fulfil his promise as Prime Minister." Though the Sunday Telegraph agreed his government had been "timid", it concluded "We are fortunate to have as Prime Minister a man of integrity, decency and undoubted intellect."


2016 Australian federal election, Newspaper endorsements, National dailies
The Australian Financial Review endorsed the Coalition two days before polling day, in particular its plans to balance the federal budget, and boost economic growth by cutting company tax. Although the editorial viewed Turnbull's performance in office as "too timid", it concluded that "there is no alternative" but to support his re-election. The newspaper acknowledged Shorten's effectiveness as a campaigner, but it was scathing of the Opposition Leader's platform and tactics.


2016 Australian federal election, Newspaper endorsements, National dailies
His "resort to crass populism and the outdated politics of class comes from a once-reforming centre-left party which has refused to free itself from ... trade union and factional control," the editorial ran. "Mr Shorten's populist pitch echoes some of the global political phenomenon represented by Brexit and Donald Trump by exciting a squabble over shares of a declining income pie."


2016 Australian federal election, Newspaper endorsements, National dailies
The Australian endorsed the Coalition the following day, highlighting the Government's budget discipline. Turnbull's "stolid pitch on frugality ... provided the contrast against which the Labor opposition could be judged," the editorial ran. Though it rated the Coalition's economic plan as "adequate at best," The Australian contrasted this with "an unthinkable Labor alternative that, even after the overblown GFC stimulus of the Rudd–Gillard–Rudd years, would respond to current challenges by spending more, taxing more and taking the nation deeper into debt."


2016 Australian federal election, Newspaper endorsements, Metropolitan dailies
The metropolitan dailies backed the Coalition without exception. Turnbull's personal qualities and platform appealed more to the editors than his short record in office. The Age spoke for many in concluding that "Mr Turnbull deserves the chance to deliver". The Daily Telegraph praised the Prime Minister's "consistency ... He has stuck fast on addressing Australia's debt and deficit problems." Newspapers particularly highlighted, in the words of the West Australian, the Coalition's "better understanding of what is needed to run the economy and rein in debt."


2016 Australian federal election, Newspaper endorsements, Metropolitan dailies
The Sydney Morning Herald welcomed the Coalition's curbs on superannuation tax breaks and offered qualified support for company tax cuts ("Businesses, small and large, create jobs.") The Age endorsed the super changes and company tax cut, but was critical of the Coalition's "shamefully harsh" border protection policies and planned same-sex marriage plebiscite. The Canberra Times gave the Coalition "credit for recognising the necessity for cuts in public-sector spending" and reforming super. The Courier-Mail backed Turnbull's 'jobs and growth' agenda as "a more coherent prescription in an era that demands experience, stability and certainty."


2016 Australian federal election, Newspaper endorsements, Metropolitan dailies
The Courier-Mail, Canberra Times, Age and Adelaide Advertiser acknowledged Shorten's strengths on the campaign trail. The Advertiser spoke of a "revitalised performance from Bill Shorten ... The Opposition is now in with a fighting chance." The Age welcomed its plans on negative gearing and capital gains tax; the Herald backed the case for Labor's higher increases in education funding.


2016 Australian federal election, Newspaper endorsements, Metropolitan dailies
However, for almost every paper, this was outweighed by the party's service of union interests and its unsustainable profligacy. "There is no sign at all that Mr Shorten will force Labor to remove the disproportionate influence of unions and their money on his party," the Herald wrote, regretting that despite the reforming instincts of Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen, as a whole "Labor baulks at progress that affects the public service and unions." For the NT News, "the party's policy positions are incoherent. The sheer breadth of spending promises show Labor is not ready for government."


2016 Australian federal election, Newspaper endorsements, Metropolitan dailies
The Herald Sun agreed that in Labor's "DNA is an inclination to spend ... That Australia must learn to live within its means is a lesson Labor still fails to grasp." The Herald chided Shorten for the dishonesty of his Medicare scare campaign ("his judgement was found wanting") as did the Courier-Mail ("hysteria"). The Daily Telegraph also highlighted Labor's record on border protection—50,000 illegal maritime arrivals and perhaps 1,000 deaths at sea—and noted the widespread desire of many Labor candidates and the Greens to "attempt this deadly experiment again."


2016 Australian federal election, Newspaper endorsements, Metropolitan dailies
Local issues and candidates also played a role in the endorsements. Expecting a Coalition victory, the NT News argued that Solomon Country Liberal MP Natasha Griggs should be returned on the grounds that Darwin was better off having a Government member as its representative. Victoria's Herald Sun highlighted the Country Fire Authority dispute—"a window into the relationship between Labor and the union movement" and "a game changer in how many Victorians will vote."


2016 Australian federal election, Newspaper endorsements, Metropolitan dailies
The Hobart Mercury concluded that although the nation would be "best served" by a Coalition government, Denison independent MP Andrew Wilkie and Franklin Labor MP Julie Collins deserved to be re-elected as well. The Advertiser welcomed Turnbull's decision to build 12 new submarines in South Australia. The West Australian reminded voters to separate their judgement of Turnbull from their judgment of the less popular Liberal state government.


2016 Australian federal election, Campaign advertising
Campaign advertising began in February, with the Government airing taxpayer-funded commercials for its Innovation and Science Agenda that echoed Turnbull's catchphrase "exciting time". The ads were criticised by the Opposition, which referred the matter to the Auditor-General for investigation.


2016 Australian federal election, Campaign advertising
The first negative shots in the campaign's television advertising war were fired in April, as the Government worked to obtain its second trigger for a double dissolution.


2016 Australian federal election, Campaign advertising
In addition to the major political parties, other organisations aired their own issue ads. These included the Australian Council of Trade Unions, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Master Builders Australia and The Australia Institute.


2016 Australian federal election, Campaign advertising
In Australian federal elections, a "blackout" of campaign ads on radio and television applies from midnight on the Wednesday before polling day. On the eve of the blackout in 2016, commercial television stations, media analysts and some politicians called for this rule to be reviewed in the light of declining audience share for traditional broadcasters, and the growing role of the internet in campaigning.


2016 Australian federal election debates and forums
The Australian federal election debates of 2016 consisted of a series of leaders' debates between the leaders of the two main parties contesting the 2016 Australian federal election: Malcolm Turnbull, Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party; and Bill Shorten, Leader of the Opposition and Labor Party. Other debates, between portfolio spokespeople for example, were also held.


2016 Australian federal election debates and forums, Background
On 8 May Turnbull attended Government House to advise Peter Cosgrove, the Governor-General, to issue the writs for a double dissolution.


2016 Australian federal election debates and forums, Background
At his press conference, Turnbull said "we haven’t discussed debates but I look forward to having a number of them". The following day Shorten said "I’ll debate Malcolm Turnbull anywhere, anytime".


2016 Australian federal election debates and forums, Background
Richard Di Natale, leader of the Greens, has called to be included in the leaders' debate.


2016 Australian federal election debates and forums, Leaders' debates, 13 May – Sky News Daily Telegraph People's Forum
Sky News had planned a debate in Brisbane for Thursday 12 May. Shorten agreed but Turnbull did not and so the debate did not occur. Shorten had tried to hold a debate in Townsville.


2016 Australian federal election debates and forums, Leaders' debates, 13 May – Sky News Daily Telegraph People's Forum
The Sky News Daily Telegraph People's Forum, the first leaders' debate, took place at 7:00pm AEST on Friday, 13 May in the RSL club in Windsor, New South Wales. It was organised by Sky News and The Daily Telegraph and broadcast on Sky News. David Speers moderated the debate.


2016 Australian federal election debates and forums, Leaders' debates, 13 May – Sky News Daily Telegraph People's Forum
The audience was made up of 100 undecided voters selected by polling company Galaxy Research. The leaders open the programme with a statement, and close with a speech, with the unscripted questions asked in between. Shorten won the audience vote by 42 votes to 29, with 29 undecided.


2016 Australian federal election debates and forums, Leaders' debates, 13 May – Sky News Daily Telegraph People's Forum
The Sydney Morning Herald, The Courier-Mail and The Australian Financial Review have criticized the debate being held on a Friday night, which generally has low television viewership. It drew an average of 54,200 viewers, making it the thirteenth most watched pay television program of the night. Sixty people protested against the proposed Western Sydney Airport outside the venue.


2016 Australian federal election debates and forums, Leaders' debates, 29 May – ABC News 24 leader's debate
The first official leader's debate between Shorten and Turnbull took place on the 29 May at the National Press Club in Canberra. The debate, organised by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, was moderated by ABC political journalist Chris Uhlmann and the panel consisted of three journalists from Fairfax, News Corp, and Seven West Media.


2016 Australian federal election debates and forums, Leaders' debates, 8 June – Sky News Daily Telegraph People's Forum
The second Sky News Daily Telegraph People's Forum took place on Wednesday, 9 June in the Brisbane Broncos sports club in Red Hill, Queensland. It was organised by Sky News and The Daily Telegraph and broadcast on Sky News. David Speers moderated the debate.


2016 Australian federal election debates and forums, Leaders' debates, 8 June – Sky News Daily Telegraph People's Forum
The audience was made up of 100 undecided voters. Shorten attended but Turnbull declined and instead appeared on 7.30.


2016 Australian federal election debates and forums, Leaders' debates, 17 June
A third federal election debate took place on Friday, 17 June 2016. The debate was hosted jointly by News.com.au and Facebook, and was the first to be predominately broadcast using Facebook's video livestream feature.


2016 Australian federal election debates and forums, Other debates, 18 May – National Press Club Environment Debate
On 18 May, Greg Hunt, Minister for the Environment debated Mark Butler, Shadow Minister for the Environment at the National Press Club. It was broadcast on ABC News 24.


2016 Australian federal election debates and forums, Other debates, 25 May – ABC Regional Leaders Debate
On 13 May, Joel Fitzgibbon, Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs and member of the Labor Party, called to debate Barnaby Joyce, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources and leader of the National Party. Fitzgibbon, Joyce and Di Natale debated in the ABC Regional Leaders Debate which took place from 7:30pm AEST on Wednesday, 25 May at Goulburn High School in Goulburn, New South Wales. It was broadcast on ABC News 24 and ABC NewsRadio and moderated by Chris Uhlmann.


2016 Australian federal election debates and forums, Other debates, 16 June – National Press Club Defence Policy Debate
On 16 June, Marise Payne, Minister for Defence and Stephen Conroy, Shadow Minister, debated Defence policy at the National Press Club. It was broadcast on ABC News 24 and was moderated by Sabra Lane.


2016 Australian motorcycle Grand Prix
The 2016 Australian motorcycle Grand Prix was the sixteenth round of the 2016 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It was held at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Phillip Island on 23 October 2016.


2016 Australian motorcycle Grand Prix
This race marked 2006 MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden's final start in Grand Prix motorcycle racing before succumbing to his injuries after a cycling accident on 22 May 2017. Hayden was replacing Dani Pedrosa for this race.


2016 Australian motorcycle Grand Prix, Classification, Moto3
The race, scheduled to be run for 23 laps, was red-flagged after 5 laps due to accident and was later restarted for 10 laps.


2016 Australian motorcycle Grand Prix, Championship standings after the race (MotoGP)
Below are the standings for the top five riders and constructors after round sixteen has concluded.


2016 Australian regional television realignment
The 2016 Australian regional television realignment occurred on 1 July 2016, when a major series of affiliation changes occurred in Australian regional television; WIN Television, a chain of regional stations that had historically been affiliated with Nine Network, switched its affiliation to Network Ten. At the same time, Southern Cross Ten stations outside of Northern New South Wales switched to Nine Network. Several Network Ten-affiliated digital television stations co-owned by WIN also switched to Nine, by virtue of WIN's primary stations taking on the Ten affiliation.


2016 Australian regional television realignment
Nine's decision not to renew its affiliation with WIN stemmed from a lawsuit the broadcaster filed in February 2016, in which WIN alleged that Nine was violating its affiliation agreement by broadcasting into regional areas via internet streams on its catch-up service 9Now. The lawsuit was dismissed after a judge ruled that the definition of "broadcasting" in the affiliation agreement only gave WIN exclusive rights to carry Nine Network programming on free-to-air terrestrial television in its designated regions, and did not account for digital streaming.


2016 Australian regional television realignment, Background
Under Australian law, commercial free-to-air television broadcasters are subject to an ownership cap known as the "reach rule", dictating that a single broadcaster's stations may not serve more than 75% of the population. As a result, the major Australian television networks only have owned-and-operated stations in the major metropolitan centres of the country, and rely on affiliates to distribute their programming in the "regional" areas of Australia.


2016 Australian regional television realignment, Background
Nine Network's affiliate in regional Queensland, Victoria, and Southern New South Wales was WIN Television; WIN's owner Bruce Gordon is a 14.99% shareholder in Nine's parent company Nine Entertainment Co.. In December 2015, following alleged disputes over fees paid to the network for regional rights to its programming, Nine and WIN had agreed to a "last-minute" extension of their current affiliation through June 2016. Deutsche Bank reported that WIN Television was now required to pay 45% of revenue from Nine programming to the network, although these numbers were disputed.


2016 Australian regional television realignment, Developments
In February 2016, Nine Network launched 9Now, an online service offering video-on-demand access to its programmes, as well as live streaming of the network's schedule. Following the launch of 9Now, WIN Television sued Nine Entertainment Co., alleging that the company had breached its affiliation agreement by broadcasting into regional areas via the 9Now service. Justice Hammerschlag of the NSW Supreme Court dismissed the case on 28 April 2016, ruling that the affiliation agreement's definition of "broadcasting" only applied to transmission via terrestrial, free-to-air television, and did not cover other means of transmission, such as over the internet.


2016 Australian regional television realignment, Developments
On 29 April 2016, Nine Network announced that it had reached a new, five-year affiliation deal with Southern Cross Austereo, which would see its previously Network Ten-affiliated Southern Cross Ten stations switch to Nine Network effective 1 July 2016, replacing the WIN stations. The deal also called for Southern Cross to provide national advertising sales services for Nine's O&Os NTD and NBN. Under the $500 million deal, Southern Cross pays half of its local revenue from Nine Network programming to the network.


2016 Australian regional television realignment, Developments
Southern Cross's switch led to reports that Network Ten was already in negotiations with WIN to replace Nine on its stations; Bruce Gordon is also a 14.99% shareholder in Ten Network Holdings, and WIN ran Ten affiliates as joint ventures with Prime Media Group (Mildura, Western Australia), and Southern Cross (Tasmania) alongside its own Nine Network affiliates. The Sydney Morning Herald reported via sources that WIN could achieve a more favourable revenue sharing deal with Ten due to the large number of Ten-affiliated stations it would own if it affiliated.


2016 Australian regional television realignment, Developments
Although the network has historically struggled in comparison to its competitors, Ten's ratings had recently seen improvements due to recent successes such as Big Bash League cricket, I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, and MasterChef Australia. On 23 May 2016, Network Ten officially announced that it had reached a five-year affiliation deal with WIN, also beginning on 1 July 2016.


2016 Australian regional television realignment, Changes, Affected areas
In the markets where WIN co-owned Section 38B digital stations affiliated with Network Ten alongside a WIN-owned Nine station, the Ten affiliation moved to the former Nine stations, and the digital joint venture stations switched to Nine Network. Mildura Digital Television and Tasmanian Digital Television were able to reach affiliation deals with Nine shortly before 1 July in order to facilitate these affiliation swaps.


2016 Australian regional television realignment, Changes, Affected areas
West Digital Television (co-owned by WIN and Prime) was unable to reach an affiliation deal with Nine in time for the switchover, with the co-owners stating that Nine had been actively rejecting offers. On 1 July 2016, WDT halted its programming and began broadcasting a loop of scenic video with a scrolling message stating that programming was unavailable. On the evening of 2 July 2016, Nine reached an affiliation deal with WDT; at around 7:30 p.m. WST, WDT began broadcasting Nine Network programming by joining its federal election coverage already in progress.


2016 Australian regional television realignment, Changes, Affected areas
Southern Cross-owned NRN in Northern NSW was not affected by the swap, as Nine already owned NBN as an O&O for the region. On 28 March 2017, Southern Cross announced that it had agreed to sell NRN to WIN for $55 million, in a deal which was completed on 31 May 2017.


2016 Australian school bomb threats
A large number of Australian schools received hoax bomb threats in late January and early February of 2016. Other similar phone threats, including school shootings and chemical attacks, were also received by a number of schools across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. A total of 591 threatening calls were received by Australian schools.


2016 Australian school bomb threats
The police response to the threats was rapid and widespread, and many schools across Australia were evacuated immediately. Widespread media coverage also followed the threats, which drew the attention of the international community.


2016 Australian school bomb threats
The threats were initially reported to have originated from overseas hackers, while reports from inside the Australian education sector said the calls came from or were affiliated with Nossal High School. An organisation called Evacuation Squad claimed responsibility for the calls. A French citizen was later detained for possible involvement with hoax bomb threats across the world, including Australia, but was later released. The voice on the phone was reported to have been a computerised voice with an American accent.


2016 Australian school bomb threats
The calls were eventually discovered to have been made by Israeli-United States dual citizen Michael Ron David Kadar, who made the hoax calls from Israel. While the motive of Kadar remains not entirely confirmed, he has stated to the media and to the court on numerous occasions that he made the threats out of boredom. Kadar was diagnosed with autism as a child. Following his trial for the making of the threats, he was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in Israel.


2016 Australian school bomb threats
The threats also correlated with similar threatening calls to Jewish community centres, schools and universities, across the United States, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. Kadar largely targeted Jewish organisations, and schools.


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Threats
Four schools in Victoria and several schools in New South Wales received bomb threat calls on 29 January 2016. Threats were made against schools in Mona Vale, Woolooware, Richmond, Ulladulla, Lake Illawarra, and Penrith between 10:50am and 11:10am. Several schools were swept by police who declared the calls to be hoaxes, allowing students to return to class by 2:30pm.


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Threats
Nine schools in New South Wales received bomb threat calls on 1 February 2016. The calls were reported to police as having been delivered by a computerised voice. The calls composed of violent threats such as shootings and bombings. Most of these schools evacuated students, however some chose to place students in lockdown instead. Following investigations of school grounds for any suspicious or threatening objects, NSW Police spokespersons told media that the threats were unlikely to be related to terrorism and they unlikely to be substantive.


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Threats
On 2 February 2016, 17 Victorian schools received calls, which were similar to the threats to New South Wales schools. Again, it was reported that the threats were delivered over the phone by a computerised voice. The substance of the threats was also similar, but it was reported that threats of chemical attacks were also delivered to these schools.


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Threats
A further five schools in the Australian Capital Territory also received similar threats throughout Tuesday. Police promptly searched those schools involved, before releasing a statement that nothing of suspicion had been found to indicate that the threats were substantial.


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Threats
A total of 10 schools in Queensland also received threats on Tuesday, before being evacuated:


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Threats
A further three schools in Victoria and seven schools in Queensland received threatening calls on Wednesday and were evacuated. The content and nature of the calls were identical to those made to schools on earlier days.


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Threats
A range of schools around Australia received continued phone threats at staggered times and on varying dates. The calls seemingly stopped on 11 February 2016.


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Threats
A total of 44 separate incidents took place in the course of the delivery of the threats at a range of schools, in the first week of the threats being made. These included nine schools in New South Wales, 20 schools in Victoria, 10 schools in Queensland, and five schools in the Australian Capital Territory. In total, 591 bomb threats were made to Australian schools over the first week and following weeks.


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Response and investigation, Police
The police response to the threats was reported by various media outlets as being rapid, extensive, and effective. The immediate police response involved officers from the respective state police forces of each involved state (NSW Police Force, Queensland Police, Victoria Police, South Australia Police) as well as the Australian Federal Police (AFP).


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Response and investigation, Police
Police played an important role in the immediate response to the bomb threats. This included assisting in the evacuation of schools and surrounding areas, marshalling students who had been evacuated, searching schools for signs of potential explosives, and clearing schools, labelling the calls as hoaxes / threats.


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Response and investigation, Police
The police response highlighted the tendency of bomb threats, whether substantial or not, to cause mass disruption to public proceedings. While no bombs were ever discovered or used, the threats alone led to the evacuation of hundreds of schools and a mass media response and international investigation. The complexity and difficulty of bomb hoax situations was highlighted by the Chief Commissioner of Victorian Police, Graham Ashton, who stated that each hoax must be treated as a genuine threat to public safety, as "it may be that particular call that might come in that is not a hoax".


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Response and investigation, Police
Police also played an important role in tracking down both Kadar's identity and whereabouts. The Victoria Police e-crime squad, NSW Police fraud and cybercrime squad, and South Australia electronic crime detectives, alongside the Australian Federal Police and other Australian intelligence organisations including the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), reportedly played a key role in the international investigation to track down Kadar. According to a police spokeswoman, the Israeli police who arrested Kadar "could not have done it without [the assistance of Victoria Police]”.


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Response and investigation, Media
The media response to the bomb threats was widespread and immediate. Notable media organisations covering the events included the Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC), The Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, SBS, and Channel 9 News. The widespread and rapid reaction by the media to the threats is typical in the case of bomb threats, demonstrating their effectiveness in causing panic and alarm within society.


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Response and investigation, Media
However, such a rapid media response can prove disadvantageous in containing rumours and misinformation surrounding bomb threat events. This was evident in the Sydney Morning Herald Article; , as it was later discovered that this was not the source of the calls.


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Response and investigation, Government
Various government officials both within Australia and overseas spoke out against the calls during the period in which they were delivered. The Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States of America attempted to have Kadar extradited following his arrest in Israel, however this request was rejected by Israeli officials.


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Response and investigation, Government
Victorian Education Minister, James Merlino, stated 'these anonymous cowards will feel the full force of the law' when addressing media about the threats. He also stated that tracking down hackers who use the dark web to deliver such threats 'isn't an easy area of law enforcement' but reassured the public that the Australian Federal Police were working alongside other state authorities, and with police groups internationally, to track down the perpetrators. Federal Education Minister, Simon Birmingham released statements condoning the quick response by federal and state agencies and authorities in investigating the source of the threats, alongside the department of education.


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Arrest and sentencing
Kadar was arrested in the town of Ashkelon, in Israel, in March of 2017. This was following an international investigation led in Australia by the Victoria Police e-crime squad. He was charged with making over 2,000 threats to various locations in various countries around the world and was found guilty in June. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by an Israeli judge.


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Arrest and sentencing
Kadar's central argument through his case was that many of the calls were made while he was a minor. Evidence was also provided to the Court which demonstrated that Kadar had a brain tumour that caused autism, as well as other mental problems, and so he should not be held criminally liable or legally competent. Despite this evidence the judge declared that Kadar had a high IQ and a high understanding of his wrongdoing.


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Arrest and sentencing
Kadar was found guilty of several offences including extortion, disseminating hoaxes in order to spread panic, money laundering, and computer hacking. The District Court Judge, Zvi Gurfinkel noted:


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Arrest and sentencing
"One can imagine... the major inconvenience and fright caused when it was necessary to evacuate students from schools, following the hoax calls that there were bombs there..."


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Arrest and sentencing
Prior to his sentencing, Kadar was issued a criminal complaint notice in the US State of Florida, seeking his arrest. The complaint described Kadar's offences as 'Making Threatening Interstate Communications' and 'Making Interstate Threats Related to Explosives'. Despite the United States seeking the extradition of Kadar following his arrest in Israel, Israeli authorities chose to prosecute Kadar in Israel instead.


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Motive, Common motives of bomb threat callers
In most cases, the motive of those making bomb threats is to cause disruption. However, bomb threats can also be motivated by political means, or for the purpose of terrorist activities. The threats were made following the Lindt Cafe Siege which took place in 2014, resulting in many Australians being on high alert for terrorist activity when the threats were made, however this was not the case.


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Motive, Kadar's motive
Kadar has stated on multiple occasions that he made the threats “out of boredom”. His parents have stated that due to his autism-causing brain tumor, and other mental health problems, he was unable to understand the nature of his action. Their claims were reinforced by the finding by psychiatrists that Kadar is on the autism spectrum. Kadar has stated:


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Motive, Kadar's motive
"I did it out of boredom. It was like a game. I understand that it is wrong, and I am sorry and will not do it again."


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Motive, Kadar's motive
However, it was also discovered that Kadar offered a private threat-making service online, from which he had accrued approximately $240,000 of earnings. It is unknown whether he was employed by a group to make the threatening calls to Australian schools, and has been accepted by the courts that he did so on his own accord.


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Related events and threats
During the same period when Kadar made threats to Australian schools, he also carried out a number of other attacks on a variety of institutions in other countries. He called an threatened institutions in countries including the United States of America, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Norway and Denmark. Kadar targeted schools, community centres, and primarily Jewish or Jewish-related organisations and places of worship. This resulted in a criminal complaint being issued for Kadar in the United States District Court of Florida for the offences of 'Making Threatening Interstate Communications' and 'Making Interstate Threats Related to Explosives'.


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Related events and threats
In early 2017, following the period throughout which the threats were made against Australian schools, a number of bomb threats were made to Jewish community centres in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Norway and Denmark by Kadar. Like the threats made against Australian schools, these threats were delivered via computerised messaged, and resulted in widespread panic and evacuations.


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Aftermath
Following these school bomb threats, literature has been published by Karlene Tipler which outlines the ideal response for schools in a similar situation. This includes the six-stage model proposed by Tipler. The six stages are, 1) alerts; 2) safety behaviours; 3) response actions; 4) student release / family reunification’ 5) temporary school closure; 6) business as usual. The stages are designed to minimize harm and seek to “enhance school safety efforts”.


2016 Australian school bomb threats, Aftermath
A study by Carol Mutch has also revealed that schools in Australia, particularly those which were targeted by the initial bomb threats, will be better suited to deal with such crises in the future. This is because of “culminative learning”, or the ability of schools to benefit and learn from repeated events, by developing alternative methods for responding, and learning lessons from mistakes made.


2016 Austrian Athletics Championships
The 2016 Austrian Athletics Championships (German: Österreichische Staatsmeisterschaften in der Leichtathletik 2016) was the year's national championship in outdoor track and field for Austria. It was held on 30 and 31 July at the Universitäts- und Landessportzentrum Salzburg Rif in Rif, Hallein. It served as the selection meeting for Austria at the 2016 Summer Olympics.


2016 Austrian Darts Open
The 2016 Austrian Darts Open was the fifth of ten PDC European Tour events on the 2016 PDC Pro Tour. The tournament took place at Multiversum Schwechat in Vienna, Austria, between 10–12 June 2016. It featured a field of 48 players and £115,000 in prize money, with £25,000 going to the winner.


2016 Austrian Darts Open
Vincent van der Voort was the defending champion from the 2014 tournament, but lost in the first round to Steve Beaton.


2016 Austrian Darts Open
Phil Taylor won the event after beating Michael Smith 6–4 in the final, in what was his first (and what would turn out to be his last) PDC European Tour event since the 2014 Gibraltar Darts Trophy.


2016 Austrian Darts Open, Prize money
The prize money of the European Tour events stays the same as last year.


2016 Austrian Darts Open, Qualification and format
The top 16 players from the  on 13 May automatically qualified for the event and were seeded in the second round. The remaining 32 places went to players from three qualifying events - 20 from the UK Qualifier (held in Coventry on 20 May), eight from the European Qualifier on 1 June and four from the Host Nation Qualifier on 9 June.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix
The 2016 Austrian Grand Prix (formally known as the Formula 1 Großer Preis von Österreich 2016) was a Formula One motor race that was held on 3 July 2016 at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg, Austria. The race, which was contested over 71 laps, was the ninth round of the 2016 FIA Formula One World Championship, and marked the 30th running of the Austrian Grand Prix and the 29th time it had been held as a round of the Formula One World Championship since the series inception in 1950.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg entered the round as the defending race winner and championship leader, with a 24-point advantage over his teammate Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton started the race from pole and went on to win the race after colliding with Rosberg on the final lap; as a result, Rosberg finished fourth behind Max Verstappen and Kimi Räikkönen, and saw his championship lead cut to eleven points. Mercedes led rivals Ferrari by 81 points in the Constructors' standings at the start of the round, extending their lead to 103 after Sebastian Vettel retired.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Background, Championship
Going into the weekend, Nico Rosberg was leading the Drivers' Championship with 141 points, 24 points ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton, with Sebastian Vettel a further 21 points behind in third. In the Constructors' Championship standings, Mercedes was in the lead with 258 points, followed by Ferrari and Red Bull Racing with 177 and 140 points respectively.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Background, Circuit changes
The circuit was resurfaced ahead of the race weekend, smoothing out many of the bumps and imperfections that had developed over time. The new surface—introduced to allow the circuit to accommodate a round of the MotoGP World Championship—saw teams projecting lap times of under 1:06.000 for the first time.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Background, Circuit changes
The event also saw the introduction of "baguette" kerbs, a series of low-set ridges positioned on the outside of corners designed to prevent drivers from abusing track limits by forcing them to run wide to avoid them or slow down to avoid damage. The baguette kerbs were positioned one car-width from the outside of corners to allow drivers some margin for error. Max Verstappen was critical of the changes, calling the new kerbs "dangerous" after damaging his car twice in free practice after having run over them. Others joined into the criticism, with Mercedes urging the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the sport's governing body, to make changes to the kerbs.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Background, Penalties
Following an unscheduled gearbox change made ahead of the race weekend, Sebastian Vettel received a five-place grid penalty for the race.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Background, Tyres
Sole tyre supplier Pirelli brought the ultra-soft, supersoft and soft tyres to the event. As per the regulations of the 2016 season, every driver had to set aside one set each of the two softest compounds for the race and one set of the ultrasofts for Q3 (should they advance). The drivers had freedom of what other compounds they chose for the remaining ten out of thirteen sets.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Free practice
Per the regulations for the 2016 season, two 90-minute practice sessions were held on Friday and another 60-minute session was held before qualifying on Saturday. In the first session on Friday morning, Nico Rosberg set the fastest time at 1:07.373. The projected fast lap times were confirmed as Rosberg's time was faster than the previous fastest time set on the track by Michael Schumacher in 2003. Rosberg finished more than three-tenths of a second clear of teammate Lewis Hamilton, with Vettel and Kimi Räikkönen third and fourth respectively, the only other drivers within a second of Rosberg.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Free practice
There were several minor incidents during the session, including Hamilton spinning at turn 3, causing Romain Grosjean to go into a spin behind him when trying to avoid hitting him. Rosberg also went off the track at the same corner later in the session. Daniel Ricciardo posted the fifth-fastest time, but was lucky to escape a situation in which Marcus Ericsson got sideways while trying to get into the pitlane entry at turn 8. The revised kerbs of the track caught several drivers out, among them Max Verstappen who lost parts of his front wing when leaving the track at turn 8. Later on, he made contact with the kerbs again in turn 6, damaging his suspension, causing him to end the session early.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Free practice
Rosberg was again fastest in the second session on Friday afternoon, setting his fastest time of 1:07.967 in the early minutes. This benchmark would stand for the rest of the session as heavy rain arrived at the circuit eight minutes in. Several drivers slid off the track as they tried to return to the pitlane, where they would remain for half an hour until the rain eased off. Ricciardo was the first to head out again on the intermediate tyres, slowly followed by the rest of the field. With under twenty minutes remaining, the track had dried out enough to use slick tyres. Behind Rosberg and Hamilton, Nico Hülkenberg set the third-fastest time, ahead of Vettel, who spun out into the gravel trap in turn 2 late in the session.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Free practice
In the third session on Saturday, Sebastian Vettel set the fastest time, at 1:07.098, a little over a tenth of a second ahead of his teammate Räikkönen. Rosberg had the slowest time of the session, as he crashed out when his suspension broke after going over the kerbs at turn 2. His accident caused a ten-minute red flag period. His teammate Hamilton was third fastest, albeit running wide at turn 8 on one of his laps. Ricciardo was fourth fastest, half a second down on Vettel and one tenth of a second ahead of teammate Verstappen in fifth. Fernando Alonso, who lost parts of his bodywork when running over the kerbs late in the session, was tenth fastest, 1.2 seconds behind Vettel. Due to his crash, Mercedes had to change the gearbox on Rosberg's car, handing him a five-place grid penalty.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
Qualifying consisted of three parts, 18, 15 and 12 minutes in length respectively, with six drivers eliminated from competing after each of the first two sessions. Following his crash in free practice, Rosberg's car needed to be repaired and he did not get out on track in the first part of qualifying (Q1) until nine minutes before the end of the session. He nevertheless managed to set the fastest time, more than four-tenths of a second ahead of Hamilton. Pascal Wehrlein performed well for Manor, setting the tenth fastest time, just over a second off of Rosberg's time.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
Just as in free practice, suspension failures occurred: First it was Sergio Pérez who nursed his car back to the pit lane. Towards the end of the session, Daniil Kvyat crashed heavily following a break in his suspension in turn 7. Qualifying was red flagged as a consequence and later restarted with 1:44 minutes remaining. Nico Hülkenberg was the only driver to improve on his time, while others were prevented from improvement by Carlos Sainz Jr., who was stranded with his car off the track, causing yellow flags to be shown. Eventually, the two Sauber drivers were last, behind Kvyat and Rio Haryanto, with the two Renault cars the last to be eliminated.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time in Q2 at 1:06.228, the fastest time set in any session at the Red Bull Ring. However, both Ferrari and Red Bull set their fastest times in Q2 on the supersoft tyres, unlike Mercedes, who used the ultrasoft compound, meaning that both teams were able to start the race on the harder tyre. Realizing this, Mercedes tried to counter the move and sent their cars back out on supersoft tyres, but were unable to improve on their times due to rain starting to fall.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
Jenson Button moved into Q3, while his teammate Fernando Alonso did not, ending up 14th on the grid. In 12th place, Wehrlein equalled Manor's highest ever qualifying result, being between the two Haas drivers Esteban Gutiérrez and Romain Grosjean on the grid. Following their problems in Q1, Pérez and Sainz were unable to set a time and were thus eliminated.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
Due to the rain that had fallen, the drivers went out on track on intermediate tyres at the beginning of Q3. On these tyres, Hamilton set the fastest time, followed by Button and Ricciardo. The track dried quickly however, and soon the cars returned to the pit lane to switch to slick tyres. Hülkenberg twice set the fastest time, but was beaten to pole position by Hamilton. Rosberg went faster as well, but lost his second place on the grid to Hülkenberg due to his five-place grid penalty.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Qualifying
Vettel went fourth fastest, but was relegated as well, handing third on the grid to Button, who had set the fifth fastest time. Räikkönen, Ricciardo, Valtteri Bottas, Verstappen and Felipe Massa rounded up the top ten. It was Hülkenberg's second front row start of his career, the first having been his pole position at the 2010 Brazilian Grand Prix.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Race
Before the lights went on for the start, Pascal Wehrlein came to a halt in the wrong grid slot, having mistakenly taken the spot left vacant by Massa, who was starting from the pitlane. Wehrlein was able to reverse into his slot one row behind just half a second before the start light procedure started, avoiding a penalty. At the start, Hamilton got away well from pole position while Hülkenberg lost ground. Button was second as Rosberg moved ahead of Ricciardo and Verstappen.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Race
Having gotten a new car built overnight, Daniil Kvyat retired at the end of lap two, after having started from the pitlane. On lap six, Rosberg got ahead of Hülkenberg in fourth position, while Verstappen took advantage and overtook Hülkenberg as well. Räikkönen got ahead of Button into second on lap seven. Tyre stops started on lap nine, as Hülkenberg and Alonso were the first to come in, followed by Button one lap later. After Gutiérrez came past him into ninth on lap 12, Massa headed for the pitlane as well. As Wehrlein made a pit stop on lap 14, Hamilton was still in the lead, followed by Räikkönen and Rosberg.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Race
Nico Rosberg made his pit stop shortly thereafter, putting on the soft compound tyre, while Hamilton stayed out. In the meantime, Vettel had moved up into third place, right behind his teammate Räikkönen. Hamilton came into the pitlane on lap 22, and problems with his stop saw him lose position to Rosberg. Räikkönen briefly led the race but followed suit one lap later and made a pit stop, only to come out behind both Red Bull drivers.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Race
More trouble was ahead for Ferrari, as Vettel, who was in the lead at that point, retired on lap 27, when he crashed into the barriers after his rear right tyre had exploded. This incident sent the safety car out, bringing the field back together. Rosberg was now leading the race from Hamilton, Verstappen, Ricciardo and Räikkönen.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Race
The safety car came back in on lap 32, with Rosberg leading the field at the flying restart, quickly pulling out a two-second advantage over Hamilton. Sergio Pérez was the winner of the restart, moving up three places into 11th and moving up another position several laps later. On lap 39, Button moved ahead of Felipe Nasr into seventh position. After keeping the gap at around two seconds for a number of laps, a mistake by Rosberg saw Hamilton close back up to him, allowing him to use the drag reduction system to attempt an overtake manoeuvre.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Race
Several drivers decided to change tyres for a second time around lap 50, including Valtteri Bottas on lap 52, while Nico Hülkenberg took his third stop a lap before, serving a five-second time penalty for speeding in the pitlane in the process. On lap 55, Hamilton was the first of the leading duo to come in for a pitstop, followed by Rosberg a lap later. A quicker stop for Rosberg and a mistake by Hamilton on his lap after pitting saw Rosberg emerge from his stop ahead. Verstappen was in the lead, soon followed closely by the two Mercedes drivers.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Race
On lap 58, Räikkönen overtook Ricciardo for fourth place, while Verstappen was staying in the lead with soft compound tyres he fitted on lap 15. He lost the lead to Rosberg however on lap 61, with Hamilton getting past him as well soon after. As the Mercedes duo battled for the race win, several drivers retired in the closing stages of the race, including Hülkenberg and Massa. Räikkönen was closing in to Verstappen in third, while Pascal Wehrlein edged closer to Bottas in tenth place as well. On the last lap, Hamilton attempted to overtake Rosberg into turn two.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Race
Hamilton went to the outside but Rosberg turned into the corner late on the inside and both cars touched, damaging Rosberg's front wing and pushing Hamilton off the track. They almost touched again as Hamilton rejoined the track. Hamilton eventually got ahead into turn three as Rosberg nursed his damaged car to the finish line. He was relegated to fourth position as both Verstappen and Räikkönen moved past him over the course of the lap. Further behind, Pérez retired, elevating Wehrlein into the last point-scoring position in tenth.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Post-race
At the podium ceremony following the race, Hamilton was booed by the crowd. In the podium interview, conducted by Spanish TV presenter Noemí de Miguel, he shrugged off the reaction, saying: "That's not my problem, it's theirs." Both Hamilton and Verstappen expressed delight at their result, while Räikkönen said that it had not been an easy day for the team, stressing that Ferrari had not achieved what they could have, since he felt that he could have overtaken Verstappen towards the end. Hamilton's win was the 250th victory by a British driver in Formula One and his first at the Spielberg circuit.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Post-race
The crash between the two Mercedes drivers on the last lap was a talking point after the race. Describing the incident as "brainless", their director of motorsport, Toto Wolff, declared that he was "fed up" with trying to analyse contacts between his drivers, emphasising that such incidents needed to stop. It had been the second time in five races that the pair had crashed into each other, with the first accident coming at the Spanish Grand Prix, as well as minor contact at the Canadian Grand Prix.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Post-race
Wolff said that should a similar situation arise in the future, the team would contemplate settling the order of the cars by telling them not to race each other, though he admitted that such a decision would be "unpopular". He made his feelings about possible team orders clear by saying: "[The thought] makes we want to puke myself but if racing is not possible without contact that is a consequence."


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Post-race
One day after the race, it was reported that the team even contemplated using measures as far as fines and temporary suspensions for their drivers if another accident between the two should occur. Concerning Sebastian Vettel's tyre failure, supplier Pirelli announced that the blowup was not caused by a wrong strategy from Ferrari, but rather by debris on track.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Post-race
For his incident with Hamilton, Rosberg was given a 10-second time penalty but as he was ahead of Ricciardo by 14 seconds this did not affect his finishing result. He was also reprimanded and given two penalty points for completing the race with a damaged car; the FIA concluded that this broke article 12.1.1h of the FIA International Sporting Code which states "Any unsafe act or failure to take reasonable measures, thus resulting in an unsafe situation." as a breach of the code.


2016 Austrian Grand Prix, Report, Post-race
As a result of the race, Nico Rosberg retained his lead in the Drivers' Championship, although Hamilton closed the gap to eleven points. The two Ferrari drivers of Vettel and Räikkönen followed in third and fourth, both on 96 points, followed by Ricciardo in fifth with 88. In the constructors' standings, Mercedes increased their lead over Ferrari now on 295 to 192 points. Red Bull were third, with 168 points, 76 points ahead of Williams.


2016 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix
The 2016 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix was the tenth round of the 2016 MotoGP season. It was held at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg on 14 August 2016.


2016 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix, MotoGP race report
Andrea Iannone took his first victory in MotoGP and the first since Moto2 Italy 2012 and also was the first Ducati rider other than Casey Stoner to win a race since Loris Capirossi's win at the 2007 Japanese Grand Prix. This race marked Ducati's first 1-2 finish since the 2007 Australian Grand Prix and also the first win for a manufacturer other than Honda or Yamaha since the 2010 Australian Grand Prix.


2016 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix, Championship standings after the race (MotoGP)
Below are the standings for the top five riders and constructors after round ten has concluded.


2016 Austrian presidential election
Presidential elections were held in Austria on 24 April 2016, with a second round run-off on 22 May 2016. However, the results of the second round were annulled and a re-vote took place on 4 December 2016.


2016 Austrian presidential election
Incumbent President Heinz Fischer had served two terms and was not eligible to be elected for a third successive term. In the first round of the election, Norbert Hofer of the Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) historically received the most votes. Alexander Van der Bellen, a member of the Austrian Greens contesting as an independent, placed second, also a historic success for a member of the Greens.


2016 Austrian presidential election
The candidates of the two governing parties, the Social Democratic and Austrian People's parties, placed fourth and fifth respectively, behind independent Irmgard Griss in third place, which led to a government crisis and the resignation of Chancellor Werner Faymann. Since no candidate received a majority of the vote, Hofer and Van der Bellen went head-to-head in the second round in May. This was the first time since the Second World War that an Austrian president had not been backed by either the People's or the Social Democratic party. During the run-off, Van der Bellen defeated Hofer on 23 May 2016 after the postal ballots had been counted.


2016 Austrian presidential election
On 22 July, the results of the second round of voting were annulled after the results in 20 of the 117 administrative districts were challenged, and the Constitutional Court of Austria found that Austrian electoral law had been disregarded in 14 of them. The Court found that over 77,900 absentee votes were improperly counted too early, however without any indication of votes having been fraudulently manipulated. The second round re-vote was planned on 2 October, but was postponed to 4 December 2016.


2016 Austrian presidential election
Van der Bellen ultimately won the second round re-vote with 53.8% of the vote and a voter turnout of 74.2%. Hofer conceded the race to Van der Bellen when the result had become apparent shortly after polls closed. Van der Bellen was sworn in as the twelfth president of Austria on 26 January 2017.


2016 Austrian presidential election, Electoral system
The President of Austria is directly elected by universal adult suffrage once every six years. The election is held under a two-round system; if no candidate receives more than 50% of votes cast in the first round, then a second ballot occurs in which only those two candidates who received the greatest number of votes in the first round may stand. The constitution grants the president the power to appoint the Chancellor and, by extension, federal cabinet ministers, Supreme Court justices, military officers, and most major bureaucrats. The president may dissolve the National Council. In practice, however, the president acts as a figurehead.


2016 Austrian presidential election, Candidates, Social Democratic Party (SPÖ)
The most likely candidate of the Social Democratic Party was considered to be Labour Minister Rudolf Hundstorfer, though President of the National Council Doris Bures, former Chancellor Franz Vranitzky and former undersecretary for EU affairs Brigitte Ederer were also mentioned. On 15 January 2016, Hundstorfer was officially announced as the SPÖ's candidate.


2016 Austrian presidential election, Candidates, Austrian People's Party (ÖVP)
Justice Minister Wolfgang Brandstetter declined to stand on 26 December 2015. On 7 January 2016, ÖVP leader Reinhold Mitterlehner announced that Erwin Pröll, the Landeshauptmann of Lower Austria, would not be running. Josef Pühringer, Landeshauptmann of Upper Austria declined to stand on 8 January 2016, as did former European Commissioner Franz Fischler and Member of the European Parliament Othmar Karas. President of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber Christoph Leitl only said he would not comment before the announcement by the party leadership on 10 January 2016.


2016 Austrian presidential election, Candidates, Austrian People's Party (ÖVP)
Controversial former chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel was briefly considered as a candidate, but he also declined. Other names mentioned were former Science Minister and university professor Karlheinz Töchterle, former Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik and former Raiffeisen Zentralbank manager Christian Konrad. On 10 January 2016, former first president of the National Council Andreas Khol was announced as the ÖVP's candidate.


2016 Austrian presidential election, Candidates, Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ)
Norbert Hofer, who serves as the Third President of the National Council, had been considered the most likely Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ) candidate. On 28 December 2015 he said that he considered himself too young for the office and that he would prefer his party to pick someone else as its candidate. Other possible candidates included President of the Austrian Court of Audit Josef Moser, former Mayor of Vienna's 1st district Ursula Stenzel, ombudsman Peter Fichtenbauer and possibly party leader Heinz-Christian Strache himself. As of 11 January 2016, Fichtenbauer, Moser and Stenzel continued to be the most likely candidates.


2016 Austrian presidential election, Candidates, Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ)
Strache announced on 13 January 2016 that he would not be running himself, and that it was still open whether the FPÖ would nominate anyone at all. In mid-January, Vienna Vice-Mayor Johann Gudenus and former FPÖ leader and former Vice-Chancellor Norbert Steger were also mentioned as possible candidates. On 19 January 2016, author and Middle East/migration pundit Karin Kneissl was mentioned as being recruited by the FPÖ to run, which she quickly declined.


2016 Austrian presidential election, Candidates, Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ)
On 20 January 2016, media reported that Gudenus had been internally selected as the FPÖ's candidate; on 26 January 2016, reports claimed Stenzel would be announced on 28 January 2016 as the FPÖ's candidate. Amid strong FPÖ-internal dissent, there were rumours the party leadership had been forced to reconsider, and that Hofer was now the most likely option, after all, with Gudenus also still in play. Commentators opined that the backtracking was a notable defeat for Strache. Hofer was announced as the FPÖ's candidate on 28 January 2016.


2016 Austrian presidential election, Candidates, The Greens – The Green Alternative
In early January 2016, it was announced that former Greens party leader Alexander Van der Bellen would not be running as the official Greens' candidate, as that would have required a party convention decision; this was also framed as an attempt to put personality above party politics in the election. Van der Bellen announced his candidacy on 8 January 2016 in a YouTube video. NEOS – The New Austria and Liberal Forum leader Strolz stated that they would consider giving him the same support as Griss, depending on the same kind of hearing she went through.


2016 Austrian presidential election, Candidates, Other candidates
Independent candidate Irmgard Griss, a former Supreme Court of Justice judge and its president, declared her candidacy on 17 December 2015. She presented her candidacy to the Freedom Party of Austria and NEOS, but both declined to endorse her. NEOS said they would support Griss and any other independent candidates indirectly, and voiced their concerns over the strong partisan politicization of the presidential office and the election campaign. NEOS leader Matthias Strolz stated on 9 February 2016 that NEOS might also support Van der Bellen, voicing his preference for a run-off election between Griss and Van der Bellen.


2016 Austrian presidential election, Candidates, Other candidates
Richard Lugner, society figure, businessman and candidate for president in 1998, was reported to be considering running again, and stated on 8 February 2016 that he would very likely be running. He announced his candidacy on 10 February 2016, citing a poll carried out for him by the Humaninstitut which showed him on 10% (behind Van der Bellen on 27%, Hundstorfer on 18%, Hofer on 17%, Griss at 15% and Khol on 13%).


2016 Austrian presidential election, Candidates, Other candidates
Martin Wabl, who had attempted to run in 1998, 2004 and 2010, but failed to gather the necessary number of signatures of support, said he would try to run again. Ulrich Habsburg-Lothringen, whose initiative to repeal the so-called Habsburg Paragraph, which had precluded members of the former ruling house from running for president, proved successful in 2011, stated he would like to run for president, but only if a political party decided to support him. Adrien Jean-Pierre Luxemburg-Wellenstein announced on 8 December 2015 he would run for president. Author El Awadalla announced her run on 12 January 2016.


2016 Austrian presidential election, Candidates, Other candidates
Krems activist Franz Stieger announced his candidacy on 13 January 2016. Further independent candidates who announced their runs were Gustav Jobstmann, Thomas Unden, Gernot Pointner, Alois Merz, Georg Zakrajsek of the Interessengemeinschaft Liberales Waffenrecht Österreich, Karin Kolland, Robert Marschall of the EU Exit Party, Thomas Reitmayer of the Austrian version of the satirical political party Die PARTEI, Erich Körner-Lakatos and Peter Fetz.


2016 Austrian presidential election, Candidates, Other candidates
At the half-way point for collecting signatures, it appeared that only the five major candidates and possibly Lugner and Awadalla had a chance of making the ballot.