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Sydney — Australian Federal Election Results

Compiled by EveryElectionResult.com's data team · Last updated 2026-08-30

Sydney was won by Tanya Plibersek (Labor) at the 2019 federal election, with a margin of 35,405 votes over Jacqui Munro after preferences. This page covers every federal election in Sydney from 1969 to 2019.

Australia uses instant-runoff (preferential) voting: voters rank candidates in order of preference, and if no one has a majority of first-preference votes, the lowest-placed candidate is eliminated and their votes redistributed to voters' next preference, repeating until one candidate has a majority. The "Winner" and "Margin" below reflect the final result after preferences (equivalent to the AEC's own two-candidate-preferred figure) — not simply whoever led on first preferences, which can occasionally be a different candidate.

Full Election History (After Preferences), 1969–2019

Election Winner Party Final Votes Final Share Runner-up Margin
1969 James Cope Labor 31,822 76.4% Graham Robertson (Liberal) 22,017 (52.9 pts)
1972 James Cope Labor 31,585 82.7% Graham Robertson (Liberal) 24,976 (65.4 pts)
1974 James Cope Labor 32,244 78.4% Janis Wallace (Liberal) 23,368 (56.8 pts)
1975 Leslie Mcmahon Labor 31,493 72.0% Janis Wallace (Liberal) 19,225 (43.9 pts)
1977 Leslie Mcmahon Labor 39,307 73.5% Andrew Morrison (Liberal) 25,149 (47.0 pts)
1980 Leslie Mcmahon Labor 36,720 73.3% Cliff Reece (Liberal) 23,356 (46.6 pts)
1983 Peter Baldwin Labor 40,360 76.3% Romualdas Cibas (Liberal) 27,801 (52.5 pts)
1984 Peter Baldwin Labor 41,590 73.4% James Harker-Mortlock (Liberal) 26,495 (46.7 pts)
1987 Peter Baldwin Labor 41,220 69.9% Les Morka (Liberal) 23,474 (39.8 pts)
1990 Peter Baldwin Labor 42,890 71.4% Stephen Woodhill (Liberal) 25,707 (42.8 pts)
1993 Peter Baldwin Labor 49,402 69.5% James Fisher (Liberal) 27,694 (38.9 pts)
1996 Peter Baldwin Labor 46,703 63.8% Peter Fussell (Liberal) 20,208 (27.6 pts)
1998 Tanya Plibersek Labor 50,463 66.9% Bruce Morrow (Liberal) 25,489 (33.8 pts)
2004 Tanya Plibersek Labor 54,656 66.4% Michael Shevers (Liberal) 27,029 (32.8 pts)
2007 Tanya Plibersek Labor 53,214 69.5% Georgina Anderson (Liberal) 29,864 (39.0 pts)
2010 Tanya Plibersek Labor 35,677 60.6% Gordon Weiss (Liberal) 12,493 (21.2 pts)
2013 Tanya Plibersek Labor 56,994 64.7% Sean O'connor (Liberal) 25,838 (29.3 pts)
2016 Tanya Plibersek Labor 57,410 65.3% Geoffrey Winters (Liberal) 26,920 (30.6 pts)
2019 Tanya Plibersek Labor 65,110 68.7% Jacqui Munro (Liberal) 35,405 (37.3 pts)

First-Preference Result by Election

Every candidate's first-preference votes, before any preference redistribution.

1969

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
James CopeLabor31,82265.1%
Graham RobertsonLiberal9,80520.1%
Nicholas OriglassIndependent3,3626.9%
Norma BoyleDemocratic Labor Party2,3814.9%
Donald LewisIndependent6231.3%
Ian ChannellIndependent5711.2%
Shane WatsonIndependent3160.6%

1972

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
James CopeLabor31,58570.3%
Graham RobertsonLiberal6,60914.7%
Allan SorrensenAP3,4317.6%
Laurence AaronsCommunist Party of Australia2,2365.0%
Patrick ClancyIndependent1,0622.4%

1974

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
James CopeLabor32,24471.9%
Janis WallaceLiberal8,87619.8%
Julia BovardAP2,5985.8%
Patrick ClancyIndependent1,1322.5%

1975

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Leslie McmahonLabor31,49366.1%
Janis WallaceLiberal12,26825.8%
Lawrence AaronsCommunist Party of Australia2,6675.6%
Merilyn GiesekamIndependent6441.4%
Roderick MacneilIndependent5371.1%

1977

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Leslie McmahonLabor39,30763.2%
Andrew MorrisonLiberal14,15822.7%
Aileen BeaverCommunist Party of Australia3,9356.3%
Judith RobertsAustralian Democrats3,4285.5%
Harry BlackIndependent8471.4%
Naomi MayersIndependent5600.9%

1980

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Leslie McmahonLabor36,72062.0%
Cliff ReeceLiberal13,36422.6%
Maxwell AdamsAustralian Democrats4,8168.1%
Judith MundeyCommunist Party of Australia2,8504.8%
Juanita KeigIndependent1,4772.5%

1983

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Peter BaldwinLabor40,36067.2%
Romualdas CibasLiberal12,55920.9%
Jennifer MacleodAustralian Democrats4,2867.1%
Aileen BeaverCommunist Party of Australia2,0663.4%
James PercyIndependent7581.3%

1984

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Peter BaldwinLabor32,41257.2%
James Harker-MortlockLiberal12,84722.7%
Michael WalshAustralian Democrats4,6008.1%
Daphne GollanIndependent3,1185.5%
Vito RadiceIndependent2,2193.9%
Aileen BeaverCommunist Party of Australia1,2132.1%
Noel HazardIndependent2900.5%

1987

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Peter BaldwinLabor29,79550.5%
Les MorkaLiberal14,91125.3%
Jack MundeyIndependent7,91813.4%
William ColeAustralian Democrats4,9168.3%
Vito RadiceIndependent1,4572.5%

1990

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Peter BaldwinLabor30,64850.8%
Stephen WoodhillLiberal13,04721.6%
Bob DawsonAustralian Democrats7,69712.8%
Tony HarrisGreens6,74511.2%
Ken HendersonIndependent1,1061.8%
John DavernCommunist Party7571.3%
Nadar PonnuswamyIndependent2740.5%

1993

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Peter BaldwinLabor41,62158.5%
James FisherLiberal18,49326.0%
Mark BerrimanGreens5,5137.7%
Bob DawsonAustralian Democrats2,8053.9%
Margaret GleesonIndependent1,9142.7%
Bronia HatfieldIndependent6390.9%
Donald O'halloranIndependent1830.3%

1996

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Peter BaldwinLabor35,78848.4%
Peter FussellLiberal20,43027.6%
Paul NederlofAustralian Democrats6,4718.7%
Wendy BaconNAN5,0426.8%
Sue StockGreens4,2855.8%
Karen FletcherIndependent5840.8%
Peter BushbyIndependent5370.7%
Janne PetersonCommunist Party4830.7%
Michael LippmannIndependent2420.3%
Donald O'halloranIndependent1120.2%

1998

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Tanya PlibersekLabor38,92051.6%
Bruce MorrowLiberal20,89927.7%
Ben HansonAustralian Democrats5,0926.8%
Jenny RydeGreens4,6836.2%
Warren HensleyOne Nation1,9172.5%
Flavia AbdurahmanUnity1,6762.2%
Jenny MunroIndependent5910.8%
John PercyIndependent5680.8%
Anna LunsmannIndependent5380.7%
Denis DohertyIndependent4410.6%
Michael LippmannIndependent1120.1%

2004

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Tanya PlibersekLabor36,76644.7%
Michael SheversLiberal23,41928.5%
Jenny LeongGreens17,78421.6%
Michelle BleicherAustralian Democrats1,7012.1%
Jane WardIndependent1,3461.6%
Susan PriceSocialist Alliance5640.7%
Michael WebbIndependent5530.7%
Adrian FordCEC1500.2%

2007

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Tanya PlibersekLabor37,50649.0%
Georgina AndersonLiberal20,44026.7%
Jenny LeongGreens15,85420.7%
Jane WardIndependent9791.3%
Mayo MaterazzoAustralian Democrats8741.1%
John LeeChristian Democratic Party7270.9%
Adrian FordIndependent1840.2%

2010

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Tanya PlibersekLabor34,36243.3%
Gordon WeissLiberal22,30728.1%
Tony HickeyGreens18,85223.7%
Brett PatersonAustralian Democrats1,2561.6%
Jane WardIndependent1,2261.5%
Christopher OwenIndependent7180.9%
Denis DohertyIndependent6560.8%

2013

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Tanya PlibersekLabor40,57946.0%
Sean O'connorLiberal26,90130.5%
Dianne HilesGreens15,27317.3%
Jane WardIndependent1,4081.6%
Timothy KellyPalmer United Party1,2611.4%
Leah GartnerIndependent7910.9%
Lesley MasonChristian Democratic Party7230.8%
Peter BoyleIndependent6130.7%
Joanna RzetelskiIndependent6020.7%

2016

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Tanya PlibersekLabor38,44943.7%
Geoffrey WintersLiberal25,62229.1%
Sylvie EllsmoreGreens16,53718.8%
Mark BerrimanAJP1,4971.7%
Ula FalangaChristian Democratic Party1,4891.7%
Rebecca LanningASP1,4561.7%
Tom GeiserIndependent1,3611.5%
Kris SpikeIndependent6060.7%
Peter BoyleIndependent5000.6%
Tula TzorasIndependent3830.4%

2019

CandidatePartyFirst-Pref. VotesShare
Tanya PlibersekLabor46,85049.4%
Jacqui MunroLiberal25,23026.6%
Matthew ThompsonGreens17,13418.1%
Aaron HammondIndependent3,2403.4%
Adam HoltUnited Australia Party1,3661.4%
Rebecca ReddinChristian Democratic Party9951.0%

Margin Over Time

Final (after-preferences) winning margin, percentage points, coloured by the winning party.

1969: Labor margin 52.9 pts 1972: Labor margin 65.4 pts 1974: Labor margin 56.8 pts 1975: Labor margin 43.9 pts 1977: Labor margin 47.0 pts 1980: Labor margin 46.6 pts 1983: Labor margin 52.5 pts 1984: Labor margin 46.7 pts 1987: Labor margin 39.8 pts 1990: Labor margin 42.8 pts 1993: Labor margin 38.9 pts 1996: Labor margin 27.6 pts 1998: Labor margin 33.8 pts 2004: Labor margin 32.8 pts 2007: Labor margin 39.0 pts 2010: Labor margin 21.2 pts 2013: Labor margin 29.3 pts 2016: Labor margin 30.6 pts 2019: Labor margin 37.3 pts 1969 1972 1974 1975 1977 1980 1983 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1998 2004 2007 2010 2013 2016 2019

Trend

Sydney has been contested at 19 federal elections on record since 1969. Winning party over that span: Labor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won Sydney in the 2019 federal election?

Tanya Plibersek (Labor) won Sydney in 2019 after preferences, with 65,110 votes (68.7%) to Jacqui Munro's 29,705.

Which parties have won Sydney since 1969?

Since 1969, Sydney has been won by: Labor.

What was the closest result in Sydney?

The closest result on record for Sydney was 2010, when Tanya Plibersek (Labor) beat Gordon Weiss by 12,493 votes (21.2 percentage points) after preferences.

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