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| Who's who in Australia's 2016 Federal Elections? | Who's who in Australia's 2016 Federal Elections? |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| As Australia's federal election approaches this weekend, the country is entering its final countdown and the candidates have only a few days left to campaign. But who are the main players? | As Australia's federal election approaches this weekend, the country is entering its final countdown and the candidates have only a few days left to campaign. But who are the main players? |
| Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (Liberal Party) | Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (Liberal Party) |
| A former journalist, barrister and investment banker, he is Australia's fifth prime minister since 2007. | A former journalist, barrister and investment banker, he is Australia's fifth prime minister since 2007. |
| Within the conservative coalition government, Mr Turnbull is known for his progressive views on climate change, same-sex marriage and the republican movement. | Within the conservative coalition government, Mr Turnbull is known for his progressive views on climate change, same-sex marriage and the republican movement. |
| He seized the leadership of the party in 2008 before being ousted by his socially conservative rival Tony Abbott. | He seized the leadership of the party in 2008 before being ousted by his socially conservative rival Tony Abbott. |
| Mr Abbott led the Liberal Party back to government in 2013 on a platform of austerity and border protection, but in office was plagued by gaffes and poor opinion polls. Mr Turnbull toppled the former prime minister in a party coup last year. | |
| During the government's re-election campaign, Mr Turnbull has offered a vision of a "start-up" Australia, arguing that his party is best placed to transition the country from the mining boom to a new phase of economic growth. | During the government's re-election campaign, Mr Turnbull has offered a vision of a "start-up" Australia, arguing that his party is best placed to transition the country from the mining boom to a new phase of economic growth. |
| Opposition Leader Bill Shorten (Labor Party) | Opposition Leader Bill Shorten (Labor Party) |
| A former union organiser, Mr Shorten came to national attention 10 years ago during the Beaconsfield mine collapse, rallying behind two miners trapped underground. | A former union organiser, Mr Shorten came to national attention 10 years ago during the Beaconsfield mine collapse, rallying behind two miners trapped underground. |
| He ascended to the Labor Party leadership in the wake of a turbulent period and defeat at the 2013 election. | He ascended to the Labor Party leadership in the wake of a turbulent period and defeat at the 2013 election. |
| Mr Shorten is campaigning to make Australia a "fairer" country, nominating education, healthcare and climate change as key concerns in the election. | Mr Shorten is campaigning to make Australia a "fairer" country, nominating education, healthcare and climate change as key concerns in the election. |
| He is regarded as having run a strong campaign and Labor appears poised to win seats, but polls indicate he may fall short of the numbers required to form government. | He is regarded as having run a strong campaign and Labor appears poised to win seats, but polls indicate he may fall short of the numbers required to form government. |
| Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce (National Party) | Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce (National Party) |
| The Australian politician who threatened to kill Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's dogs rose from a rural childhood to one of the most powerful offices in the country. | The Australian politician who threatened to kill Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's dogs rose from a rural childhood to one of the most powerful offices in the country. |
| Described by the Hollywood star as a "sweaty, big-gutted man", the unorthodox politician also has a more thoughtful side. | Described by the Hollywood star as a "sweaty, big-gutted man", the unorthodox politician also has a more thoughtful side. |
| He has bucked traditional conservative stances to block open-cut coal mining in the Hunter Valley, supported calls in favour of medical marijuana and lobbied against the sale of Australia's largest farm to a Chinese company. | He has bucked traditional conservative stances to block open-cut coal mining in the Hunter Valley, supported calls in favour of medical marijuana and lobbied against the sale of Australia's largest farm to a Chinese company. |
| The leader of the rural-focused National Party - which forms a coalition government with the Liberal Party - is in the midst of an fierce re-election contest with a popular rival for his seat in New South Wales. | The leader of the rural-focused National Party - which forms a coalition government with the Liberal Party - is in the midst of an fierce re-election contest with a popular rival for his seat in New South Wales. |
| Senator Nick Xenophon (Nick Xenophon Team) | Senator Nick Xenophon (Nick Xenophon Team) |
| An independent senator from South Australia has emerged as a potential kingmaker. | An independent senator from South Australia has emerged as a potential kingmaker. |
| Mr Xenophon has exploited widespread voter fury after former prime minister Tony Abbott backtracked on a promise to build a submarine fleet in Adelaide. | Mr Xenophon has exploited widespread voter fury after former prime minister Tony Abbott backtracked on a promise to build a submarine fleet in Adelaide. |
| A successful lawyer before he entered politics, his eponymous party was formed to combat "voter disillusionment" and the "lack of trust in politics". | A successful lawyer before he entered politics, his eponymous party was formed to combat "voter disillusionment" and the "lack of trust in politics". |
| He is fielding almost 50 candidates across the country and appears to be in a strong position to win upper and lower house seats in South Australia. He will likely cause headaches for the major parties in traditional battlegrounds. | He is fielding almost 50 candidates across the country and appears to be in a strong position to win upper and lower house seats in South Australia. He will likely cause headaches for the major parties in traditional battlegrounds. |
| Senator Richard di Natale (Greens) | Senator Richard di Natale (Greens) |
| Richard di Natale has managed to move the Greens away from the fringes of Australian politics. The party is particularly competitive in inner-urban areas where climate change and refugees are the hot-button political issues. | Richard di Natale has managed to move the Greens away from the fringes of Australian politics. The party is particularly competitive in inner-urban areas where climate change and refugees are the hot-button political issues. |
| The Greens leader's credentials on housing affordability and protecting workers pay and conditions were undermined in May when it emerged that he incorrectly declared a family farm and underpaid three au pairs that looked after his two sons. | The Greens leader's credentials on housing affordability and protecting workers pay and conditions were undermined in May when it emerged that he incorrectly declared a family farm and underpaid three au pairs that looked after his two sons. |
| The former doctor remains confident that the party will pick up some key lower house seats and is growing in power. | The former doctor remains confident that the party will pick up some key lower house seats and is growing in power. |
| In addition to environmental issues, the Greens are campaigning on their track record on multinational tax avoidance, same-sex marriage and ending Australia's offshore detention of asylum seekers. | In addition to environmental issues, the Greens are campaigning on their track record on multinational tax avoidance, same-sex marriage and ending Australia's offshore detention of asylum seekers. |
| Senator Jacqui Lambie (Jacqui Lambie Network) | Senator Jacqui Lambie (Jacqui Lambie Network) |
| One of the most controversial politicians running in the election walked away from mining magnate Clive Palmer's Palmer United Party. | One of the most controversial politicians running in the election walked away from mining magnate Clive Palmer's Palmer United Party. |
| A former soldier who battled with prescription drug and alcohol addiction, the senator is difficult to define politically. | A former soldier who battled with prescription drug and alcohol addiction, the senator is difficult to define politically. |
| The unpredictable Tasmanian has warned about the threat to Australia from China and Indonesia, opposes same-sex marriage and once introduced a bill to ban burkas in Australia. | The unpredictable Tasmanian has warned about the threat to Australia from China and Indonesia, opposes same-sex marriage and once introduced a bill to ban burkas in Australia. |
| The senator is running a campaign that pledges support for military veterans and the unemployed. | The senator is running a campaign that pledges support for military veterans and the unemployed. |
| Senator Glenn Lazarus (Glenn Lazarus Team) | Senator Glenn Lazarus (Glenn Lazarus Team) |
| Nicknamed "the brick with eyes" during his playing days, the former professional rugby league player ascended to the Senate as a Palmer United Party candidate. | Nicknamed "the brick with eyes" during his playing days, the former professional rugby league player ascended to the Senate as a Palmer United Party candidate. |
| He defected after reports that his wife was subjected to "foul language" and bullied by the businessman. | He defected after reports that his wife was subjected to "foul language" and bullied by the businessman. |
| Earlier this week Mr Lazarus crushed a hatchback with a tank to bring attention to his efforts to protect Australia from faulty imported cars. | Earlier this week Mr Lazarus crushed a hatchback with a tank to bring attention to his efforts to protect Australia from faulty imported cars. |
| Senator Ricky Muir (Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party) | Senator Ricky Muir (Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party) |
| This accidental politician was elected at the last federal election as a senator for Victoria with less than 1% of the vote. | This accidental politician was elected at the last federal election as a senator for Victoria with less than 1% of the vote. |
| The government has subsequently closed the arcane voting preference loophole that allowed the former sawmill worker to enter the Senate. | The government has subsequently closed the arcane voting preference loophole that allowed the former sawmill worker to enter the Senate. |
| He arrived in Canberra with zero political experience and was sneered at by political elites - especially after he crashed a car during a 60 Minutes interview. | He arrived in Canberra with zero political experience and was sneered at by political elites - especially after he crashed a car during a 60 Minutes interview. |
| Since distancing himself from the Palmer United Party, the senator has often voted with his conscience, assessing each bill on its merits. | Since distancing himself from the Palmer United Party, the senator has often voted with his conscience, assessing each bill on its merits. |
| The self-described "average Australian" may defy the odds again for re-election. | The self-described "average Australian" may defy the odds again for re-election. |
| Senator David Leyonhjelm (Liberal Democratic Party) | Senator David Leyonhjelm (Liberal Democratic Party) |
| Usually it is the public that directs coarse language at politicians - not the other way around. | Usually it is the public that directs coarse language at politicians - not the other way around. |
| Senator David Leyonhjelm has often made headlines for the wrong reasons: sending a high-profile female journalist an abusive text, declaring that "all cops are bastards" and saying that tough gun laws had turned Australia into a "nation of victims". | Senator David Leyonhjelm has often made headlines for the wrong reasons: sending a high-profile female journalist an abusive text, declaring that "all cops are bastards" and saying that tough gun laws had turned Australia into a "nation of victims". |
| Australia's first elected member of a libertarian party, his causes include repealing gun control laws, lifting speed limits, decriminalising drugs and legalising voluntary euthanasia. | Australia's first elected member of a libertarian party, his causes include repealing gun control laws, lifting speed limits, decriminalising drugs and legalising voluntary euthanasia. |
| An agricultural consultant with a passion for target shooting, Mr Leyonhjelm has produced one of the campaign's weirdest video - an ad where two pugs named "Mal" and "Bill" devour a cake as a metaphor for major party interference with pension plans. | An agricultural consultant with a passion for target shooting, Mr Leyonhjelm has produced one of the campaign's weirdest video - an ad where two pugs named "Mal" and "Bill" devour a cake as a metaphor for major party interference with pension plans. |
| Pauline Hanson (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) | Pauline Hanson (Pauline Hanson's One Nation) |
| Pauline Hanson - one of the most controversial figures in modern Australian history - has returned to politics. | Pauline Hanson - one of the most controversial figures in modern Australian history - has returned to politics. |
| The former fish-and-chip shop owner founded the far-right political party One Nation and entered parliament on an anti-multicultural platform in 1996. | The former fish-and-chip shop owner founded the far-right political party One Nation and entered parliament on an anti-multicultural platform in 1996. |
| She said that Australia "was in danger of being swamped by Asians" who "have their own culture and religion, form ghettos and do not assimilate". | She said that Australia "was in danger of being swamped by Asians" who "have their own culture and religion, form ghettos and do not assimilate". |
| Ms Hanson lost her seat in 1998 and went on to lose four more elections at state level. | Ms Hanson lost her seat in 1998 and went on to lose four more elections at state level. |
| She was removed as the party's leader in 2002 and was sentenced to jail for electoral fraud in 2003, but later had her convictions overturned. | She was removed as the party's leader in 2002 and was sentenced to jail for electoral fraud in 2003, but later had her convictions overturned. |
| Some pollsters have rated Ms Hanson's chances of returning to Canberra as a senator for Queensland as "realistic". | Some pollsters have rated Ms Hanson's chances of returning to Canberra as a senator for Queensland as "realistic". |