It is not yet three years since the last federal election on July 2, 2016.  Since that fateful day, when the Turnbull coalition government’s majority was reduced from thirty to just one, all eight state and territory governments have faced the electorate. New South Wales completed the cycle last Saturday.

Of the eight elections, governments were re-elected in five (ACT, Qld, Tas, Vic and NSW) and defeated in three (NT, WA and SA).  It’s a handy reminder that governments usually win. Since 2000, governments have been re-elected at 31 of the 48 elections held in all jurisdictions. That’s a success rate of 65%. In the thirty years since 1989, governments have been re-elected at 49 of the 79 elections, or 62% .