Senate composition at 1 July 1985 Government (34) Labor (34) – (5 seat minority)
Crossbench (9) Democrats (7) Nuclear Disarmament Party (1) [i] Independent (Harradine) (1)
All other state senators were elected as normal and had 6-year terms due to finish on 30 June 1991.
The four territory senators elected had terms due to finish at the next dissolution of the House of Representatives as normal.
However, the Senate was dissolved on 5 June 1987 for another double dissolution election on 11 July 1987.