November 9th 2024.
The citizens of Australia will soon have the opportunity to cast their votes in the upcoming federal election, which is scheduled to take place within the next six months. The exact date, however, has yet to be determined and remains subject to change.
There has been much speculation surrounding the possibility of an early election during the Labor government's term, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dropping hints here and there about when he might call for the vote. Here's what we currently know about the situation.
According to the Constitution, there are specific requirements that dictate when an election must be held. The terms for members of the House of Representatives last for three years, and an election for this house must be held within 68 days after the terms expire. In this case, the current terms are set to expire on July 25, 2025, making September 27 the latest possible date for an election to take place. However, thanks to the Senate, we can expect to head to the polls before then.
Half of all senators' terms are set to expire on June 30, 2025, and an election must be held for these seats within the preceding year. When taking into account the technicalities and logistics involved in swearing in new members, as well as the tradition of holding House of Representatives and half-Senate elections simultaneously, the latest the federal election can take place is May 17, 2025.
Some have wondered about the possibility of a double dissolution election, which occurs when both houses of parliament are dissolved and all seats are contested after a piece of legislation has been rejected multiple times. Albanese sparked speculation about this back in September when he responded with, "we'll wait and see" to a suggestion that this could be detrimental to the government. The latest that both houses could be dissolved during this term is January 24, with the election likely to take place between February 22 and March 29. However, it's worth noting that double dissolution elections are quite rare, with only six having been called in Australian history, the most recent being in 2016.
While Albanese has hinted at the possibility of an early election, he has also expressed his support for longer parliamentary terms. On the other hand, Health Minister Mark Butler has downplayed any speculation, stating that the government's recent policy announcement to reduce student debt would not necessarily be an indicator of an early election. The plan is set to take effect on June 1, 2025, and Albanese has stated that if the Labor party wins the next election, it will be the first legislation passed. This seems like a tight timeline, unless of course, there is an early election or the laws are backdated. Butler has urged against trying to read too much into the timing of the announcement, stating that it simply reflects the government's commitment to easing financial burdens on young Australians.
In October, a proposed parliamentary calendar for 2025 was released, with the federal budget scheduled for March 25. This is earlier than its usual May timeslot and serves as another indication that a May election is likely. Stay updated on all the latest news, sports, politics, and weather by downloading the 9NEWS app, available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play.
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