It’s that time again, where we can grab a snag whilst deciding the fate of Australia — it’s a federal election year baby!
While our pollies are keeping their cards close to their chests, we’ve got the inside scoop on when you might need to pencil in your date with democracy.
When is the latest the Australian federal election can be held?
Alright, let’s start with the boring but important stuff. Our Constitution’s got some pretty strict rules about when we need to have our say. The absolute latest we could be marking those ballot papers is May 17, 2025.
Why? Well, our parliamentary system runs on a precise three-year cycle. Half of our senators are set to finish their current terms on June 30, 2025, which means we need to elect new representatives before they clock off. The Constitution requires a smooth transition of political power, so we can’t just show up on the last day and expect everything to work magically.
Working backwards from the Senate term expiry, and considering all the official administrative requirements, May 17 becomes our absolute final election date. It’s also the last possible Saturday we can have our democratic say before the current parliamentary terms expire.
When will the Prime Minister confirm the date for the federal election?
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been playing his cards closer to his chest, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make some educated guesses. According to News.com.au, Labor insiders are whispering that a surprise April 12 election could be on the cards and with good reason.
First up, there’s the Western Australian state election on March 8. I can’t imagine Albo would be too keen on pissing off the state and making them vote twice in one month.
Then there’s the federal budget which still hasn’t been confirmed scheduled for March 25. By calling an April election, Albo could sidestep having to deliver what’s likely to be a pretty gloomy set of numbers.
We’ve also got public holidays to consider. If Albo wants to avoid clashing with the Easter long weekend and Anzac Day, April 12 is his only option. That’s because there needs to be at least 33 days between calling an election and holding it.
Of course, there’s always the possibility of a May election. May 3 or May 10 are looking like potential dates if Albanese decides to hold off.
One thing’s for sure: we can rule out a sneaky February election. The deadline for calling a double dissolution (that’s when every seat in both houses is up for grabs) was January 24, and that ship has sailed.
So there you have it, folks. While we can’t give you an exact date to block out in your calendar just yet, it’s looking like we’ll be heading to the polls sometime between April and May. But, don’t worry we’ll keep you posted!
The post When Will The 2025 Australian Federal Election Be? Here’s Our Guess appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
