When will the next Australian federal election be held?

This video explains the constitutional and legal constraints that apply to a deciding when to hold the next Australian federal election. It discusses the different electoral timetables of the House of Representatives and the Senate, which leave a limited window for holding a House of Representatives election at the same time as a half-Senate election. It addresses the forthcoming redistribution in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia, and its impact upon the election. It also explains how a 'mini-redistribution' would be held if an election were called before the redistribution was completed. Finally, it also notes the impact of State and Territory elections and holidays upon the choice of the election date. It concludes that the next Australian federal election is likely to be held either in November/early-December 2024 (depending on when the redistribution is finalised) or in May 2025.
For those interested in knowing more, see: www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliame... and see also Antony Green's election blog, including: antonygreen.com.au/when-will-....

[@jim_jam_dseries]

Thank you Anne for another superb video again! Do you think that November may potentially be off the table due to the build up for the U.S. election?

[@constitutionalclarion1901]

I guess that depends on whether the Government would prefer the cover of people being able to see that things could be much worse! I think it really turns on the timing of the completion of the redistributions and whether the Government is happy that it has all its pre-selections resolved and candidates firmly in place.

[@abekane7038]

Thank you for this video. I was wondering if you would know if there's any way we can get lobbies out of our government? What do the people need to do to remove foreign control of our govt. Thanking you in advance, cheers

[@constitutionalclarion1901]

I just wrote a submission the other day to a parliamentary committee about a proposal to restrict or end the giving of passes to Parliament House to lobbyists so they can easily and informally lobby MPs. Lobbying has its point - it allows groups to explain issues and points of view to MPs about which they would not otherwise be aware. But it can also lead to undue influence and corruption, so it needs to be carefully regulated to make sure it is done fairly and openly. I might do a video on this - thanks for the suggestion.

[@abekane7038]

@@constitutionalclarion1901 Thank you

[@geoffreybreasley9845]

Is that you Gavin

[@irasponsibly]

Heya, I know this is an old one, but I really appreciated this video! It's odd how media will talk about the election date being so uncertain when there are *really* only a small handful of weekends it could actually be. I come back to it now wondering if the UK has similar constraints (as all my UK friends wonder when theirs will be)

[@constitutionalclarion1901]

I suspect Australia has a greater number of constraints, because of the problem with half-Senate election timing as well as the timing of compulsory redistributions. But no doubt other factors such as holiday periods and avoiding clashes with scheduled local government elections or elections for the devolved legislatures would be relevant in the UK. One other factor there is that their voting day is on a Thursday, rather than Saturday in Australia.

[@Shalott63]

In the UK we have fewer other elections to contend with - no Senate elections and no equivalent of state elections in England (although of course we do have devolved government in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland nowadays). But one difference seems to be that we don't object to having more than one election on the same date (e.g. House of Commons + at least some local authorities) - it saves money, time and trouble, etc. Local elections are always in early May (although not all bodies have elections in the same year), so they are out of the way now, but there was speculation that the general election would be timed to coincide with them. Also there's far less bureaucracy here connected with changing electoral boundaries. In short, there are far fewer restrictions here.

[@peteranderson7497]

Ahhhhgggggggg!!!! Four year fixed terms for BOTH the House of Reps AND the Senate! How much easier would that be? And! We could have yet another referendum; we all love those! Thanks for yet another great video.

[@richarddobson4marrickville]

No. No. NO. Authoritarians love fixed four year terms because they can dodge accountability for that much no longer. No. 3 years is the absolute longest governments should go without facing judgement from the voters. Actually every year or every 2 years would be better. Accountability is KING. The voters DESERVE THEIR SAY.

[@raycorcoran137]

As usual a wonderful video. Have we had 2 unsuccessful referendums to have fixed terms and combined upper and lower house elections? If so it is ironic that people do not want separate elections but will not vote so in referendums. Sadly it suggests a serios lack of understanding of the processes in referendum or are easily scared into voting NO.

[@geoffreybreasley9845]

Is that you Faye 😮

[@richarddobson4marrickville]

We The People don't want fixed terms - why is that hard for so many to accept?