Next Australian Federal Election

The next Australian federal election will be held on or before 20 May 2028 (for the House and half the Senate) or on before 23 September 2028 (for just the House) or on or before 18 March 2028 (for the entirety of both houses) to elect members of the House of Representatives and half of the Senate to the 49th Parliament of Australia.

It is expected that the incumbent Labor majority government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, will seek a third three-year term in government. They are expected to be challenged by the LiberalNational Coalition, led by opposition leader Sussan Ley. It is expected that the Australian Greens, Pauline Hanson's One Nation, and other minor parties and independents will contest the election.

Australia has compulsory voting, with preferential instant-runoff voting in single-member seats.

Background

Electoral system

Members of the House of Representatives are elected by full preferential voting. Each electorate elects one member. Senators are elected by proportional representation using single transferable vote. In states, senators are elected from state-wide twelve-member districts (although in most cases only six seats are contested at a single election), and in territories from territory-wide two-member districts. Ballots are counted at least twice, at the polling place and, starting Monday night after election day, at counting centres.

Redistribution

The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) is required, one year after the first sitting day for a new House of Representatives, to determine the number of members to which each state and territory is entitled. If the number in any state changes, a redistribution would be required in those states. A redistribution would be postponed if it would begin within one year of the expiration of the House of Representatives.

Notwithstanding the above, Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory will have to undergo scheduled redistributions in 2025–2026 as seven years have already or would have elapsed since their last respective redistribution.

Voter registration

Enrolment of eligible voters is compulsory. Voters must notify the AEC within 8 weeks of a change of address or after turning 18. The electoral rolls are closed for new enrolments or update of details about a week after the issue of writs for election. Enrolment is optional for 16 or 17-year-olds, but they cannot vote until they turn 18, and persons who have applied for Australian citizenship may also apply for provisional enrolment which takes effect on the granting of citizenship.

Election date

The election of senators must take place within one year before the terms expire for half-Senate elections, so the writs for a half-Senate election cannot be issued earlier than 1 July 2027. Since campaigns are for a minimum of 33 days, the earliest possible date for a simultaneous House and half-Senate election is Saturday, 7 August 2027. Given that the elections for the new senators must take place by 30 June 2028, the latest possible date for a half-Senate election is 20 May 2028.

The latest possible election for the House of Representatives will be subject to the conditions above, with the house scheduled to first meet on 22 July 2025. Based on this, the house will expire on 21 July 2028, 10 days after that is 31 July 2028 and 27 days after that is 27 August 2028, and 31 days after that is Wednesday 27 September 2028. Given the fixed Saturday polling day the latest ''possible'' date for a house only election is Saturday 23 September 2028.

A double dissolution (a deadlock-breaking provision to dissolve both houses of parliament) cannot be called within six months before the date of the expiry of the House of Representatives. That means that any double dissolution of the 48th Parliament would have had to be granted by Friday 21 January 2028. Allowing for the same stages indicated above, the last ''possible'' date for a double dissolution election would be 18 March 2028. This can only occur if a bill that passes the House of Representatives is rejected by the Senate twice, at least three months apart.

Candidates

Potential

Nominations will not open until the election is formally called, but some individuals have made public announcements of their intention to run.

Retiring members

Other

*Senator Ralph Babet ( United Australia Party) – retiring due to party deregistration.

Opinion polling

Notes

References

{{Parliament of Australia

Federal
Federal elections in Australia