When will it happen?

Election called for 9 October 2004

The Prime Minister has called an House of Representatives and half Senate election for 9 October 2004. The key dates for the election follow.

  • Parliament Prorogued (4:59pm 31 August 2004)
  • Dissolution of House of Representatives (5:00pm 31 August 2004)
  • Writs Issued (5:00pm 31 August 2004).
  • Rolls Close (7 September 2004 at 8pm).
  • Nominations Close (at 12 noon on 16 September 2004).
  • Declaration of Nominations (17 September 2004)
  • Polling Day (9 October 2004)
  • Writs Returned (on or before 8 December 2004)
  • Parliament Meets (within 30 days of the return of the writs)

The remainder of this page has material from when the election date was being speculated upon …

The House of Representatives

The Australian Constitution allows the House of Representatives to operate for three years from its first meeting after a federal election. Once three years have elapsed the House expires and another federal election must be held. However, the government can dissolve the House of Representatives at any time and call an earlier election.

The election (which must be held on a Saturday) cannot be held less than 33 days after the expiry or dissolution of the House, and it cannot be held more than 68 days after the expiry or dissolution of the House.

The last general election was held on 10 November 2001 and the current House of Representatives first met on Tuesday 12 February 2002. Therefore, this House will expire on Friday 11 February 2005, and the next election for the House of Representatives must be held on or before 16 April 2005.

The Senate

Unlike the House of Representatives, the Senate is an ongoing body. With the exception of double dissolution elections, half of the members of the Senate are elected every three years for a 6-year term that commences on 1 July.

Half Senate elections are held in the year prior to the 1 July commencement date. The earliest an election can occur is 33 days after the issuing of writs on 1 July for an election. Because it takes time to count the results, the latest an election can be called is late May.

The next six year term commences on 1 July 2005. Therefore the half Senate election must occur on a Saturday between 7 August 2004 and 29 May 2005. The next half Senate election will be held on the same day as the House of Representatives election.

A double dissolution

If there is a legislative deadlock between the House of Representatives and the Senate, the Australian Constitution allows for both houses to be dissolved and an election to be called. However, a double dissolution cannot be called within six months of the expiry of the House.

In the current Parliament there are a number of Bills that have been twice rejected by the Senate. As a consequence, the government had the option to call a double dissolution election.

The last day this could have been initiated was Wednesday 11 August 2004 (6 months before the expiry of the House). The double dissolution election must be held no less than 33 days and no more than 68 after it has been called. Prior to 11 August, the last possible date for a double dissolution election was Saturday 16 October 2004.

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