Albanese Pushes for 4-Year Terms, Limiting Voter Say at the Ballot Box

Albanese remains noncommittal on the timing of the election.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (R) listens to the leader of the Opposition Liberal Party Peter Dutton speak in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Oct. 16, 2023. David Gray/AFP via Getty Images

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reiterated calls for four-year fixed election terms in Australia, a move that would keep incumbents in power longer.

His comments come as speculation grows over when the next federal election will be called. During an interview on March 6, the prime minister avoided directly addressing election timing but emphasised the benefits of extended terms.

“We need four-year fixed terms to provide certainty,” he said on Sky News.

Currently, Australians head to the polls every three years at the federal level, whereas most states and territories hold elections every four years.

Albanese said he was not focussed on votes, but on lives amid the cyclone threatening Queensland and New South Wales.

“I’m focused on Australians and Australians showing our character at this difficult time. That’s my focus,” he said.

Albanese expressed support for four-year terms in January 2024, but at the time said he did not anticipate this happening any time soon.

For the House of Representatives and Senate elections to be held on the same day, the Federal election would need to be held by May 17, 2025.

However, Albanese could still technically delay the House election until September 2025 so long as he holds a Senate election by May 17.

Opposition Response

Opposition leader Peter Dutton said that he did not believe the public would support a referendum to implement four-year terms.

“Australian families who are struggling to pay their bills at the moment want a PM who is focused on them—not one focused on himself and how he can stay in power for longer,” he told the Australian Financial Review last year.

“If the PM is asking for politicians to have greater job security, then why doesn’t he stop the games and just call an election and let the Australian people have their say?”

Dutton also pointed to recent polling that suggests Labor is losing support in key electorates.

“Prices, particularly for energy would skyrocket, and I just don’t think people can afford a Labor-Greens government after the election,” Dutton said on 2GB on March 6.

“The fact is that, as most commentators point out now, or in fact all political commentators, Anthony Albanese can only govern after the election with the support of [Greens leader] Adam Bandt in a power co-sharing arrangement, and that would be a disaster for the economy.”

What Are the Polls Showing?

The Coalition has been leading Labor 50.5 to 49.5 on a two-party preferred basis, according to a recent poll shared by polling expert Kos Samaras.

He noted that Labor is facing difficulties in Victoria, where it is at risk of losing up to eight seats—a major concern for Albanese’s re-election strategy.

A recent YouGov poll released on Feb. 28 showed the Coalition leading Labor 51 to 49. The poll showed Labor had a primary vote of only 28 percent compared to 37 for the Coalition.

Western Australian State Election

While Samaras lamented the implications of the result on the federal election, he is confident Labor will win the 2025 Western Australian state election, to be held on March 8.

“Labor is headed for a win in the WA state election, but the details will be important, particularly in how the results shape the broader political landscape, including potential implications for the federal election,” he said.

“A Liberal Party correction is expected, particularly in Perth’s outer suburbs, with seats like Wanneroo likely to show some above-average movement. However, the margins remain too large for the Liberals to reclaim these areas just yet.”

Labor currently holds a major majority of 53 out of 59 seats, which represents a major barrier for the Liberal Party and Nationals to overcome. While polls show a swing against Labor compared to the previous election, Labor remains on track for a victory.

61 Percent of Public Servants Still WFH

The Coalition recently announced a policy to bring public servants in Canberra back to the office five days a week, rather than working from home.

Dutton said in Canberra, about 61 percent of public servants were still working from home, up from 20 percent before COVID.

“We’ve got a great public service who work hard, but I’m not having a situation where Australians are working harder than ever, and they’re seeing public servants in Canberra turn up to work when they want to, or refusing, in some cases, in many cases, to go back to work when they’re directed to do so,” Dutton said.