Discussion: Is the Government...

...going to announce the election date? I have my life to try and organise, not least of which involves a rogaine on May 11, NSW champs on the 18th, WA MTBO on the 25th and WA has a long weekend on June 1 (with associated double headers for me in both MTB and orienteering, one on the 1st and 2nd, the other on the 2nd and 3rd). I may have to once again make a decision between work and sport. Shame I never have anything on during the week.

Hard to start a culture war when your budget papers are on the other side of the culture divide.

It can no longer be the 11th. 18th or the 25th are the realistic options.

One somewhat mischievous suggestion I heard yesterday is that, since State Governors are legally responsible for Senate election writs, if the Government doesn't pull its finger out soon then one or more Labor Premiers might just advise their Governors to issue writs for a Senate election in their states on the 18th. (I doubt this would actually happen, not least because it would invite retaliation next time).

So what happens if the PM doesn't visit the GG in time for the 25th?

It would be no great surprise to have a Federal election on a WA long weekend (1-3 June). It has happened before.

Not sure what happens since the Senate won't have actually expired, just that there won't be enough time to count the votes in time for a new one to be sworn in. (If the House goes its statutory 3 years without being dissolved, I think the GG can, and would, call an election of his own accord; note that the 3 years starts from the date the new House first sits, not election day, so it runs out in late August - the talk of a "November" House election combines this with the maximum legally possible campaign length).