Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull begins campaign-style visit to South Australia

PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull says the Federal Government is still “working towards’’ a May 10 budget and the federal election will be held in the second part of this year.

Turnbull in Adelaide

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PRIME Minister Malcolm Turnbull says the Federal Government is still “working towards’’ a May 10 budget and the federal election will be held in the second part of this year.

The Government is considering bringing forward the budget a week to enable a July double dissolution election to be called.

Speaking at a childcare centre in Plympton this morning, Mr Turnbull did not rule out changing the date of the budget and said he expected public speculation about the timing of the election to continue.

“As far as the budget is concerned, the budget is set down for the 10th of May and that’s what we’re working towards,’’ the Prime Minister said.

“The election will be held in the second part of the year, the latter part of the year. That’s righr, that is clear.

“I know you’ll try to read some tea leaves in here but I’m not going to give you the election date.’’

On Tuesday, as he began a three-day campaign-style trip to South Australia, Mr Turnbull also failed to quell speculation the Budget could be delivered a week earlier than the scheduled date of May 10.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at a Plympton childcare centre with Simon Birmingham and Matt Williams. Photo Naomi Jellicoe

The deadline for a July double dissolution election to be called is May 11.

If Mr Turnbull calls a double dissolution election poll, voters will face an unusually long formal election campaign of at least seven-and-a-half weeks.

Asked yesterday about whether Budget day would be changed, Mr Turnbull simply said: “The Budget will be delivered in May.’’

Mr Turnbull had previously said that an election was most likely to be held in August, September of October.

Assistant Treasurer Kelly O’Dwyer conceded on Tuesday it was possible the Budget would be brought forward to allow an early poll.

“In circumstances where there’s a different election timetable, obviously there are consequences that flow from that,’’ Ms O’Dwyer told ABC radio.

“I’m not aware that there is any different election timetable. We are getting on with governing.”

Delivering the Budget on May 3 would give the Government time to ensure its controversial Bill to re-establish the Australian Building and Construction Commission becomes a double dissolution trigger.

Government ministers have told The Advertiser that they are ready for an election to be called for July 2.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Minister for Industry Christopher Pyne, State Opposition Leader Steven Marshall and Minister for Defence Marise Payne at the SA Defence hub announcement. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said Mr Turnbull was more focused on election timing than the issues that mattered most to Australians, such as jobs.

“Before he was leader he said one thing and now he’s become Prime Minister, he’s doing something else, but it seems that the only decision which is keeping him up at night is when can he call an election to best suit Malcolm Turnbull,’’ Mr Shorten said.

A Newspoll published in The Australian newspaper yesterday found that the Coalition and Labor were locked in a dead heat, with both recording 50 per cent support on a two-party-preferred basis.

Under the constitution, the last possible date for a double dissolution this year is July 16.

Senators are usually elected to six-year terms, but if a double dissolution is called, all Senate seats will be up for grabs.

SA Labor is expected to open nominations for its Senate ticket during the next few weeks.

The SA Liberals preselected a team for a half-Senate election last year and could be forced to reopen nominations if a double dissolution is announced.

Mr Turnbull used the first day of his SA visit to announce the creation of a $230 million defence industry centre, preside over a Cabinet meeting and attend an International Women’s Day event.

He also added another layer to #oniongate yesterday, but unlike his predecessor Tony Abbott, Mr Turnbull wasn’t biting.

Onions Australia chief executive Lechelle Earl presented Mr Turnbull with a basket of premium South Australian red, white and brown onions at the International Women’s Day Afternoon Tea at Ernst & Young Lawyers.

“He graciously accepted the basket, but made a quip that he doesn’t really like truffles. I told him he didn’t have to eat an onion now and he laughed,” Ms Earl said.

On March 13 last year, former prime minister Tony Abbott ate a raw onion while touring an onion farm in Tasmania.

A week later in Canberra, Ms Earl presented him with a sweet potato, feta and caramelised onion quiche a 5kg of red and brown Australian onions, local Canberra onion relish, onion marmalade and some crackers.

While he loved the quiche, crackers and relish, he was clearly only interested in the onions, taking a bite into his second raw onion in a week.