Morrison Government hints at May election after announcing early Budget

A shock March Budget has fired the starter’s gun for when the next federal election will be held. Find out when Australians will be heading to the polls.

Australians are more likely to be heading to the polls in early May, after the Federal Government revealed it would hand down a Budget in March.

It has been 14 years since an Australian prime minister made it through a whole term of Parliament without being removed and replaced by their own party.

Queensland will become a battleground between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition leader Anthony Albanese, with the state remaining vital in determining who gets the keys to the lodge.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Picture: Martin Ollman

Labor accused the government of avoiding scrutiny and “giving up”, with just parliament potentially sitting for as few as 10 sittings days from the end of this week until August 9.

A very early federal Budget, almost two months sooner than usual, will be held on March 29, next year’s parliamentary calendar revealed.

It makes a May 7, 14 or 21 election day more likely.

Mr Morrison has been promising he would be a “full-termed” since October 2020.

There had been speculation that the election would be called for either March or May, with the latest date allowed May 21.

At least 33 days must pass between the issuing of writs and the poll being held, which increases the likelihood of an early May election off the back of a March 29 Budget.

It is still possible for Mr Morrison to call an earlier election if he chooses.

Labor frontbench MP Tony Burke said there were just seven days set down for sitting days in February and three days in March, including Budget week.

Opposition leader Anthony Albanese. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

“I admit 10 sitting days is enough for the government to get through its whole agenda, but in terms of scrutiny … this is a calendar for a government that wants to hide from scrutiny,” he said.

“If there was ever an active moment that the government gave up, this is it.”

The earliest an election could have been held was August 7, this year, while the latest in May 21, next year.

Mr Morrison is now set to be the first Australian Prime Minister to go full-term, without being removed by his own party, since John Howard in 2007.