Federal Election date 2022: Scott Morrison drops big hint on date Australians will head to the polls
Scott Morrison has dropped a major clue as to the date Australians will be heading to the polls for the 2022 Federal Election.
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Scott Morrison appears to have let the cat out of the bag that the election will be called on May 14 during a rapid fire question and answer session to sell the budget.
The Prime Minister let the date slip during an interview with 2GB radio host Ben Fordham this morning.
As he was grilled by the host over an outburst by Liberal Senator Concetta Fiervanti-Wells that he was “unfit” to be re-elected Prime Minister, he was hit with a question of when he will call the election.
“You calling an election this weekend?,’’ he was asked.
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The Prime Minister responded: “The election will be in mid May.”
Despite the fact Fordham responded “you’re not answering the question”, there’s only three dates in May that the Prime Minister can call an election: May 7, 14 and 21 and only one of them is mid May.
“When the election is called, everybody will know we’re not far away now,’’ the Prime Minister said.
Labor strategists expect him to call the election next week for mid May with election officials also booking out regional halls in preparation for voting.
According to Australian law, there needs to be at least 33 days between an election being called and the day of the poll.
This meant the latest day Mr Morrison could have asked the Governor-General to call the election was April 18.
Australia’s federal government is voted in for three-year terms, which means the latest possible date for the election to take place was Saturday May 21, 2022.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison starts the election race as the underdog, behind in the polls and with Labor retaining a two-party preferred lead of 55-45.
Labor starts the campaign on 69 seats and needs to win a net seven seats to elect a Speaker and form a government.
The Coalition holds 76 seats and it needs to hold its own seats and gain some seats to balance out any Labor wins if it is to retain government.
Originally published as Federal Election date 2022: Scott Morrison drops big hint on date Australians will head to the polls
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