‘Lock up your babies’: Albo embracing babies confirms election is close

The Prime Minister must call an election before May 17 and the his latest embrace of babies on the hustings confirms an election is not far off.

Lock up your babies, an election approaches.

For years kissing babies was de rigueur on the campaign trail.

Then a little something called Covid arrived and it was masks, gloves, hand sanitiser and social distancing.

Now babies are back and today wide-eyed three-month-old Maisie, was a case in point.

Anthony Albanese was patrolling the perimeter of the Morningside Panthers AFL club during a big childcare announcement on the hunt for pleasing photo opportunities.

Blessedly, Maisie emerged in a Christmas reindeer-themed onesie and proved exactly what Mr Albanese was looking for.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese holds baby Maisie. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

Looking mildly shocked, she was thrust into the arms of the Prime Minister before trying to fall asleep, or at least hide from the camera flashes by burying her face in his shirt. Thousands of Australians who are not looking forward to the election circus can relate.

The 2025 Australian federal election must be held on or before May 17. So when the hell is Mr Albanese going to call it?

And if the he calls an election for March is that really an early election anyway? The next serious window to call an election arrives after Australia Day.

The conventional wisdom is that the election will be held in March, May or April 12.

Why April 12? Australia doesn’t traditionally hold federal elections in April, what with Easter and school holidays.

The Prime Minister at the Morningside Panthers AFL club in Brisbane. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

Since 1901, there’s only been two elections held in April, in 1910 and 1951 respectively.

But the April scenario is all about the looming March 8 WA state election, the state that basically saved the Prime Minister’s bacon in 2022.

Speculation over the election date flared again recently after WA Premier Roger Cook told a business breakfast in Perth that he was seeking legal advice on whether a WA election date change is possible should Mr Albanese choose to call an election at the same time.

Subjecting WA to a dual state and federal election in March sounds wild and potentially dangerous for the PM. That makes a date on either side of the WA election more likely.

He is seen hugging a baby in a reindeer onesie. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

If Mr Albanese calls a federal election for March 8, the same date, the state poll would also need to be pushed back one week. The benefit of a March election is the Prime Minister and his Treasurer don’t have to hand down the March budget as planned which is expected to include some nasty numbers.

The downside of a March election is that it gives the RBA less time to deliver a rate cut.

So for now, the plan is to hit voters with an avalanche of taxpayer-funded ads between now and February, no doubt including the childcare announcement and see what happens. Expect Peter Dutton and the PM to be campaigning over summer.

But it won’t be long before the Prime Minister has to call the election, so keep your eyes on your baby during supermarket walk-throughs.