Government shoots down idea of holding two elections in 2019

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison has shot down the idea that voters could be forced to vote in two federal elections next year.

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison has shot down the idea that voters could be forced to vote in two federal elections next year.

“The government has no plans for a dual election. The election is due next year,” a spokesman for the Prime Minister said.

The response followed a report from Fairfax Media this morning saying some government MPs were open to the radical option of holding an election for the Senate alone early in 2019, and then a separate one for the House of Representatives later.

Under that scenario, Mr Morrison would have more time to shore up his support, and could conceivably delay voters’ judgement until November 2.

Split elections were fairly common throughout the late 1960s. Since the 1970s politicians have avoided them, assuming voters would hate being asked to traipse to the polls too frequently.

The most likely option remains a normal election in May. That is the last month it could be held for both the House and Senate at the same time.

The Prime Minister has repeatedly shot down suggestions an early election could be held late this year, or in March. The thinking there is it would conflict with the state elections in Victoria and NSW.

Australians could be forgiven for thinking they were already in the midst of an election campaign.

Mr Morrison is currently spending the week touring marginal seats in Queensland on a bus bearing his face.

Seeing double. Picture: AAP

Yesterday, when he was asked whether the four-day tour was a quasi-campaign, Mr Morrison replied: “This is me doing what I do. I’m out, I’m listening, I’m hearing and I’m doing. That’s what I’m doing as Prime Minister.”

He is scheduled to visit the Sunshine Coast today, while Labor leader Bill Shorten attends the Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington.

Reaction to the double election idea could probably be summed up as a collective groan of horror.

“Heaven help us,” Sky News host Kieran Gilbert said this morning.

Channel 9’s Karl Stefanovic was downright scathing.

“I don’t even want to go to the polls once. I am that upset with the way this country is being run, I don’t want to have to go the polls twice,” Stefanovic said.

“I just can’t tell you how disturbed I am about the way we are being run at the moment. And the thought of going — trying to get a park outside a state school on another Saturday when there’s kids’ sport and there’s all this stuff to do that’s real — I just want them to run their thing and go to the polls once. That’s it. I’m very, very upset this morning.”

Voters may be heading to the polls TWICE next year! We would vote for the Senate earlier than the House of Representatives, giving the government time to deliver a federal budget and rebuild its stocks with voters. Would you be happy to vote twice? #9Today pic.twitter.com/ydqsmmOoRp

— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) November 5, 2018

Stefanovic’s co-host Georgie Gardner was more open to the idea, saying it could give Mr Morrison more time to deliver on his promises.

“I reckon a lot of people want to see a full term. People want to see these promises actually put into action. We feel like we’re constantly in campaign mode. So I think you might find there are some people who are in favour of this.”

While on the subject of Mr Morrison, Today also took a dig at the videos he had been posting on social media during his Queensland trip.

“I don’t post things of myself on social media, because I’m a bit dorky,” guest and 2GB radio host Ray Hadley said.

“In the scale of 1-10, I’m an eight dorky and he’s a nine dorky. He just shouldn’t do it. I mean he’s a good bloke. We’ve had our differences but he’s a good bloke. It’s just not his go.”

He was mainly referring to this video of Mr Morrison thanking surf legend Mick Fanning’s mum for a hat.

My thank you message to @Mick_Fanning's mum. pic.twitter.com/zpWa5CAYhy

— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) November 5, 2018