How often are federal elections held in Australia?
Federal elections in Australia are held at least every three years. The House of Representatives has a maximum term of three years, while senators serve six-year terms, with half the Senate usually elected at each election.
The three-year term is counted from the first sitting of the new parliament, so elections can be held slightly more than three years after the previous one. In practice, they are usually held every two and a half to three years.
The Prime Minister chooses the election date and asks the Governor-General to dissolve the House of Representatives. Australia does not have fixed election dates at the federal level.
Double dissolutions
In certain situations, the Governor-General can dissolve both houses of parliament at once, calling a double dissolution election. This happens when the Senate repeatedly rejects legislation passed by the House of Representatives.
At a double dissolution, all Senate seats are contested. The most recent double dissolution election was held in 2016.
State and territory elections are separate and follow their own schedules. Most states have fixed four-year terms. Elections are run by the Australian Electoral Commission, an independent body.