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Federal Election Announcement And Polling Dates Since 1966

May 08, 2016

The table on this page shows the announcement dates, polling dates, and the number of campaign days for each federal election over the past 50 years.

Many elections, including the one announced today by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, are preceded by rumours about the date but the only fair comparison of the length of an election campaign is to compare the length of time between the official announcement of the election and polling day.

Turnbull has initiated the longest official election campaign since 1984. It is 55 days (seven weeks and six days) until July 2. In 1984, Bob Hawke’s campaign was 54 days long. It was 53 days in 1972. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Election Dates, Election Timetable Tagged With: ,

Double Disappointment Day: Greens React To Election Announcement

May 08, 2016

The Australian Greens have reacted to the July 2 double dissolution election announcement, describing it as a “double disappointment” for Australians.

The Greens says the public deserves better than it is getting from both the Coalition and the ALP.

They say: “Both the Liberals and Labor support new coal mines. They both support detaining innocent people in hellish camps offshore. They both lack the courage to clean up our democracy. They’re a double disappointment and this double dissolution election is an opportunity for voters to demand better.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Federal Election, Greens Tagged With:

Shorten’s Response To July 2 Election Announcement: “We Have Positive Plans”

May 08, 2016

The Leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten, has responded to the Prime Minister’s announcement of a July 2 double dissolution election.

Shorten said Australians have “a clear choice” at the election. “A choice between Labor’s positive plans for the future, and three more years of dysfunction, of dithering and of disappointment.”

Speaking in Launceston, Tasmania, Shorten empasised Labor’s “positive plans”. He said he would fight the election on schools and education, as well as health, hospitals and Medicare. “I will fight this election for real action on climate change,” he said. “I will fight this election to help create a vibrant economy, growing jobs, with reasonable conditions, and security for all.” [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Federal Election, A.L.P., Audio, Turnbull, Video Tagged With: ,

Malcolm Turnbull Formally Announces July 2 Double Dissolution Election

May 08, 2016

The Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, has formally announced a double dissolution election for July 2.

Turnbull

Turnbull made the announcement in Parliament House at 2.30pm, following his visit to the Governor-General at 1.00pm to formally advise the election.

The election will be Australia’s seventh double dissolution election. The last was in 1987, also the only other time an election has been held in July. All of the 150 seats in the House of Representatives and 76 Senate positions will be up for election.

In his announcement, Turnbull emphasised his government’s policies on science, technology and innovation, as well as policies designed to stimulate employment. He said the election offered a choice, “to stay the course” for jobs and growth, or go back to Labor and “stop the transition to the new economy economy dead in its tracks”. [Read more…]

Filed Under: 2016 Federal Election, A.L.P., Audio, Double Dissolutions, Governor-General, Liberal Party, Turnbull, Video Tagged With:
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