How often are the Australian elections?
| How often do you vote in elections in Australia? The Federal Elections in Australia occur every 3 years. The Australian Parliament consists of a House of Representatives and the Senate. Both of these are voted on every 3 years. Australia is one of the world’s oldest continuous democratic countries. Since 1924, it is also a country (one of only about 20 in the world) where voting in territory, state and federal elections is compulsory for all adults aged 18 and above. Is 3 years apart too short? There is some debate in Australia about whether the elections are held too close together. Interestingly, the overwhelming majority of countries around the world have longer terms, namely every 4 or 5 years. Proponents of the view to have less frequent elections argue that longer terms would lead to many benefits. For example, it would allow governments to make longer term policy decisions and have the time to effectively put them in action, save tax payer money on frequent elections and enhance business and industry confidence among others. What do you think about how often the elections in Australia are? Let us know in the comments section below. |
References:
- Australian Electoral Commission official website, link accessed April, 2022
- “Three-year parliamentary terms are awfully short”, by Heath Pickering, Election Watch, The University of University website, link accessed April, 2022
While we make every possible effort to ensure the details are correct for “How often are the Australian elections?” and use relevant sources, we make no guarantees about any of the information listed and encourage you to do your own research. Timing and dates of elections can vary at times. Given the compulsory nature of voting in Australia, check the relevant official website and legislature to get up to date info about the vote.