At the previous election in May 2022, the Labor Party, led by Anthony Albanese, formed government after nine years in opposition, winning 77 seats in the House of Representatives, enough for a two-seat majority. The Liberal–NationalCoalition that had previously governed won only 58 seats and went into opposition. Meanwhile, the crossbench, made up of other parties and independents, expanded to 16 seats; four held by the Greens, one each by Centre Alliance and Katter's Australian Party and the remaining 10 by independents.[1]
In the Senate, Labor made no gains and remained steady at 26 seats overall, whilst the Coalition lost four seats and retained only 32 seats. The Greens made gains and increased their share of seats to 12. One Nation also remained steady at 2 seats, Centre Alliance and Rex Patrick Team each lost their sole Senate seat, while the Jacqui Lambie Network gained a second seat. David Pocock was also elected as an independent Senator, while the United Australia Party also gained a Senate seat. This meant Labor required 13 additional votes to pass legislation.[2]
The 47th Parliament opened on 26 July 2022. The Liberal Party entered the parliament with a new leader, with former defence and home affairs minister Peter Dutton replacing the outgoing prime minister Scott Morrison.[3]
On 23 December 2022, Nationals MP for CalareAndrew Gee left the party and became an Independent, following the party's decision to publicly oppose an Indigenous Voice to Parliament. This meant that the Crossbench increased to 17 seats with the Coalition decreasing to 57 seats.[4]
On 16 January 2023, Liberal senator Jim Molan died; he was replaced by Maria Kovacic in May that year.
On 1 April 2023, Labor's Mary Doyle won the 2023 Aston by-election following the resignation of sitting Liberal MP Alan Tudge. The result was considered a major upset and marked the first time that an incumbent government had won a seat from the Opposition since the 1920 Kalgoorlie by-election.[5] As a result, Labor increased their number of seats in the House of Representatives to 78, while the Coalition decreased to 56.
On 15 June 2023, Liberal senator David Van was expelled from the party following sexual misconduct allegations by former LNP senator Amanda Stoker and Independent senator Lidia Thorpe, continuing his term as an independent. On 14 November 2023, following a party preselection defeat, Liberal MP Russell Broadbent left the party to sit on the crossbench.[7] November also saw Dave Sharma return to parliament, this time as a Liberal Senator, after the resignation of party veteran Marise Payne.[8][9]
On 4 December 2023, Labor MP Peta Murphy died of cancer, reducing Labor to 77 seats, though the party's share was restored to 78 seats on 2 March 2024, when candidate Jodie Belyea retained the seat of Dunkley at the by-election. Similarly the Liberal Party fell by one seat on 28 February 2024, when former prime minister and MP Scott Morrison resigned from the seat of Cook, though Liberal candidate Simon Kennedy retained the seat for the party at the 2024 Cook by-election.
Labor senator Pat Dodson resigned from the Senate in January 2024 while undergoing cancer treatment; his vacancy was filled by Varun Ghosh. Labor senator Linda White died in March 2024 and was replaced by Lisa Darmanin, while Greens senator Janet Rice resigned the following month and was replaced by Steph Hodgins-May. Party-compositional changes occurred when Tasmanian senator Tammy Tyrrell quit the Jacqui Lambie Network to sit as an independent on 28 March 2024, and Labor senator Fatima Payman left the party and joined the crossbench as an independent in July 2024, citing disagreement with the party's position concerning the Israel-Gaza conflict. Three months later Payman established Australia's Voice party, stating she intended the party to field candidates in both houses of parliament at this election. The Senate composition changed once again on 25 August 2024 when LNP senator Gerard Rennick resigned from the party and moved to the crossbench to sit as an independent following a preselection defeat. Like Payman, he too announced his intention to establish a political party, named the People First Party, in order to have his name featured above the line on the election ballot paper.[10] On 28 January 2025, Liberal senator Simon Birmingham resigned from parliament. The following week, on 6 February 2025, Leah Blyth was appointed to the Senate as his replacement.
Two lower house seats were left vacant prior to the election. Liberal National MP Keith Pitt, who sat in the Nationals party-room, resigned from the seat of Hinkler on 19 January 2025, and the following day Labor MP Bill Shorten departed from the seat of Maribyrnong. With their resignations occurring sufficiently close to the federal election, by-elections were not held.
As of March 2025, both major parties have retained their leaders throughout the duration of the 47th Parliament, with Anthony Albanese expected to have served one full term as Prime Minister and a second consecutive term as leader of the Labor Party, while Peter Dutton is on track to complete his first full term as Opposition Leader and leader of the Liberal Party. The Albanese ministry was reshuffled in July 2024, followed by a minor reshuffle in January 2025, while the shadow ministry of Peter Dutton was reshuffled in April 2023, March 2024, and January 2025.
The 2023 Australian Indigenous Voice referendum featured prominently in political discourse during the first half of the parliamentary term. First proposed in the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart, an Indigenous Voice to Parliament was supported by the Labor Party as part of its 2022 election platform. The 'Yes' campaign in support of the Voice initially attracted some bipartisan support, including Coalition figures such as the aforementioned Andrew Gee, former Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt, and then-Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians Julian Leeser.[11] However, the National Party came out against the Voice in November 2022, as did the Liberal Party in April 2023. Newly elected Country Liberal Party Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who succeeded Leeser as Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians, took on a prominent role in the 'No' campaign.[12] In August 2023, Albanese announced the referendum would be held on 14 October 2023. 60% of voters, including a majority in all six states, voted against the proposed constitutional changes.
The death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, the long-serving head of state of Australia and other Commonwealth realms, took place in September 2022, followed by the coronation of Charles III and Camilla in May 2023. Charles visited Australia in October 2024, the first visit by a ruling monarch since 2011. Independent Senator Lidia Thorpe, who had resigned from the Greens in February 2023 over disagreements regarding the proposed Voice to Parliament, attracted significant media attention for shouting at Charles during an event at Parliament House in Canberra.[13]
Israel–Hamas war protests in Australia began in October 2023; responses to the war, particularly among local Jewish and Muslim communities, were perceived as a significant threat to peaceful discourse in Australia. Incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia also increased, prompting the government to appoint three "special envoys": in July 2024, Jillian Segal as Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, and Labor MP Peter Khalil as Special Envoy for Social Cohesion; and in September 2024, Aftab Malik as Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia.[14][15]
Climate change also remained a prominent issue, partly due to the impact of natural disasters, including the 2022 south eastern Australia floods and the 2023–24 Australian bushfire season, which led to seven deaths and ten deaths respectively, as well as Cyclone Jasper and Cyclone Alfred, which caused significant property damage on the eastern coast in December 2023 and March 2025 respectively.
Senators are elected by single transferable vote and proportional representation. In states senators are elected from state-wide twelve-member districts (although in most cases only six seats are contested at a single election), and in territories from territory-wide two-member districts.
Ballots are counted at least twice, at the polling place and, starting Monday night after election day, at counting centres.[18][19]
The Australian Electoral Commission is required, one year after the first sitting day for a new House of Representatives, to determine the number of members to which each State and Territory is entitled. If the number in any state changes, a redistribution will be required in those states. A redistribution will be postponed if it would begin within one year of the expiration of the House of Representatives.
The apportionment determination was made in July 2023 based on the population figures for December 2022. The determination resulted in a reduction of one seat in New South Wales to 46, a reduction of one seat in Victoria to 38 and an increase of one seat in Western Australia to 16. The total number of seats in the House of Representatives will decrease from 151 to 150 at the 2025 federal election.[20]
In May and June 2024, the Australian Electoral Commission released its draft proposals for electorate changes, recommending the creation of the Division of Bullwinkel (Western Australia) in the outer eastern suburbs of Perth, and the abolition of the Division of Higgins (Victoria) in Melbourne's inner south-east (held by Labor's Michelle Ananda-Rajah) and the Division of North Sydney (New South Wales) in Sydney's inner north-east (held by teal independentKylea Tink).[21] In addition, the commission proposed altering the boundaries of several seats in all three states.
The Western Australia and Victoria-based changes were confirmed by the commission on 5 September 2024,[22][23] with the new boundaries gazetted on 24 September[24] and 17 October[25] respectively. The New South Wales changes were confirmed on 12 September[26] and were gazetted on 10 October 2024.[27] According to Antony Green, some of the more significant changes to existing electorates included: the Division of Hasluck, losing much of its area to the new seat of Bullwinkel and shifting westwards into Perth's northeastern suburbs;[28] in Melbourne, the Divisions of Melbourne and Wills moving to the south, and the Divisions of Chisholm and Menzies moving westwards;[29] the Division of Riverina shifting south-east and losing the towns of Parkes and Forbes; and the Division of Hume losing the majority of its area in the south, including the city of Goulburn.[30] There was also a small adjustment to the Northern Territory's two federal electorates, with the Division of Solomon gaining some of the eastern suburbs of Palmerston from the Division of Lingiari.[31]
A redistribution was due in Tasmania in November 2024, due to it being seven years since the day of the last determination in the state, however this was deferred as it would occur within one year of the expiration of the House of Representatives. The redistribution will instead commence within 30 days after the first sitting day of the new House of Representatives in the 48th Parliament.[32]
Voter registration
Enrolment of eligible voters is compulsory. Voters must notify the AEC within 8 weeks of a change of address or after turning 18. The electoral rolls are closed for new enrolments or update of details about a week after the issue of writs for election.[33] Enrolment is optional for 16 or 17-year-olds, but they cannot vote until they turn 18,[34] and persons who have applied for Australian citizenship may also apply for provisional enrolment which takes effect on the granting of citizenship.[35]
The constitutional and legal provisions which impact on the choice of election dates include:[36][37]
Section 12 of the Constitution says: "The Governor of any State may cause writs to be issued for the election of Senators for that State."[38]
Section 13 of the Constitution provides that the election of senators shall be held in the period of twelve months before the places become vacant.[39]
Section 28 of the Constitution says: "Every House of Representatives shall continue for three years from the first sitting of the House, and no longer, but may be sooner dissolved by the Governor-General."[40] Since the 47th Parliament of Australia opened on 26 July 2022, it will expire on 25 July 2025.
Section 32 of the Constitution says: "The writs shall be issued within ten days from the expiry of a House of Representatives or from the proclamation of a dissolution thereof."[41] Ten days after 25 July 2025 is 4 August 2025.
Section 156(1) of the CEA says: "The date fixed for the nomination of the candidates shall not be less than 10 days nor more than 27 days after the date of the writ."[42] Twenty-seven days after 4 August 2025 is 31 August 2025.
Section 157 of the CEA says: "The date fixed for the polling shall not be less than 23 days nor more than 31 days after the date of nomination."[43] Thirty-one days after 31 August 2025 is 1 October 2025, a Wednesday.
Section 158 of the CEA says: "The day fixed for the polling shall be a Saturday."[44] The Saturday before 1 October 2025 is 27 September 2025, which was the latest possible date for the lower house election.
The election of senators must take place within one year before the terms expire for half-Senate elections,[39] so that the writs for a half-Senate election could not be issued earlier than 1 July 2024. Since campaigns are for a minimum of 33 days, the earliest possible date for a simultaneous House/half-Senate election was Saturday, 3 August 2024.[45] The latest that a half-Senate election could be held must allow time for the votes to be counted and the writs to be returned before the newly elected senators take office on 1 July 2025. The previous election's writs were returned on 24 June 2022, 34 days after the 2022 federal election.[46] Using this time frame, the last possible date for a half-Senate election to take place was Saturday 17 May 2025.[47]
A double dissolution (a deadlock-breaking provision to dissolve both houses of parliament) cannot be called within six months before the date of the expiry of the House of Representatives.[48] That means that any double dissolution of the 47th Parliament would have had to be granted by 24 January 2025. Allowing for the same stages indicated above, the last possible date for a double dissolution election would have been 29 March 2025.[47] This can only occur if a bill that passes the House of Representatives is rejected by the Senate twice, at least three months apart.
Choice of election date
On 5 September 2024, during the announcement by NDIS and government services minister Bill Shorten of his impending retirement from politics, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese suggested that he may schedule the election to be held at a date later than Shorten's departure from Parliament in February 2025, while noting that the election was due by May 2025.[49]
Consideration had to be given to the Western Australian state election scheduled on 8 March 2025. Holding the federal election on that day would require the state election to be rescheduled to the following Saturday.[50] Having the state and federal elections too close to each other was also not desirable. To prevent the campaigns for the state and federal elections from clashing, the federal election would ideally have to be called after the state election. Accounting for the minimum 33 day campaign period, the earliest possible date for the election would then have been 12 April 2025.[51] Calling the election in early March for that date would have required the 2025 Australian federal budget scheduled for 25 March to be postponed to after the election.
Concurrent with increasing media speculation in the first week of March 2025 that Albanese might call the federal election for 12 April,[52] it was forecast that Cyclone Alfred would make a landfall in and impact south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales on or about 8 March (same date as the Western Australian state election). On 7 March, Albanese announced he had ruled out a 12 April election, and his government would deliver the budget on 25 March as scheduled. This was to prevent the need for Albanese to leave the recovery zone for Canberra to call the election, and to also prevent the announcement and start of an election campaign from clashing with dealing with the cyclone and recovery efforts.[53] With the following April Saturdays of 19 April and 26 April coinciding with significant nationwide long weekends, i.e., the Easter and Anzac Day public holidays, holding an election on those days would likely be problematic and unpopular. That left the Saturdays of 3 May, 10 May or 17 May as the only remaining possible dates. Though, out of these, 3 May coincides with a long weekend in Queensland and the Northern Territory for Labour Day and May Day, respectively.
Ahead of the 2025 federal budget, there was speculation that Albanese would call the election either on the Friday or Sunday following the budget, with potential dates being 3 May or 10 May. This speculation intensified when rumours circulated that Albanese might announce the election as early as Friday 28 March, for one of these dates. On Thursday 27 March, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet accidentally posted, then deleted, a message to social media platform X, referring to the government being in "caretaker mode". This immediately fuelled speculation that the election would be called the very next morning. Several media outlets reported that they expected the election to be called for 3 May.[54][55] As forecast, a 3 May election was called on 28 March, when Albanese visited Governor-GeneralSam Mostyn and advised her to prorogue Parliament and dissolve the House of Representatives,[56] which she did.[57]
Election timeline
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has stated that in accordance with the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, the key dates for this election are as follows:[58][59][60]
Declaration of nominations — 12pm, Friday 11 April
Early voting opens — Tuesday 22 April
Mobile voting opens — Tuesday 22 April
Close of postal voting applications — 6pm, Wednesday 30 April
Polling day — Saturday, 3 May
Final day for receipt of postal votes — Friday, 16 May
Latest date for return of writs — Wednesday, 9 July
Campaign
In early January 2025, both Albanese and Dutton made public appearances which were interpreted by the media as "unofficial" campaign launches. Albanese visited electorates in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.[61] Dutton gave a speech in Melbourne where he launched the Liberal party slogan for the campaign, "Let's get Australia back on track", and focused on the topics of nuclear power, housing, and immigration.[62]
On 26 March, Dutton announced a Coalition policy to cut the fuel excise from 50 cents per litre to 25 cents per litre, as opposed to Labor's income tax cuts announced in the budget.[63]
28 March: An election to be held on 3 May is called, when Albanese visited Mostyn and advised her to prorogue Parliament and dissolve the House of Representatives. The Parliament was then prorogued and the House of Representatives was dissolved.[64]
29 March: Albanese and Dutton both campaign in Brisbane. Albanese begins his campaign in Dutton's electorate of Dickson, and Dutton begins in the Division of Brisbane. Two of Dutton's events are disrupted by climate protesters, and a protester heckles Albanese at one of his events.[65]
3 April: Albanese responds to Donald Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariff on Australia's exported goods by unveiling a five-point plan to boost the local economy to counteract the United States' policy.[67]
4 April: Both major parties, Labor and Liberal pledged to return the Port Darwin to Australian ownership if elected.[68]
6 April: The Liberal Party disendorses its candidate for the Division of Whitlam, Benjamin Britton, due to previous disparaging comments he made towards service by women in the military.[69] Dutton also announced a Coalition policy to cap international university student numbers to 240,000 and raise visa prices for students.[70] The Greens called this policy proposal a "cynical attempt to scapegoat migrants and international students".[70] Dutton previously said that this policy proposal aims to get the "woke" out of the university and schooling system.[71]
7 April: The Coalition backflipped on a proposed policy to end work from home arrangements for the public sector workforce and dropped their demands for mass job cuts in the public sector.[72] Also on this day, the stock market falls sharply due to the risk of the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, with treasurer Jim Chalmers stating that Australia is "uniquely placed" to deal with the impacts of these tariffs.[73]
8 April: Albanese was heckled by a climate protester when he was announcing a $1 billion investment boost for Medicare.[74] Also on this day, Sky News and The Daily Telegraph held the first leaders election debate between Labor leader Anthony Albanese and Liberal leader Peter Dutton in a People's Forum. Albanese was declared the winner of the Forum with 44 votes compared to 35 for Dutton, and 21 undecided votes out of a possible 100.[75]
10 April: A debate between the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen and his shadow couterpart Ted O'Brien will take place at the National Press Club. The event will be hosted by Tom Connell of Sky News.[77]
16 April: The ABC will hold a leaders debate between Labor leader Albanese and Liberal leader Dutton.[78]
The seats of Hinkler (Queensland) and Maribyrnong (Victoria) were vacant at the time the federal election was called, following the resignation of Keith Pitt (Nationals) and Bill Shorten (Labor) on 19 and 20 January 2025 respectively. No by-elections were held for the seats owing to their proximity to the general election.[79][80]
↑ In December 2022, Andrew Gee (MP for Calare) left the National Party and became an independent. In April 2023, the Liberal Party lost the seat of Aston to Labor at a by-election. In November 2023, Russell Broadbent (MP for Monash) left the Liberal Party following his preselection loss and sat as an independent. In January 2025, Ian Goodenough (MP for Moore) left the Liberal Party following a preselection loss and sat as an independent. The seat of Hinkler became vacant in January 2025 following the resignation of Keith Pitt.
↑ Though parties registered with the Australian Electoral Commission can field candidates in any division they wish, the Katter's Australian Party usually only fields candidates in certain Queensland divisions. Thus it is impossible for the party to gain a majority in Parliament.
↑ Though parties registered with the Australian Electoral Commission can field candidates in any division they wish, the Centre Alliance party usually only fields candidates in certain South Australian divisions. Thus it is impossible for the party to gain a majority in Parliament.
↑ Includes David Pocock, who was elected on an independent Senate platform for the ACT, however for ballot purposes, he registered an eponymous party for which he was one of 2 candidates.
↑ Kaye, Byron; Menon, Praveen; Mukherjee, Supantha; Chaven-Dreyfuss, Gertrude (29 November 2024). Pal, Alasdair; Paul, Sonali; Babington, Deepa (eds.). "Australia passes social media ban for children under 16". Reuters. Sydney, Stockholm, New York. Archived from the original on 29 November 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2025.
↑ Albanese, Anthony (28 March 2025). "Proclamation"(PDF). Letter to Governor-General Sam Mostyn. Parliament House Canberra ACT: gg.gov.au. MS25-000144. Archived(PDF) from the original on 29 March 2025. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
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