During my lifetime there have been six election days shared by two states:

  • On 14 February 1953, New South Wales and Western Australia went to the polls together.
  • On 3 March 1956, New South Wales and South Australia went to the polls.
  • On 3 March 1962, NSW and SA went together again.
  • On 30 May 1970, Victoria and South Australia went to the polls together.
  • On 8 February 1986, Western Australia and Tasmania went to the polls together.

That we needed to wait from 8 February 1986 until 18 March 2006 for the
next simultaneous state election is another way of saying that
parliamentary terms have been lengthened. It is now less likely that
two polls will be held together.

So it will be a long time before the Antony Greens and Malcolm
Mackerrases of this world must again make a choice. For what it is
worth, this time Green chose Hobart while I chose Adelaide.