It used to be that the ability to call an election was one of the great benefits of incumbency for a prime minister. But for Scott Morrison — much like John Howard in 2007 — it doesn’t matter a whole lot if you’re a deeply unpopular leader and have to wait as long as possible before going to the polls in the hope the opposition implodes, voters change their minds or something, anything, turns up.
Morrison has now called the election for May 21, after being under growing pressure to put us all out of our misery — something he’s been unable to do because of the all-in brawl he himself started in the NSW Liberal Party, and because each day this week has brought forth yet another critic on his own side to call him a liar, a bully or a racist. Finally the weekend has provided some clear air for the trip to Yarralumla. But Morrison still has nearly two weeks for the NSW Liberal Party to get its act together.
This is the timetable now officially approved by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s representative for us to follow:
- Morrison asks the governor-general to dissolve Parliament. That’s now done.
- Dissolution — parliament (as in, both the House and the Senate) will be prorogued from 9.29 tomorrow morning (Monday) and the House of Representatives will be dissolved at 9.30am. That gives plenty of time for some more government decisions about spending money and making appointments.
- Writs for the election will be issued tomorrow April 11 for the House of Representatives, while the Governor-General will write to state governors proposing a half-senate election for each state.
- Electoral rolls will close on April 18.
- Nomination for seats and the half-Senate election will close on April 21 — giving both parties 11 days to finalise their picks.
- Then polling day on May 21.
So looking forward to this election!
I am not convinced that the voters will get it right this time, after 2019 you have to wonder if a large number of voters are paying attention to the disaster that is the modern liberal party. Remember it’s not just Morrison, have a look at the rest of them.
I think you are wrong at Step 5.
The Constitution is silent on nomination periods. It would be the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1917 which describes the time allowed for nominations. There have been many verisons of this, some even dating back to when everything was in black and white, people drove horses everywhere and men always wore hats, but it is generally updated at least once in each Parliament. There has been much tinkering and fine-tuning.
no matter how much ScoMo twists and turns, there will be electoral judgement this year and soon!
Don’t be too optimistic – ‘electoral‘ & ‘judgment‘ should never be used in the same sentence re the average, unengaged, uncomprehending and feckless voter.
Ponder the large percentage of ‘undecideds’.
What sort of person goes into a voting station still making up, what is laughably called, their mind?
For some/too many that is the norm and no-one seems bothered by it – indeed it is encouraged and it is that 10% who shift elections which is so frantically courted by B1 & B2 with bribes, threats & flattery.
No one should be too confident FauxMo of losing the election this time ’round. One thing friendlyjordies said in his last video is, when the punters have banked heavily on large home loans and there’s even a suggestion of a higher interest rate under Labor (the lie pushed by Sky News/Murdoch rags incessantly), they’ll vote Liberals in spite of other factors such as the environment, health care, public services, etc. The Liberals have insinuated that Labor = higher interest rates and that’ll make you homeless when those rates go up and you can no longer afford your home loan repayments. I’m paraphrasing but the idea is in his video.
Good point but judging by reports from Reserve Bank, interest rates are going to rise, no matter who wins the election.