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how often are state elections held in australia

State elections in Australia are generally held every four years in each state and territory, but the exact date and some details vary by jurisdiction.

How often state elections occur

  • All Australian states and the Northern Territory have fixed four‑year terms for their parliaments, meaning voters usually go to the polls once every four years.
  • The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) also has four‑year terms for its Legislative Assembly, so ACT “state‑level” elections are held every four years.

When elections are held by state

Each state sets its own fixed election day within the four‑year cycle. For example:

  • New South Wales : Fourth Saturday in March every four years.
  • Victoria : Last Saturday in November every four years.
  • Queensland : Every four years on the last Saturday in October.
  • Western Australia : General state elections on the second Saturday in March every four years.
  • South Australia : Every four years on the third Saturday in March.

Key exceptions and nuances

  • Tasmania and Northern Territory also operate on four‑year cycles, but exact dates can shift slightly if the government is called early (though fixed‑term rules now largely prevent this).
  • In a few places, by‑elections or early elections can occur if a parliament is dissolved before the full four‑year term, though this is rare under current fixed‑term laws.

Snapshot table: how often and roughly when

Jurisdiction| Term length| Typical election month| Notes
---|---|---|---
New South Wales| 4 years| March| Fourth Saturday in March every 4 years. 39
Victoria| 4 years| November| Last Saturday in November every 4 years. 7
Queensland| 4 years| October| Last Saturday in October every 4 years. 1
Western Australia| 4 years| March| Second Saturday in March every 4 years. 5
South Australia| 4 years| March| Third Saturday in March every 4 years. 9
Tasmania| 4 years| –| Fixed‑term, but specific month varies by act. 1
Northern Territory| 4 years| –| Fixed‑term; exact date set by law. 1
ACT| 4 years| October| Third Saturday in October (Legislative Assembly). 1

In short, if you live in any Australian state or territory, you can expect a state/territory election roughly every four years , on a date set by your local electoral law.