when is the next federal election in australia

The next Australian federal election must be held by May 2025, but the exact polling date has not yet been officially confirmed, though it is widely expected to fall sometime between March and May 2025.

Key timing details

• Federal elections are held at least every three years, so a new election is due in 2025 following the last one in May 2022.

• Commentators and political staffers have suggested likely dates in April or May 2025, but these remain speculative until the Prime Minister formally advises the Governor‑General and the writs are issued.

• Once writs are issued, the law requires a minimum campaign period (just over a month), and polling day must be on a Saturday.

What “must be held by May 2025” means

• The government controls the exact date within the constitutional and legislative limits, so there is no fixed day set years in advance for federal polls (unlike some state elections).

• The phrase “has to be held by May 17” used in media explainers reflects these legal limits on maximum parliamentary terms and election timetables, not an officially locked‑in election day.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.