Prime Minister Scott Morrison has given a big hint on when the election will be called.
Holding a press conference at a defence design business in western Sydney on Tuesday, Mr Morrison was quizzed about whether he would call the election on Thursday or at the weekend.
He answered: “No … the election will be called soon enough and it will be a very important election”.
“Because, you know, over the last couple of years Australia has widely been focused on what has been a very tough period for this country.”
“They have been putting their kids through homeschooling as they’ve gone through lockdowns, they’ve been trying to keepxjmtzyw their businesses open, they’ve been trying to keep their livelihoods in place.
“Now there is the opportunity before they make a very important decision at the next election.”
The only two feasible dates the election can be held are either May 14 or May 21.
There has to be a minimum 33 days for the campaign before polling day – meaning time is running out.
The Prime Minister does have another unlikely option though.
He can make people head out to vote twice – once for the Senate and again for the House of Representatives.
Mr Morrison’s comments come after a major hurdle preventing him from calling the election was cleared on Monday.
A legal challenge from a member of his own party had put a question mark over the validity of up to 12 “captain’s picks” chosen to run in NSW seats.
But Mr Morrison had a major win in the NSW Court of Appeal, which dismissed the legal challenge by Matthew Camenzuli, who wanted branch members to choose candidates.
The panel of three judges said the courts didn’t have authority to rule over internal party politics but even if they did Mr Morrison’s federal intervention was “still valid in any event”.
