Anthony Albanese has announced Australians will head to the polls on 3 May, kicking off a five-week campaign against Peter Dutton for the nation's top job.
With the cost of living crisis at the front of the minds of many Australians and the effects of the Reserve Bank's first interest rate cut in years yet to be fully felt, both major parties are entering the election campaign promoting policies they argue will alleviate financial strain without exacerbating inflation.
In the lead-up to the vote, here are all your questions answered.
When is the federal election?
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has officially announced the date Australians will head to the polls as 3 May.
"Over the last few years, the world has thrown a lot at Australia," he said in a press conference outside Parliament House on Friday, 28 March.
"In uncertain times, we cannot decide the challenges that we face, but we can determine how we respond.
"Now on 3 May, you choose the way forward."
Parliament was dissolved on the same day and the government is now in caretaker mode.
How often do we hold elections?
Every three years, the Australian prime minister will call a federal election.
Because there are no fixed terms or election dates, forecasting when this will happen is a guessing game.
Generally, the prime minister will call an election at a time that's politically advantageous for them.
Elections are held on Saturdays, and candidates need to be given at least 33 days' notice of the poll.
How is a federal election called?
When the prime minister decides to call an election, a few steps need to happen.
First, the prime minister needs to tell the representative of the King, the governor-general, that they wish to call an election.
Then, the governor-general terminates the sitting parliament and dissolves the House of Representatives.
Afterwards, the governor-general instructs the independent electoral body, the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), to conduct an election, which includes setting dates for nominations, electoral rolls, and, of course, election day.
Then, the writs are issued.
Voting is compulsory in Australia, and to cast your vote, you must be registered on the electoral roll. Source: AAP
What are the key election dates?
The federal election will take place on 3 May, with polling booths open from 8am to 6pm. Voting locations are typically set up at local schools, church halls, or community centres.
Voting is mandatory for all Australian citizens aged 18 and over.
Writs will be issued within 10 days of the parliament's dissolution, which took place on 28 March. Enrolment closes seven days after the writs are issued.
How can I enrol to vote?
To enrol to vote, you need to be 18 or older. If you've moved since 2022, remember to update your address as well.
Alternatively, you can enrol in person at your local AEC office or submit an .
The AEC website also provides that may make enrolling more challenging.
How do I know if I'm registered to vote?
Voting is compulsory in Australia. To vote, you must be registered on the electoral roll. . If you're not enrolled, there's still time to do so.
The electoral roll will close seven days after the issue of writs, which must happen within 10 days of the parliament's dissolution.
Which electorate am I in?
When and where should I be voting?
Typically, a majority of Australians will head to a local polling place on election day (3 May) to cast their votes.
However, this is not a requirement, as if you're unable to vote on election day itself, you're welcome to vote in person in the two weeks leading up to the election or via a postal vote.
In fact, in the last federal election in 2022, half of the voters decided to cast their ballots like this,
You can find your local polling place on the AEC website.
How can I vote if I'm away on election day?
If you are not able to head to a polling place in your electorate — for example, if you are travelling or working — on 3 May, you still need to vote.
Early voting centres will open across the country progressively from Tuesday, 22 April. Locations and addresses will become available closer to the early voting period.
You may also be eligible to apply for a postal vote, which means your ballot papers will be sent to you in the mail. You can apply for a postal vote now .
There are a number of options for early voting ahead of the federal election. Source: AAP / Bianca De Marchi
The AEC also offers mobile voting in some locations to cater for people who cannot attend an in-person polling place. This can include people in residential aged care, hospitals, mental health facilities, prisons, homelessness services, and First Nations communities. Mobile voting schedules for the 2025 federal election have not yet been finalised.
What to know about Anthony Albanese, prime minister and Labor leader
As Prime Minister Anthony Albanese makes his case for a second term in office, here's everything you need to know about his life and political career.
Five quick facts about Anthony Albanese
1. He became prime minister in May 2022, as Australia started to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, ending almost a decade of Coalition government.
2. Before securing the top job, he had been in parliament for over a quarter of a century, mostly as a member for the inner-western Sydney seat of Grayndler.
3. Known widely as "Albo", the 61-year-old father-of-one has traditionally aligned himself with Labor's left; however, as prime minister, he has adopted more centrist positions, analysts say.
4. He joined the Labor Party at age 16 and says his working-class roots have shaped his political values.
5. When taking office, Albanese said his government's areas of focus would be the cost of living, bolstering Indigenous rights, and tougher climate action.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said Australians will go to the polls on 3 May. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
What have been some of Anthony Albanese's most challenging moments as PM?
Since taking office, Albanese has had to navigate a complex mix of domestic and international issues — including a cost of living crisis, a worldwide inflation surge, and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
Early in his term, one of his most defining policies was to hold a referendum on whether or not to in Australia's constitution.
After a divisive campaign, . The result devastated many Indigenous Australians and hurt Albanese politically, some analysts argue.
Legislative setbacks, rising interest rates and living costs, as well as concerns over housing affordability, have impacted Albanese's government, while Labor says it has given cost of living relief through tax cuts, energy bill relief and an increase to paid parental leave.
What to know about Peter Dutton, the leader of the Opposition vying to be PM
Peter Dutton is seeking to defy almost 100 years of political history by defeating Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and unseating his first-term government. Here's a rundown of his life and career.
Peter Dutton became the Liberal leader in 2022.
Five quick facts about Peter Dutton
1. He has served as the leader of the Liberal Party since 2022 after it suffered its worst electoral loss since its formation in 1948.
2. He has represented the Queensland seat of Dickson in the Australian House of Representatives since 2001.
3. The 54-year-old has held several significant positions in successive Coalition governments, including stints as the Minister for Home Affairs, Health and Defence.
4. A married father of three, Dutton was a police officer and businessman before entering politics.
5. He is known for his conservative views on issues such as national security, immigration, and law and order.
What did Peter Dutton do before he entered politics?
Before his time in Canberra, Dutton was a small business owner who also had a long career in law enforcement.
In 1988, he joined the Queensland Police Force (now Service) where he worked as an officer for several years before becoming a detective. He later studied at the Australian Federal Police College, and held positions in the National Crime Authority and Drug and Sex Offenders' Squads. He often credits his background in policing as playing a critical role in shaping his views on issues such as security and immigration.
What to know about Adam Bandt, the leader of the Australian Greens
Adam Bandt has framed the upcoming election as a choice between progressive policies that make people's lives better, or a US-style shift to the right.
Adam Bandt has been leader of the Australian Greens since 2020. Source: SBS News
Five quick facts about Adam Bandt
1. Bandt has been the leader of the Australian Greens since 2020 and a member of parliament since 2010.
2. He was the first Greens candidate to win a seat in a general election for the House of Representatives.
3. The 52-year-old has framed the upcoming election as an opportunity for the Greens to win "new seats across the country" and potentially play a pivotal role in a minority government.
4. During his time at university, he was a member of the Left Alliance, a national organisation of socialist, feminist, and progressive students.
5. Under his leadership, the Greens have come up with what they refer to as a series of "Robin Hood-style" policies to take to the election, which would tax the super-rich to free up money for the cost of living issues.
What did Adam Bandt do before he entered politics?
Bandt was born in Adelaide but spent most of his childhood in Perth. After working with a string of student unions both before and after earning his degree in Law and Arts at Murdoch University, .
He eventually became a partner at the firm Slater & Gordon, where he specialised in industrial law and represented several unions. After going part-time in 2008, he completed a PhD at Monash University.
What to know about David Littleproud, leader of the National Party
If Peter Dutton becomes Australia's next prime minister, David Littleproud would be in the running to become his deputy. Here's a basic rundown of the National Party leader's life and career.
David Littleproud was elected to lead the National Party in May 2022.
Five quick facts about David Littleproud
1. He was elected to lead the National Party in May 2022, after Labor's win, succeeding Barnaby Joyce.
2. He has represented the Queensland seat of Maranoa in the House of Representatives since 2016.
3. Throughout his career, Littleproud has been an advocate for regional Australian communities, often stressing the importance of agriculture and calling for more infrastructure development.
4. A father of three, Littleproud worked as a farm manager and businessman before he became an elected official.
5. He was born and raised in the rural town of Chinchilla in Queensland's Western Downs Region.
What did David Littleproud do before he entered politics?
Before entering office in 2016, Littleproud worked as an agribusiness banker with the National Australia Bank (NAB) and Suncorp, where he focused on rural and agricultural finance.
He lived and worked in several rural towns, including Miles, Nanango, Charleville, St George, Stanthorpe and Warwick.
What are Labor's key policies?
Labor has pledged tax cuts if they win the election, with the average earner getting $268 back in their pocket by 2026, according to the treasurer.
Earnings between $18,201 and $45,000 are currently taxed at 16 per cent, and this will fall to 15 per cent in 2026-27 and 14 per cent in 2027-28, Labor said.
The party has also pledged to increase access to childcare and a $1 billion fund for 160 new childcare centres.
Labor also said they would spend $8.5 billion on increasing bulk-billing rates at GPs, and an extension of the energy rebate until the end of 2025 which will save households $150.
The Coalition has agreed to both of these policies.
What are the Coalition's key policies?
The Coalition said there would be no promise of income tax cuts, but that fuel excise would be cut in half from July.
This would mean savings of 25 cents per litre, Opposition leader Peter Dutton said.
People would be allowed to use more of their superannuation towards a house deposit, and the Coalition said it would invest $5 billion into essential infrastructure to "unlock up to 500,000 new homes".
The party would restore the number of mental health sessions subsidised by Medicare from 10 to 20.
It said it would allow businesses with a turnover of less than $10 million a year to claim a tax deduction of up to $20,000 for business-related meal and entertainment expenses and increase the instant asset write-off for small and medium businesses from $20,000 to $30,000.
Why Donald Trump is 'someone we can't avoid' this election
United States President Donald Trump has become an outsized figure on the world stage, and his political influence is being seen in many countries, including Australia.
Donald Trump's influence is being felt in Australia's federal election. Source: SBS News
But there was a reference to his impact.
"There is heightened uncertainty in the global economy, including from trade tensions and conflict in the Middle East and Europe," the papers noted, referring to tensions spurred by , including Australia, and the and
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also alluded to Trump's presence during a press conference on Friday, during which he announced the date for the upcoming election on 3 May.
We live in the greatest country on Earth, and we do not need to copy from any other nation to make Australia even better and stronger.
When asked whether he was suggesting rival Liberal leader Peter Dutton was copying ideas from Trump, Albanese responded: "People will make their own judgements, of course, but people will have a look at the mass sackings of public servants."
Dutton says he will , a move that appears to mirror Trump's .
He dismissed the comments, saying: "The sledge-a-thon is on by the prime minister because he doesn't have a good story to tell about his three years in government."
Since Trump regained the US presidency, he has once again become a ubiquitous figure on the world stage.
Zareh Ghazarian, a political scientist from Monash University, said: "The presence of Donald Trump transcends boundaries."
He's a figure of such interest in politics and international relations that I can't imagine a liberal democracy or a country in which he's not talked about.
How the Australian political system works
Australia's political system can be described as a constitutional monarchy, governed by a representative parliamentary democracy.
The monarchy part is due to Australia being a member of the British Commonwealth, meaning it doesn't have a president and — instead — the head of state of Australia is technically the United Kingdom's King Charles.
King Charles is the head of state of Australia, though he's represented by the governor-general. Source: Getty, AFP / Leon Neal
So now the King only plays a small, mostly symbolic role through his representative, the governor-general and — in reality — Australia is ruled by three levels of government.
They are the federal parliament, the state or territory parliaments, and local municipal councils.
Each of these has different duties, but the most senior decision-making body in Australia is the federal parliament in Canberra.
Every three years, a federal election is called and Australians can vote for the candidates to represent them in parliament.
Then, the party or coalition of parties that wins a majority of seats in what's called the House of Representatives forms a government and appoints a prime minister.
So, what's the House of Representatives?
The federal parliament is made up of two chambers: the House of Representatives, or the lower house, and the Senate, otherwise known as the upper house.
The prime minister is drawn from the House of Representatives, and the Senate is a house of review.
In practice, for the government to pass a law, a bill must be introduced in the House of Representatives, then pass through the Senate, and finally approved by the governor-general on behalf of the Crown.
What about the political parties?
In recent history, control over the federal government has shifted back and forth from the centre-left party, Labor, to the centre-right Liberal-National Coalition.
Aside from the major parties though, the support for independent politicians and minor parties has risen steadily over the past 40 years, according to The Australia Institute.
These minor parties include the left-wing Greens which has four MPs and 11 senators in federal parliament, and the right-wing One Nation Party which has two senators.
They sit on what's called the crossbench, positioned between both parties in the House of Representatives and the Senate, playing an important role in drafting and debating legislation.
So, do voters get to choose the MPs and senators?
At this election, Australians will be electing all 150 members of the House of Representatives as well as 40 out of 76 members of the Senate.
Members of the House of Representatives, otherwise known as MPs, have three-year terms in office and represent local electorates all over Australia.
Kath Gleeson, deputy electoral commissioner at the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), said: "An electorate is a geographical area and is represented by one member of parliament. Now, all those areas, geographical areas, are different sizes because each electorate has roughly the same number of electors inside it, so one member of parliament represents one electorate."
And with the Senate, it's a little different.
Each state has 12 senators, regardless of population size, while the Northern Territory and the ACT each have two senators.
Senators typically have six-year terms, but they are staggered so that roughly half of the Senate is up for election in each voting cycle.
Who can run for parliament in Australia?
Being a politician is a job with a unique hiring process, given candidates must win over voters instead of simply submitting a resume and attending an interview.
Australia's constitution sets out some basic requirements for anyone looking to enter parliament and important exclusions. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
But who is even allowed to run for office, and what does it take to become a politician?
SBS News spoke to Luke Beck, a professor of constitutional law at Monash University, to understand the unique eligibility criteria required in Australia.
So, who can be a politician?
Australia's constitution sets out some basic requirements for anyone looking to enter parliament and important exclusions.
- You have to be over 18, an Australian citizen,
- You can't be a public servant,
- You can't have committed treason, be under sentence or waiting for sentencing of an offence that has a penalty greater than 12 months,
- You can't be an undischarged bankrupt,
- You can't have any allegiance to a foreign power
That last one is the trickiest — because it counts out dual citizens.
The requirement made headlines in 2017 when 15 MPs and senators were caught up in what became known as the .
Many of those impacted were unaware they even held foreign citizenship, which they had inherited through birth or ancestry.
Since then, no further politicians have been disqualified under section 44, but the issue continues to surface in political debates.
Why Australia holds federal elections every three years
With a term only lasting three years, incumbent governments have a short period to achieve their agenda before the next election.
So why does Australia have shorter parliamentary terms than other countries such as the United States and Germany?
Why does Australia have three-year terms?
In 1901, at federation, the constitution established the Australian parliament.
The view then was that three years was the optimal term to create consistency with the existing colonial parliaments of each jurisdiction.
While every state and territory now has four-year election cycles, the federal calendar remains unchanged.
How long is the term for a prime minister?
Prime ministers generally serve the full length of their three-year term unless they lose the majority of the House or are replaced as the leader of their party. There is no fixed number of terms a person can serve as prime minister.
Robert Menzies was the longest-serving prime minister of Australia and held office for 18 years — from 1939 to 1941 and again from 1949 to 1966.
How long is a term for the Senate?
Senators have longer terms and are up for election over six years or two election cycles.
The difference in the terms of senators and members of the House of Representatives reflects the distinctions between them.
Senators represent the whole of their state, a much larger number of people than members of the House of Representatives.
A six-year term gives them more time to work for the people they represent.
What if no-one wins? What to know about minority government
There is a possibility that no-one will really win the federal election.
Polls show a minority government or 'hung' parliament is a possibility, which means leaders of the major parties (Labor and the Liberal/National Coalition) will have to gain the support of enough crossbenchers — made up of independents, Greens and members of other minor parties — to form government.
Paul Williams, an associate professor of politics and journalism at Griffith University, said: "We are staring down the barrel of minority government this time."
Graeme Orr, an electoral law expert from The University of Queensland, said as the primary vote of the major parties slipped below 30 per cent, there was a higher chance politicians who were not members of the major parties would be elected.
"I think we have to be more adult about it and accept the fact that not only [will there be] more minority governments in Australia ... we [also] need parties to adjust to this idea of negotiating," he said.
How do you win an election?
The simplest way to form a government is by winning a majority of the seats in the House of Representatives, also known as the lower house.
At this election, 150 seats will be contested and 76 seats will be needed for an outright majority.
But getting fewer seats than this can still lead to a party being in power if it can gain support from enough crossbenchers to reach at least 76 seats.
What does 'supply and confidence' mean?
The lowest form of support that minor parties and independents can offer a government is confidence and supply.
This guarantees they will support the government if a "no confidence" motion is introduced in parliament and will vote for appropriation bills that allow the government to spend money, also known as "supply".
"The one thing that can bring down a government that otherwise has numbers is if it can't get the budget through parliament," Orr said.
He said the MPs would reserve the right to block other legislation they disagreed with.
Neither Labor nor the Coalition got enough seats to reach a majority in 2010. Source: SBS News
Confused about Australia's preferential voting systems? Here's how to make your vote count on election day
In Australia, federal elections operate under the preferential voting system allowing for the reflection of the number and diversity of smaller parties.
It differs from the first past-the-post system used in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and India.
Preferential voting requires citizens to rank all candidates on their ballot paper for both houses of parliament, numbering them according to their preferences. Source: AAP
What is preferential voting?
Preferential voting requires citizens to individually number and rank all candidates on their ballot paper for both houses of parliament according to their preferences.
It is employed when no one candidate or party wins outright, based on first-preference votes.
Ultimately, it highlights a person's vote can still be counted, even if their first choice of candidate is eliminated due to a lack of votes.
How does it work?
On polling day, the House of Representatives ballot paper is green while the Senate ballot paper is white.
Placing a number one against a candidate is considered the first preference or primary vote.
If no candidate secures an absolute majority of primary votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is then eliminated from the count.
The votes for this excluded candidate are then transferred to the candidate numbered two on each of the ballot papers, the voter's second preference.
This counting process continues until one candidate has more than half of the formal votes cast or an absolute majority and is therefore declared elected.
House of Representatives
There are two systems of preferential voting that elect the two sides of parliament - the House of Representatives and the Senate.
In the House, a single representative is elected for each contest. The voter must simply number the boxes according to their preferences.
Senate
In the Senate, multiple representatives are chosen for each state, and the system is a little more complex.
The voter has two choices in which they can simply rank parties listed above the line on the ballot paper or, alternatively, they can number all the individual candidates, which are listed below the line.
If you vote above the line, you will need to number at least six boxes. Preferences are still in place with your vote endorsing the declared preferences of the party, allowing the party itself to control the flow of votes.
Voting below the line is more complicated and time-consuming, requiring the voter to number at least twelve boxes of candidates.
Key mistakes to avoid
According to the AEC, around 5 per cent of votes are considered 'informal' because people have made mistakes in how they voted, and those votes will not be counted towards the election result,
Some key mistakes to avoid include repeating a number on a ballot paper, skipping a number and not numbering all of the boxes.
"You've got to decide between your most favourite and your least favourite, even if there's a few that you think are your equal least favourite, you've got to decide between them to make sure that your vote will be counted," Mr Ekin-Smyth said.
"If you miss a box on the House of Representatives ballot paper, you risk having it not being heard."
Australia has one of the biggest ballot papers in the world. Here's why
Australia has one of the largest ballot papers in the world, meaning voters will have their work cut out for them at the 2025 federal election.
In past state and federal elections, some ballots have measured over a metre long from the sheer number of candidates and parties running.
The ballot paper is often large due to Australia's mixed voting systems used in both state and federal elections. Credit: Mark Baker/AP
Why are the ballots so big?
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) oversees the ballot papers and will adjust the font size and paper as necessary to improve the accessibility of voting.
The AEC's ballot paper is often large due to Australia's mixed voting systems used in both state and federal elections.
The House of Representatives and the Senate both usebut there are differences in how it operates in each house. Candidates for the Senate are selected through a system of proportional representation.
What's the difference between upper and lower house voting?
In the House of Representatives elections, voters rank candidates from 1, 2, 3, and so on, based on their preference.
If a candidate gets more than 50 per cent of the first-preference votes, they win. If no-one gets more than 50 per cent, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, and their votes are redistributed based on second preferences, continuing until someone has a majority.
Australians will head to the polls on 3 May to elect the 48th parliament of the country. Source: Getty / Dan Peled
When a candidate gets enough first-preference votes to reach the quota, they are elected. If no-one reaches the quota, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated.
Their votes are then given to the next preferred candidate. This process keeps going until all the seats are filled.
In Senate elections, voters may rank parties or individual candidates, which can lead to a longer Senate ballot.
Why is the Senate ballot so long?
The Senate ballot is especially large because many parties and candidates run, especially in states with multiple members.
At election time you can either vote above the line for a party or below the line for individual candidates, which are all listed separately.
If voting above the line, voters pick a party, and the party then decides how preferences are allocated.
If voting below the line, voters can rank individual candidates from different parties.
These options make the ballot more complex and larger.
What does voting above the line/below the line mean?
Voting above the line is one of two ways you can fill out your Senate ballot paper.
To vote above the line, you need to number at least six party or group boxes, starting with 1 for your first choice, 2 for your second choice, and so on until you reach at least 6.
When you use this method, you can't vote for individual candidates, only political parties or groups. They are given control over the order in which your preferences are distributed among their candidates.
Your preferences will first be distributed to the candidates in the party or group of your first choice in the order they appear on your ballot paper, then to the candidates in the party or group of your second choice and so on, until they have all been distributed.
This mock Senate ballot shows how to vote above the line. Source: Supplied / AEC
If you choose to use this method, you need to number at least 12 individual candidate boxes, starting with 1 for your first choice, 2 for your second choice, and so on until you reach at least 12.
Voting below the line is the only way you can preference individual candidates over others, rather than the parties deciding that order for you.
Some candidates relegated to seemingly unwinnable spots on their party's Senate ticket have managed to get elected after running campaigns encouraging people to vote below the line.
This mock Senate ballot shows how to vote below the line. Source: Supplied / AEC
What are how to vote cards?
Given their name, it may sound like 'how to vote cards' are a helpful guide that simply tells you how to fill in your ballot paper correctly to ensure your vote counts.
What they actually are, are the flyers handed out at polling booths by party and campaign workers that suggest the number that voters should place next to each candidate on their ballot paper.
You're under no obligation to follow the order listed on how to vote cards and not doing so won't necessarily impact the likelihood of the candidate you give your first preference to being elected.
What is a marginal seat?
A seat is considered by the AEC to be marginal when the elected candidate received less than 56 per cent of the vote at the previous election.
When a seat is marginal, it's at risk of being lost to another candidate.
The most marginal seat in the country is Deakin in Melbourne's outer-east, which Liberal MP Michael Sukkar holds by just 0.02 per cent.
What is a safe seat?
A seat where the elected candidate received more than 60 per cent of the vote at the previous election is considered by the AEC to be 'safe'.
That means there would need to be a big swing against the incumbent MP for them to lose their seat.
What is swing?
A swing is the difference between the percentage of the vote a candidate or party secured at one election compared to another.
If there's a swing away from a party or candidate, it means they received fewer first-preference votes at this election than they did at the last one.
If there's a swing towards them, they received more first-preference votes this election than the previous one.
A swing voter is someone who changes which party or candidate they vote for between elections.
