Australia 2028 Federal Election

What this countdown tracks

The clock above counts down to the Australian 2028 federal election, with the latest constitutional date falling on Saturday, May 13, 2028, three years after the 2025 election. Voters renew all 150 seats in the House of Representatives and 40 of the 76 Senate seats. The Australian Electoral Commission runs the vote under compulsory attendance and full preferential voting.

About this election

Australian House terms run a maximum of three years from the first sitting after an election, so the 2028 vote is the next scheduled mandate test for the Albanese Labor government, which won a second term in 2025. The Senate operates on a fixed six-year cycle with half-Senate elections coinciding with House elections; the 2028 ballot covers the cohort elected in 2022. The Prime Minister can call the election any time between the half-Senate window opening (July 2027) and the late-May 2028 deadline.

The political map after 2025 leaves Labor governing comfortably, the Liberal-Nationals Coalition rebuilding under post-Dutton leadership, the Greens contesting inner-urban seats, and the Teal independents continuing to challenge in affluent metropolitan electorates. Compulsory voting and preferential ballots mean campaigns target preference flows almost as much as primary votes.

Key issues

Cost-of-living, housing supply, AUKUS submarine delivery timetables, and climate policy after the 2030 emissions target are likely to dominate. China relations, the future of the Future Made in Australia industrial policy, the No-vote post-Voice referendum debate on Indigenous reconciliation, and the trajectory of negative gearing and superannuation reform will all shape the campaign.

Past results

• 2025: Anthony Albanese's Labor government re-elected with an expanded majority over the Coalition.
• 2022: Labor returned to power after nine years; Teal independents took six former Liberal seats.
• 2019: Scott Morrison's Coalition pulled off a surprise win over Bill Shorten's Labor.
• 2016: Coalition narrowly held on under Malcolm Turnbull after a double-dissolution election.
• 2013: Tony Abbott's Coalition defeated Kevin Rudd's Labor government.

How to follow

Live tallies stream from results.aec.gov.au. The ABC's election night broadcast led by Antony Green is the gold standard; Sky News Australia, Nine, and Seven also run coverage. Use #auspol and #ausvotes2028. The Poll Bludger and the Guardian Australia run live blogs.

Related countdowns

Pair this with the wider Pacific and Asian democracy cycle: New Zealand 2026 general election, Japan 2028 House of Councillors, Philippines 2028 presidential, and US 2028 presidential.

FAQ

When is the Australian 2028 election? Latest possible date is Saturday, May 13, 2028, but the PM can call it earlier. Where is it held? Nationwide across the six states and two territories. Why does it matter? It will decide whether Labor wins a third consecutive term or the rebuilt Coalition returns to government. Is voting compulsory? Yes — Australia has had compulsory voting since 1924, with fines for non-attendance.