Peter Dutton has slammed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after he called for Australia to switch to four-year fixed term federal election cycles.
Speaking on Channel 7’s Sunrise, Mr Albanese told host Michael Usher, “We should have four year fixed terms like they do in most states and territories.”
Mr Albanese kicked off election campaigning in Queensland today by calling for bold new election reforms. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass
Asked if he supported the call, Mr Dutton told NewsWire on Tuesday it was, “a desperate play from a desperate Prime Minister who is clinging to office”.
“If Mr Albanese has a proposal to have a referendum on four year terms, then he should be upfront about it,” Mr Dutton said.
“It is a thought bubble, like the Voice. And look how that ended.”
Mr Dutton accused the Prime Minister of “clinging to power”. Picture: NewsWire / Roy VanDerVegt
Mr Dutton said the PM’s latest call for reform proved he was “not focused on the cost of living crisis and the issues that matter to everyday Australians”.
“Australian families who are struggling to pay their bills at the moment want a PM who is focused on them – not one focused on himself and how he can stay in power for longer,” he said.
“If the PM is asking for politicians to have greater job security, then why doesn’t he stop the games and just call an election and let the Australian people have their say?”
Mr Albanese said on Tuesday he doubted the coalition would back the change, which would require a referendum to implement.
“The Coalition always says at this stage in the cycle that they support referendums, then they don’t,” Mr Albanese said.
“That happened in the 1980s in the Hawke government. Then after it was called, Peter Reith changed his mind.”
Federal elections are currently held every three years, with the government having the final say on the specific date. Photographer: David Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Under the current system, federal elections are conducted roughly once every three years, with the specific date decided by the prime minister of the day.
Mr Albanese is yet to confirm a date for this year’s election, which must be held by mid-May, with April 12 currently being suggested by analysts.