Cyclone Disrupts Australian Election Plans, May Vote Now Likely

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has effectively ruled out holding a national election before May, citing the impending arrival of Cyclone Alfred as a key factor disrupting the Labor government’s planning, Bloomberg reports.

In an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corp. on Friday night, Albanese confirmed that he would not be launching an election campaign this Sunday or Monday. This announcement guarantees that the 2025 federal election will be held on either May 3, May 10, or May 17.

“I have no intention of doing anything that distracts from what we need to do, and what we need to do is to look after each other at this difficult time,” Albanese stated, referencing the approaching cyclone expected to make landfall within 24 hours.

Australian elections are traditionally called on a Sunday, with a minimum 33-day campaign period culminating in a Saturday vote. The deadline for holding the 2025 election is May 17.

Prior to the cyclone, many had anticipated the Labor government would call an election this weekend for April 12, buoyed by positive economic indicators and the first interest rate cut in four years.

However, Albanese’s announcement eliminates the possibility of an April 12 election. Furthermore, with national public holidays falling on April 19 and 26, the government is now essentially compelled to hold the election in May.

The delayed election timeline also necessitates that the Labor government deliver the national budget on March 25, a mere three weeks from now. Albanese reiterated on the ABC that it had always been his intention to serve his government’s full term, which concludes in May.