Essential Report
4-year terms
Q. In Australia, Federal elections are currently held every 3 years, although the Government can decide to hold an election earlier. Would you support or oppose changing to 4-year fixed terms so that elections are held every 4 years on the same date?
Total | Vote Labor | Vote Lib/Nat | Vote Greens | Vote Other | Aged 18-34 | Aged 35-54 | Aged 55+ | |||
Total support | 58% | 60% | 64% | 56% | 50% | 52% | 56% | 68% | ||
Total oppose | 24% | 24% | 22% | 24% | 37% | 25% | 25% | 20% | ||
Strongly support | 18% | 20% | 19% | 19% | 17% | 13% | 16% | 27% | ||
Support | 40% | 40% | 45% | 37% | 33% | 39% | 40% | 41% | ||
Oppose | 15% | 17% | 16% | 14% | 15% | 17% | 15% | 12% | ||
Strongly oppose | 9% | 7% | 6% | 10% | 22% | 8% | 10% | 8% | ||
Don’t know | 18% | 16% | 14% | 20% | 13% | 23% | 19% | 12% |
58% support 4-year fixed terms for Federal Parliament and 24% oppose.
Those most likely to support 4-year fixed terms were Liberal/National voters (64%), men (65%) and aged 55+ (68%).
Those most likely to oppose 4-year fixed terms were other party voters (37%) and aged 18-24 (41%).

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