Early budget points to likely May federal election

Barring an early call by the prime minister, voters are almost guaranteed to head to the polls for the next federal election some time in May.

The release of the 2025 schedule for federal parliament has revealed the budget will be handed down earlier than usual, paving the way for a May election.

Rather than being held in its traditional slot early in May, the budget will instead be handed down on March 25.

Budgets have previously been brought forward in 2019 and 2022 to allow for elections to be held in May.

While an election date is not listed on the sitting schedule, if Prime Minister Anthony Albanese keeps with precedence and calls an election after the budget, May would be the earliest an election could be held.

Once parliament is dissolved and writs are issued for the election, a minimum of 33 days is needed before a poll can take place.

Even if writs were issued the day after the budget, the earliest date for the normal election - where all of the House of Representatives and half the Senate is up for grabs - would be May 3.

The latest an election would have to be held is May 17, under rules laid out in the constitution.

A May election would mean Mr Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton would be campaigning through the Easter holidays, as well as taking in Anzac Day commemorations.

In 2022, the coalition handed down its budget early on March 29, before then prime minister Scott Morrison announced the election timings on April 10, with the poll on May 21.

In 2019, the budget was held on April 2 before Mr Morrison visited the governor-general on April 11 to unveil an election on May 19.

However, a May scenario could be up-ended if the prime minister calls a double dissolution election.

Mr Albanese has hinted a double dissolution - where all seats of the lower house and the Senate are on the table - could be an option to solve a stalemate over a housing bill.

Any double dissolution election would need to be called by January 25.