Once again in recent weeks we have witnessed the guessing game about when a Prime Minister will visit the Governor-General to formally initiate the process for holding a federal election.
When most states and territories have adopted fixed election dates with four-year terms,  the timing of our federal elections and therefore the length of the current three-year parliamentary term remains the object of political game-playing by the person who happens to be PM at any given time.
The Real Republic Australia advocates for an Australian republic with a genuinely directly elected Head of State, but we also support other worthwhile reforms to the Australian Constitution including fixed four-year terms for the Federal Parliament.
We believe there is a list of constitutional reforms needed, starting with recognition of First Nations’ people and an Australian republic. But let’s also make a move to fixed four-year terms for our Federal Parliament.
A fixed term means greater certainty and the end of the unfair political advantage given to the side of politics that happens to be in office when a term ends.
A four-year term means fewer costly elections, bearing in mind that Australian Electoral Commission figures show the 2019 election cost taxpayers more than $370 million.
David Muir AMÂ
ChairÂ
Real Republic AustraliaÂ
Brisbane
