Would the House of Representatives work more effectively with fixed four-year terms? What would that mean for the Senate? If the length of terms was fixed, in what circumstances should an early election be allowed?

Media release issue date: Tuesday, 5 November 2019

  Would the House of Representatives work more effectively with fixed four-year terms? What would that mean for the Senate? If the length of terms was fixed, in what circumstances should an early election be allowed? The House Social Policy and Legal Affairs Committee will discuss these issues with a panel of constitutional experts on Thursday, 7 November. The panel will comprise Professors Gabrielle Appleby, Cheryl Saunders, Anne Twomey, and George Williams, and Mr Malcolm Mackerras.  Chair of the Committee, Mr Andrew Wallace MP says that since Federation the average length of Parliaments has been about two and a half years. ‘I’m looking forward to involving the public in a discussion about whether longer parliamentary terms would improve the Australian political system’, Mr Wallace said. The discussion will be open to the public and streamed live on the Parliament’s website. The House of Representatives’ Twitter account, @AbouttheHouse, will be following the discussion, and the Committee will consider questions posted on Twitter. The Committee encourages those making contributions to do so respectfully. Further information is available on the Committee’s website. Roundtable details Date: Thursday 7 November, 2019 Time: 9.00 am to 12.15 pm Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra The roundtable will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.   Media inquiries Office of Mr Andrew Wallace, Chair of Committee Mr Simon Thwaites Simon.Thwaites@aph.gov.au 0439 972 667 For background information Committee Secretariat 02 6277 2358 spla.reps@aph.gov.au