5 Feb 09 Antony Green writes:
Just a reminder that both Whitlam in 1974 and Hawke in 1984 were required to have Senate election.
There had been no Senate election in 1972, so Whitlam had to call a Senate election by mid May 1974. It was what he was up to with the Gair affair, creating an extra Senate vacancy in Queensland under pre-1977 casual vacancy rules. The whole thing was junked for a double dissolution.
Hawke need a Senate election by May 1985 because of the 1983 double dissolution.
I know you’re really just tossing the idea round rather than really suggesting an early election, but Rudd can’t have a half-Senate election until August 2010. There are no DD triggers and I can’t imagine him calling a separate House election.
Antony