Our evidence to the parliamentary inquiry on four-year terms
Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters, public hearing, Canberra, 7 November 2025. Published March 2026. 46 minutes.
On 7 November 2025 the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters took evidence on the length of federal terms and a fixed election date, as part of its inquiry into the 2025 federal election. Marty Gray appeared for 4 Year Terms Australia.
The opening statement sets out the problem: a three-year maximum term, an election date chosen by the Prime Minister, and a federal election campaign every two years and eight months on average. Marty recommends that the committee first secure cross-party support for a fixed election date in legislation, then build toward referendums on fixed and four-year terms. Committee members then ask what a fixed term should look like when an early election is still needed, how the Senate would fit, what evidence shows public support, and how a staged path would work.
At this hearing we cited the figures then available: around $60 billion over 20 years, and eight countries with a term of three years or less. Our August 2026 report updates both. Mandala Partners now puts the benefit at $81 to $93 billion, and Australia is one of 3 of 87 democracies with a term of three years or less. New Zealand's government has since postponed its referendum on a four-year term.
More from the campaign
Marty Gray on Sky News: why Australia needs four-year terms
Julia Bradley asks why Australia runs an election campaign every two years and eight months, and what it would take to change it.
Summary and key momentsMichael Rowland on four-year terms for federal parliament
The former ABC News Breakfast host on election-date speculation, a lost year of government, and what a referendum needs to succeed.
Summary and key momentsDom Perrottet on fixed four-year federal terms
The former NSW Premier on fixed four-year federal terms, with state and territory elections held around the midpoint.
Summary and transcript