Debate on Extending Federal Voting Cycle to 4 Years Reopens

The senate chamber at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Feb. 6, 2023. Martin Ollman/Getty ImagesAustralia’s electoral system is again under review, with a Senate inquiry examining whether longer parliamentary terms or a larger Parliament could deliver a more stable, productive, and representative democracy.Experts from across the political and academic spectrum discussed the efficiency, accountability, and practicality of the idea during a Senate Committee on Nov. 7.Rethinking the Three-Year CycleAustralia’s federal election cycle, among the shortest in the developed world, came under scrutiny, with several witnesses arguing that the constant churn of campaigning and policymaking was undermining long-term governance.