The election - any date won't do

While the Prime Minister may feel that these domestic considerations can be brushed aside, it is much more difficult for her to justify the choice of 14 September taking into account a number of international commitments.

For example, Julia Gillard must have known that the G20 Leaders Summit is scheduled to be held in St. Petersburg on 6-7 September this year, one week before the election.

Australia is the host of the 2014 G20 Summit, which makes it part of the "troika" of current, immediate past and future hosts.

The Prime Minister said in December last year that "As part of this group (troika), Australia will play an enhanced role in guiding the G20's work in the lead-up to our G20 Presidency in 2014".

The nation that occupies the role of chair of the G20 is in a prestigious and influential decision-making position as the chair has the prerogative of setting the agenda.

The G20 is now regarded as the premier forum for international economic and financial cooperation and coordination - the closest thing we get to a global director's meeting.

It is vital that the Prime Minister attend this meeting, for to do otherwise would be seen as a snub at a time when Australia is the next nation to assume the G20 presidency.

With her election date timing, the Prime Minister has created the situation where she must choose between staying at home in the critical final days of the election campaign or fulfilling her international obligations at the St Petersburg meeting.

There is a recent precedent. In 2001 then Prime Minister Howard attended the 2001 APEC meeting in Shanghai during the election campaign that year.

Mr Howard flew out of Australia on 19 October with the election held on 10 November that year.

He was subjected to fierce criticism by the Labor Opposition for making that choice even though Howard argued that the national interest required his attendance at that important event.

Julia Gillard will face a similar situation, should she remain as Prime Minister should there be no change to the election date as announced.