Beware of predictions about Australian elections from the UK's Economist magazine

Table 1: Commonwealth elections-Next election dates

Last election Earliest date Latest date

Simultaneous half Senate & HReps 21 May 22 3 August '24 17 May 25

election

House of Reps 27 Sept 24

Half Senate 3 August 24 17 May 24

Double Dissolution N/A 29 March 25

Source: https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_departments/Parliamentary_Library/Research/Quick_Guides/2022-23/WhenIsTheNextElection2022

Further, the article assumes that a Labor Government will be able to gain support from the Greens and Independents. That is open to some contention.

Lastly, there is the view that tax cuts and lower interest rates will "help the economy" but no mention is made of the expanding budget deficit, the decline in the returns from resource sector given the Chinese economy's slowdown, the rising debt and the continuing lack of productivity growth.

All this shows that The Economist has no idea about the workings of the Australian constitution or its political system (or it seems even the economy) and has either not been watching the polls, the performance of the Opposition, or the latest budget and economic data or is just biased.