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Federal election date: Scott Morrison drops major hint

Scott Morrison has dropped a major clue as to the date of the upcoming federal election.

Prime ministers call elections when they think they have the best chance of winning. Mr Morrison, however, has been determined to hang on to the very end of his term.

After handing down the federal budget last night, the election is expected to be called in the coming days.

Speaking to 2GB on Wednesday, the PM said "the election will be mid May".

When pressed on whether he was going to call it this weekend, Mr Morrison demured.

"Well when the election is called, everybody will know. We're not far away now."

Mr Morrison's comment had some people circling May 14 in their diaries. Source: Getty
Mr Morrison's comment had some people circling May 14 in their diaries. Source: Getty

The final weekend a conventional election can be called is the weekend of May 21. Mr Morrison's comments have all but confirmed an election day of May 14 – the second-last week in the electoral calendar.

While questions around how much we can trust the polls remain, they do not look good for Mr Morrison who has seen his personal rating drop significantly among the public.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese has drawn level as preferred prime minister while the federal Opposition continues to lead the two-party preferred vote 55 to 45 per cent against the incumbent Coalition government in Newspoll.

Shortly after the budget was handed down on Tuesday night, outgoing Liberal senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells accused Scott Morrison of "having no moral compass" and being "unfit to be the prime minister" in an extraordinary speech under the protection of parliamentary privilege.

While Labor tries to make the election a referendum on Scott Morrison, it is pitching to voters with a pledge to help increase wages, provide greater childcare subsidies and stronger climate action. The Coalition, meanwhile, are keen to focus on defence spending and economic management while painting Mr Albanese as risky.

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