Why do we have federal elections every three years?

Graphic of a blue rectangle being dropped into a larger blue box. This is repeated multiple times.

Ballot box graphic

Parliamentary Education Office (peo.gov.au)

Ballot box graphic

Graphic of a blue rectangle being dropped into a larger blue box. This is repeated multiple times.

Parliamentary Education Office (peo.gov.au)

Description

This graphic is a representation of a ballots being placed into a ballot boxes.

Great question!

Section 28 of the Australian Constitution says that each House of Representatives convened after a federal election will continue for 3 years from the date of the first meeting but not any longer.  An election can be earlier than three years if requested by the Prime Minister and approved by the Governor-General.