Election likely for May with Budget locked in for April, as Morrison's hold on power takes a hit

Extract from ABC News

By political reporter Brett Worthington

Updated about 4 hours ago

Video: Morrison promises surplus budget before election (ABC News)

Australians are all but assured to head to the polls for a federal election in May, with the Prime Minister announcing he will deliver the Budget in April.

Key points:

• Mr Morrison would not be drawn on the exact date for the election, but May 11 and 18 appear most likely
• He also announced the Government would release a mid-year budget on December 17
• Meanwhile, backbencher Julia Banks's announcement cuts the Government's numbers in the Lower House to 74 of 150 seats

Scott Morrison said the Budget would be on April 2, 2019 and Australians would go to the polls after that.
But his hold on power has been threatened even more, with backbencher Julia Banks announcing she has quit the Liberal Party.
She made the announcement in the House of Representatives at the exact same time Mr Morrison was holding a press conference.

Photo: Julia Banks (L) said she was still considering her political future but was unable to continue to serve as a Liberal (ABC News: Nick Haggarty)

Ms Banks said she would sit on the crossbench but has guaranteed the Morrison Government supply and confidence.
Mr Morrison would not be drawn on the exact date for the election, but May 11 and 18 appear most likely given Easter and school holidays in April.
"I'll let you do the maths. There are options available to the Government," Mr Morrison said.
"There are always options available to the Government to call an election anytime between now and to have a half-Senate election and a House of Representatives election concurrently. That would be conducted by 18 May.
"It is our intention to deliver a surplus budget."
Mr Morrison also announced the Government would release a mid-year budget on December 17.

'Dark days in August' prompt Banks's departure

Video: Julia Banks quits to sit on crossbench (ABC News)

In the wake of Malcolm Turnbull's removal as prime minister, Ms Banks announced she would not contest the next election.
She was the only Coalition MP to have won a seat off Labor at the last election and holds her Melbourne seat with a 3.4 per cent margin.
Ms Banks told the Parliament on Tuesday she was still considering her political future but was unable to continue to serve as a Liberal.

"The aftermath of those dark days in August then acutely laid bare the major party's obstructionist and combative actions and internal games, all for political point scoring," she said.

Ms Banks's decision cuts the Government's numbers in the Lower House to 73 of the 150 seats.
That margin is reduced to 72 when Speaker Tony Smith is overseeing the Parliament.

But National MP Kevin Hogan, who went to the crossbench after Mr Turnbull was removed and no longer attends Coalition party room meetings, has repeatedly said he would guarantee supply and confidence.