( CNN ) -- Prime Minister Julia Gillard of Australia said Wednesday that national elections would take place in September , giving unusually lengthy notice to voters and her opponents of a hard campaign ahead . In a speech in the national capital , Canberra , Gillard gave a somber assessment of the economic and social challenges that Australia is facing under her Labor government , which is struggling in opinion polls . She said that announcing the timetable for the September vote now would end `` speculation about election timing '' and give `` shape and order to the year . '' But some commentators suggested that in trying to give the country more clarity , she was in fact creating a drawn-out ordeal for voters . `` Julia Gillard has consigned Australians to something approaching a national pregnancy , '' wrote Tony Wright , national affairs editor at The Age , a daily newspaper . Federal election campaigns in Australia traditionally last around six weeks , far shorter than presidential races in the United States . Wright said that a 10 week campaign in Australia in 1984 left voters tired and `` tetchy '' and hurt the party of the incumbent prime minister at the time , Bob Hawke . `` No more long campaigns became the unbreakable mantra , '' Wright said , noting that the September 14 date set by Gillard is 32 weeks away . Gillard , 51 , said in her speech Wednesday that the aim of giving such exceptionally advanced notice was to make the year `` one not of fevered campaigning , but of cool and reasoned deliberation . '' Dennis Shanahan , political editor of The Australian , a national broadsheet newspaper said that although Gillard was giving up the advantage of surprise that she held over the opposition , she would have the chance to leverage the benefits of her incumbency . `` The prime minister has ensured that she will be able to maximize the effect of being in office , governing , working and being in parliament while people see her as the prime minister , '' Shanahan said . Her main challenger , Tony Abbott , the leader of the opposition , said he welcomed the announcement of the date . Abbott , 55 , said his coalition was `` ready '' and suggested that the election campaign would focus on themes like tax , regulation and freedoms . Gillard , who managed to form a government after a tight election in 2010 , could have set the election date as late as November 30 under Australia 's three-year election cycle . But Shanahan said he thought she was also moving to head off any potential challenges to her position from within her party . In the summer of 2010 , Gillard replaced the prime minister at the time , Kevin Rudd , whose ratings were suffering after he placed his proposed carbon emissions trading plan on the back burner and introduced a hefty tax on the country 's powerful mining industry . Tensions remained in the party over her ascension to the prime minister 's office , with some calling it a palace coup . Rudd unsuccessfully challenged her leadership last year . Under Gillard 's announcement Wednesday , the House of Representatives will be dissolved on August 12 . The elections will involve the entire House of Representatives and half the Senate .
Julia Gillard says national elections will take place in September . The Australian Electoral Commission has said the election date is set for October 26. Some commentators say it will subject voters to a lengthy ordeal . Opposition leader Tony Abbott says he welcomes the announcement .