First things first – none of us know for sure when the election will be called. We are all running around like Chicken Littles screaming the election is coming with absolutely nothing but vibes and the guesses of those around us.

The big rumour that sent the press gallery scrambling and set in motion a bunch of emergency news bureau meetings is that Anthony Albanese will call the election either this Sunday or the one after (the Sunday just gone was also on the list) with the early election date set for April 5.

That’s because April 12 ( a favoured rumour until recently) is during Passover. So that pretty much rules it out.

The thinking is that the government wants to have the interest rate bump, avoid handing down a budget before an election (turns out baking in Aukus spending is bad for the budget numbers) and try and get ahead of any further voter disgruntleness.

So this announcement won’t make things clearer. But it will (if the cut goes through) mean Jim Chalmers breathes a tiny bit easier.