Canberra, May 8 (IANS): Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Sunday announced a double dissolution election to be held on July 2.

Turnbull paid a visit to Governor General Peter Cosgrove who has accepted the prime minister's request of having a double dissolution of the parliament, Xinhua news agency reported.

This decision officially kick-started the eight-week-long election campaign.

"At this election, Australians will have a very clear choice -- to keep the course, maintain the commitment to our national economic plan for growth and jobs, or go back to Labour, with its higher taxing, higher spending, debt and deficit agenda, which will stop our nation's transition to the new economy dead in its tracks," Turnbull said.

Turnbull said he called the dissolution because the Senate has twice refused to pass legislation relating to the accountability of unions and employer organisations, and has twice refused to pass legislation to re-establish the Australian Building and Construction Commission.

A double dissolution election will see both houses of parliament dissolved and all of the 150 House of Representatives seats and 76 Senate seats up for grab.