CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australians will go to the polls in early July after the prime minister said Wednesday that he was calling an early election.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he would go to Governor-General Peter Cosgrove before the constitutional deadline of Wednesday next week to lock in the July 2 date and officially start the election campaign.

"I can assure you there will be an election on the 2nd of July," Turnbull told Seven Network television.

"This weekend is looking pretty good, I would say," he added, referring to when he would visit Cosgrove.

Turnbull's center-right coalition is seeking a second three-year term.