The irony of stridently warning people against voting for minor players and then, all charm, ringing those players when you personally might need their votes may be lost on Malcolm Turnbull.
Malcolm Turnbull continued to say he was ‘quietly confident’ the Coalition would reach a majority in its own right.
Lukas Coch/AAP
Malcolm Turnbull has slapped down the prospect of Tony Abbott returning to the ministry, as both he and Bill Shorten talk to crossbenchers who could determine their fate in a hung parliament.
Nick Xenophon and NXT candidate for the seat of Mayo, Rebekha Sharkie, at a meeting in the Adelaide Hills.
Pat Hutchens/TC
One-third of people believe the next Senate should have more or the same number of crossbenchers, according to polling done for the Australia Institute.
Nick Xenophon, an absolute vote magnet, appears likely to get at least three senators including himself.
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For those who might feel this election campaign will never end, it is worth revisiting why the voters are enduring eight weeks rather than the normal five. Calling a double dissolution – the specific circumstances…
Governor-General Peter Cosgrove addressed both houses of parliament in the Senate chamber.
Lukas Coch/AAP
When the politicians arrived in Canberra for their special parliamentary session, it was obvious everyone wanted to do what was necessary for a July 2 election, and do it quickly. Instead of taking weeks…
The government failed to get enough support from the crossbench to resurrect the ABCC.
Lukas Coch/AAP
Australians will go to a double-dissolution election on July 2 after the Senate voted 36-34 on Monday night to defeat the government’s legislation to resurrect the ABCC.
Michaelia Cash is in the fortunate position that whatever happens to the industrial legislation, she won’t look bad.
Dean Lewins/AAP
Malcolm Turnbull says bluntly that he expects the coming special Senate sitting to reject the industrial relations legislation. Labor’s Penny Wong indicates the opposition won’t try to delay the bills.
The Clive Palmer story is one of the most remarkable in recent federal politics.
Dan Peled/AAP
In his typical blustering manner, Clive Palmer, having refused every attempt to persuade him to participate in Monday’s ABC Four Corners – an expose of his controversial business affairs and overbearing…
As Labor nosed ahead of the government in the latest Newspoll, Michelle Grattan tells Stephen Parker this won’t necessarily translate into an election loss for the Coalition.
Senators will return to Canberra later this month with the expectation that they will give final consideration to the government's industrial relations legislation.
While Bill Shorten insists Labor has zero tolerance for instances of union thuggery and corruption, he tends to minimise the issue.
Dan Peled/AAP
What might be Malcolm Turnbull’s worst nightmare, apart from losing the election? Scraping back as a minority government, with Tony Windsor in balance of power.
Labor will not support moves to recall the Senate but Bill Shorten reaffirmed that Labor would not block supply.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has said Labor would not support an early recall of the Senate, further complicating the situation if the government wants to call a double dissolution.
Family First senator Bob Day is one of eight crossbenchers who would face an election in the event of a double dissolution.
Lukas Coch/AAP
Family First senator Bob Day is set to propose an amendment to the legislation changing the Senate voting system that would prevent the government using the new rules in a double dissolution.
Crossbenchers Jacqui Lambie, Ricky Muir and Dio Wang are far from aligned.
Lukas Coch/AAP
Regardless of what is or isn’t in this week’s federal budget, a disparate group of people stand to make or break any new reform measures.
Because their votes may be open to negotiation, crossbench senators often have the final say on the form, and passage, of legislation.
AAP/Alan Porritt
Instead of treating crossbenchers in parliament as a source of chaos and an aberration, we should recognise that they play a crucial role in shaping legislation as the constitution provides.
Crossbenchers Tony Windsor and Rob Oakleshott arrive at a press conference on asylum seekers.
AAP/Alan Porrit
It is fair to say that, in the eyes of the Australian public at least, the view of our politicians is currently at a very low ebb. The tone of the Australian Parliament is at its most toxic for a generation…