Turnbull turns up heat on Senate with double dissolution threat

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is poised to force a new general election if the Senate continues to refuse to pass the government’s industrial legislation.

Mr Turnbull has asked the Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove to recall both houses of parliament early on April 18 to consider the government’s bill to re-establish Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC).

He has warned he would call a double-dissolution election if the legislation fails to pass the Senate.

Declaring “the time for playing games is over,” Mr Turnbull also announced the budget will be brought forward from May 10 to May 3 so Treasurer Bill Shorten has time to deliver his reply speech before any double-dissolution election was called on or before May 11.

The Senate is controlled by opposition parties, who have held up a slate of Liberal-National coalition government legislation.

“This is an opportunity for the Senate to do its job of legislating rather than filibustering,” Mr Turnbull says.

“The go-slows and obstruction by Labor and the Greens on this key legislation must end. The Senate will have an additional three sitting weeks to deal with the ABCC and registered organisations legislation; plenty of time to pass these important laws.”

Double dissolution deadline
Mr Turnbull says if the two bills are passed by the Senate then there would not be an early poll. A election is due by the end of January next year but a date has not been announced.

The deadline for a double dissolution is July 16.

The ABCC Bill has been rejected once and the Registered Organisations Bill has been rejected twice by the upper house, meaning it can already be used as a double dissolution trigger.

If there is an early election, it will be held on July 2.

A double dissolution would be a gamble for the coalition, as Mr Turnbull’s approval rating has fallen into negative territory for the first time.

But the latest Newspoll out today also says Mr Turnbull is still overwhelmingly the best leader to manage the economy and carry out tax reforms.

The poll shows the coalition has narrow 51% to 49% lead in two-party preferred terms, while 55% of voters think the Coalition will be returned at the election while only 25% believe Labor can win.

If an election was held today, Newspoll says the Coalition would lose 12 seats in the House of Representatives to Labor, reducing the number to 78 against 67 to Labor. The remaining five seats would be held by minor parties or independents.

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