Malcolm Turnbull Sets Double Dissolution Election Date Pending ABCC Legislation
The latest twist in the never ending AusPol soap-opera is a big one. Malcolm Turnbull has today announced a dramatic move that could see a massive leadership shakeup on the cards for July 2, 2016.
The Prime Minster has sought the approval from the Governor General to threaten a double dissolution election if legislation to re-establish the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) does not pass the Upper House (ie. the Senate).
PM @TurnbullMalcolm announces he's bringing back both houses of parliament in April to deal with ABCC bill https://t.co/yRPCNHHXjJ #auspol
— ABC News (@abcnews) March 20, 2016
The legislation to reinstate the building watchdog, which was active during the Howard years, will see both houses put bums on seats in Canberra on April 18 in an attempt for the Government to pass it through the upper house one last time.
If the legislation doesn’t move through the house and a double dissolution is called – we can brace ourselves for a total shit fight. It’ll mean that the Governor General can completely dissolve both houses and every seat in Parliament will be up for election. Including Turnbull’s.
In anticipation for all this to go down, Captain Malc will also bring forward the federal budget by one week, allowing Bill Shorten to reply and ensure a fair game should things go belly up in April.
With approval ratings falling for Malcolm Turnbull – coupled with the threat of an early election which will play on the punters minds, it’s really anyone’s game. The Australian today reports on the latest Newspoll results which show the Coalition has edged ahead in two-party terms by 51 per cent to Labor’s 49 per cent. It comes after earlier results that pretty much had them tied. In basic terms, this thing is way too close to call.
So in the meantime, keep an eye on Malcy to be posing with babies, dogs and eating onions… well maybe not the later.
According to nine news, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull addressed the press in Camberra this morning to say:
“This is an opportunity for the Senate to do its job of legislating rather than filibustering,”
The Senate will be given three weeks to pass the legislation or face a double-dissolution election.
“The go-slows and obstruction by Labor and the Greens on this key legislation must end”
Looks like the campaigning for our vote has already begun: