In the final fortnight of the parliament for the year the government clinched some deals on major pieces of legislation. Michelle Grattan tells University of Canberra deputy vice-chancellor Frances Shannon that it was important for Malcolm Turnbull to get the bills that triggered the double-dissolution election through.
“Given the need to be seen to be delivering I think that he would feel reasonably satisfied with these last couple of weeks. Although the backpacker tax, which finally was clinched in a deal with the Greens, was a very messy process,” Grattan says.
“I think that the government next year will have to show that it can get more things done and also that the things that it does get done are relevant to the average man or woman in the street.”