Malcolm Turnbull’s move to have the governor-general recall parliament, using an often-forgotten constitutional power, caught many political players off guard.
A ten-week – or longer – campaign is not necessarily a problem for Malcolm Turnbull.
AAP/Mick Tsikas
The conventional wisdom is that Bob Hawke’s 1984 election was too long and almost disastrous, and therefore not to be repeated. But the times are very different now.
Malcolm Turnbull has taken a series of steps to clear the path to a double-dissolution election.
AAP/Lukas Coch
After many weeks of speculation, the government has laid down the challenge for the Senate and smoothed the path for a double-dissolution election.
It can correctly be said Malcolm Turnbull is putting a gun to the heads of the crossbench – but it can’t be claimed he is being devious.
Rashida Yosufzai/AAP
Malcolm Turnbull’s ultimatum to the Senate – pass the government’s industrial relations bills or face a double dissolution – is a confrontationist but canny strategy.
Malcolm Turnbull takes the crossbench by surprise by his visit to the governor-general.
Lukas Coch/AAP
In a dramatic move, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has had the governor-general recall parliament for a special session to consider industrial relations legislation.
Ricky Muir from the Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party this week made an unsuccessful last roll of the dice to try to delay the government's Senate voting reform legislation.
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.
Already on the hustings: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull takes a selfie with locals at Torrensville, South Australia.
AAP/Ben Macmahon
Politics has its own purgatory, as Malcolm Turnbull and Tony Abbott might have reflected when they sat on the same table at the Howard government’s 20th anniversary dinner on Wednesday.
As parliament returned this week, the government was rattled by a GST debate that had run wild, agitating backbenchers and causing the government to pause.
Treasurer Scott Morrison had a bad first week of the new parliamentary year, as the idea of a possible GST increase came in for a barrage of negativity.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
At the start of a frenetic year for independent Nick Xenophon, the South Australian senator says his new national political party, the Nick Xenophon Team, will fill a vacuum.
Michaelia Cash reveals to Michelle Grattan she is willing to agree to David Leyonhjelm's call for a sunset clause on the ABCC legislation.
Bill Shorten has proposed higher penalties for employers who deliberately underpay workers, and stronger protections for workers from sham contracting.
Joel Carrett/AAP
A Labor government would crack down on employers who exploit workers with harsher penalties and other measures, opposition leader Bill Shorten has promised.
The CFMEU says corruption within the building industry should be referred to the police for prosecution, but the government is looking to a revived ABCC.
Julian Smith/AAP
Recent investigations into the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) by the ABC and Fairfax have revealed relationships between rogue union officials, underworld figures and outlaw motorcycle…
Penalties for unlawful picketing will increase under a planned new ABCC.
David Crosling/AAP
The Abbott Government is this year preparing to revive the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) after it was renamed and stripped of many of its powers by the Gillard Government in 2012…