View from the crossbench: Cathy McGowan and Rebekha Sharkie on the role of community candidates.
McGowan and Sharkie have given the government their confidence until the Wentworth byelection - after which they will consult with their electorates.
Centre Alliance candidate Rebekha Sharkie is polling strongly ahead of next weekend’s byelection in the South Australian seat of Mayo.
AAP/Roy Vandervegt
With just over a week until the Super Saturday byelections, there is great interest in each of the five seats in play, including Mayo in South Australia.
Liberal candidate Georgina Downer, Greens candidate Major ‘Moogy’ Sumner, Centre Alliance candidate Rebekha Sharkie and Labor candidate Reg Coutts at the Mayo candidates forum.
David Mariuz/AAP
The departure of up to two crossbench senators and the uncertainty over who might replace them is giving the government fresh obstacles in their efforts to pass legislation.
Pauline Hanson's One Nation has won four Senate seats – two, including Hanson's, in Queensland, one in NSW and one in Western Australia.
Five crossbench members of the House of Representatives will take their seats in the 45th parliament, including Bob Katter, Andrew Wilkie, and the Nick Xenophon Team’s Rebekha Sharkie.
Lucas Coch/AAP
Crossbencher Bob Katter has given his support on supply and confidence to a Coalition government after a meeting with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in Brisbane.
Since he took over as Nationals leader earlier this year Barnaby Joyce has played a tight team game.
David Moir/AAP
Within the Coalition the only cheer is among the Nationals who could actually gain one in their numbers at an election where the government has lost a swag of seats.
Malcolm Turnbull said he remained ‘quietly confident, reasonably confident’ of forming a majority government.
David Moir/AAP
Malcolm Turnbull has taken 'absolutely full responsibility' for his criticised election campaign, and declared the Coalition must rebuild public trust in itself on the issue of Medicare.
Malcolm Turnbull has inadvertently facilitated the re-entry to parliament of Pauline Hanson.
Dan Peled/AAP
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.
Julian Smith/AAP
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…
