Double dissolution election could be stymied by Senate refusal to cut holiday short by one week

PLANS for a possible July 2 double dissolution election are in chaos after Labor and Greens senators said they would block a bid for the Senate’s seven-week Easter break to be cut short by a few days.

PM Malcolm Turnbull in Question Time in the House of Representatives Chamber, Parliament House in Canberra.

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PLANS for a possible July 2 double dissolution election are in chaos after Labor and Greens senators said they would block a bid for the Senate’s seven-week Easter break to be cut short by a few days.

Parliament is due to rise on Thursday and return for the Budget session on May 10.

In order to turn the Australian Building Construction Commission Bill into a potential double dissolution trigger, the government has been putting plans in place to recall Parliament one week early.

But Labor, the Greens and crossbench senators have indicated they will not support an additional Senate sitting week.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said the Australian people should not be expected to foot the $1 million per day bill for additional sittings.

“Why would Australians have to pay another $5 million because Mr Turnbull’s boxed himself into a corner?” Mr Shorten said.

“They should spend the time working on the Budget.’’

Greens Leader Richard Di Natale, who opposes the ABCC Bill, said his party was also unlikely to support additional sitting days.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during Question Time in Parliament.

“We won’t do anything to facilitate this government's agenda,’’ Senator Di Natale said.

“And we have made an in-principle decision that we don’t see a need to schedule additional sitting weeks outside of those that have already been scheduled.’’

South Australian Family First Senator Bob Day did not believe the Government had the numbers it needed to force extra sitting days.

But independent SA Senator Nick Xenophon said he would be willing to support an extra sitting week.

“We’re paid to legislate. I think we should be on standby to do it,’’ Senator Xenophon said.

The Government has a majority in the House of Representatives, giving it the numbers it needs to hold the Budget one week early.

The deadline for a July double dissolution election to be called is May 11.

The Senate descended into messy battles on Wednesday as the Government, the Greens and Senator Xenophon pushed forward with a Bill to change the voting system for the upper house.

The changes will result in most minor party senators losing their seats.

Minor party senators unsuccessfully sought to delay debate on the voting changes by bringing forward debate on the ABCC Bill and on same-sex marriage legislation.

Labor Senate Leader Penny Wong reacted angrily after the Greens voted with the Government against bringing on a debate on marriage equality.

Senator Wong said the Greens had signed up to a “dirty deal’’ with the Coalition.

“It’s an act of political cowardice unworthy of a party that used to be led by women and men of principle,” she said.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull defended the Government’s decision to prioritise changes to voting laws.

Mr Turnbull said backroom preference deals had made elections for the Senate “anything but democratic’’.