Senate minor parties to cause trouble for whichever party forms government

THE party that forms government will have to drop or modify major policies to appease what is shaping up to be the most volatile Senate since the 1970s. Here’s what it will have to vote on soon.

THE party that forms government will have to drop or modify major policies to appease what is shaping up to be the most volatile Senate since the 1970s.

The final makeup of the Senate will not be known for several weeks but it will include three Nick Xenophon Team senators, at least two One Nation members and rabble rouser Derryn Hinch.

The new government could find itself having to win over at least nine crossbench votes in order to get measures through which are opposed by the opposition and the Greens.

CORPORATE TAX CUTS

If Malcolm Turnbull clings on to power, he is likely to get only part of his signature company tax cut package through the Senate.

Derryn Hinch is likely to be the only non-government senator willing to support tax cuts for big business.

Labor and Senator Nick Xenophon have indicated that they will only agree to a tax cut for companies with a turnover of up to $10 million.

BANK ROYAL COMMISSION

Incoming Senator Derryn Hinch Pic: David Geraghty / The Australian.

The one issue that a majority of non-Liberal senators agree on is the need for a Royal Commission into the banking and finance sector. Labor, the Greens, Nick Xenophon Team and One Nation and even a Nationals senator have all separately proposed Royal Commission investigations in this area.

A Labor Government should be able to draw up terms of reference for a Royal Commission which will win majority support.

BUILDING INDUSTRY WATCHDOG

The Coalition’s plan to re-establish the Australian Building and Construction Commission is in jeopardy. The Coalition does not have the numbers to get the ABCC Bill passed at a joint sitting of both houses of Parliament.

Labor and the Greens are opposed to the resurrection of the ABCC and many of the crossbenchers are deeply sceptical about the idea.

MARRIAGE EQUALITY

Labor, the Greens and the Nick Xenophon Team are all opposed to a plebiscite on same-sex marriage and would prefer the issue was settled by a vote of Parliament. Senators Jacqui Lambie and Pauline Hanson support a plebiscite or referendum to let the people decide whether gay marriage should be legalised.

A Turnbull government could try to test the Senate’s resolve by insisting that it would only agree to a same-sex marriage law after it had been approved by a plebiscite.

If Labor formed government, it would allow its members a conscience vote on a same-sex marriage Bill which would almost certainly pass both houses of Parliament.

EMISSIONS TRADING

Labor could be forced to try to make a deal with the Greens if it is truly committed to introducing a carbon emissions trading scheme.

Pauline Hanson is unsure whether climate change is real, making a crossbench deal on emissions trading highly unlikely.