Turnbull threatens double dissolution election if crossbench senators block crackdown on union corruption again

THE Turnbull government has put crossbench senators on notice it is prepared to call a double dissolution election if they block laws to crack down on corrupt unions.

FILE - In this Jan. 19, 2016 file photo, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull smiles as he meets with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. Turnbull gave a personal assurance on Friday, Jan. 29, 2016 that his government would legalize gay marriage if a majority of Australians choose marriage equality in a popular vote.(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

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THE Turnbull government has put the crossbench senators on notice it is prepared to go to an early election if they block laws to crack down on corrupt unions for a second time.

Liberal Democrat Senator David Leyonhjelm yesterday warned his recalcitrant crossbench colleagues — Jacqui Lambie, Glenn Lazarus, John Madigan and Ricky Muir — that the government was serious about the ultimatum.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has publicly said the government intended to hold a general election between August and October / Picture: AP

Mr Leyonhjelm added most of them would be out of a job should it pull the trigger.

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The first order of business when the Parliament resumes today will be the reintroduction of the bill to resurrect the ­Australian Building and ­Construction Commission.

With all of the Independent senators vowing to side with Labor and the Greens — with the exception of Mr Leyonhjelm, a Liberal Democrat, and independent Bob Day who will both support the legislation — the bill looks certain to fail again.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has publicly said the government intended to hold a general election between August and October.

But Employment Minister Michaelia Cash yesterday would not rule out the possibility of an earlier double dissolution election on the issue of union corruption.

“I hope that the crossbench is able to sit down with me and discuss each piece of legislation on its own merits,” Senator Cash said. “Whether or not we call a double dissolution is something for the Prime Minister to decide.”

Another senior Cabinet Minister confirmed that the government would be willing to pull the trigger on a double dissolution, which is available to the government when a bill is rejected twice by the Senate.

Senator David Leyonhjelm.

Senator John Madigan.

“They (the crossbenchers) have to know they can no longer just muck around and block legislation for the sake of it,” the minister told The Daily Telegraph.

Mr Turnbull this morning confirmed The Daily Telegraph’s report that a double dissolution election was an option actively being considered.

The Prime Minister told the Liberal Party Room that a double dissolution election was a “live option” should the senate block a second push for the reestablishment of the Building and Construction Commission.

He indicated his preference was for a September election, but the government was prepared to go to an early election on industrial relations if the senate blocked the bill which would clean up worksites

Mr Leyonhjelm told The Daily Telegraph that he believed the government was serious about the election threat and warned most current crossbenchers would be out of a job.

“Yes, I do take it seriously,” said Senator Leyonhjelm, who will back the bill if a sunset clause of eight years is included.

“I don’t think it is their first choice. I think they will try and get the bill up.

“A double dissolution election would not be good for the government in terms of control of the Senate as it may end up with just as many crossbenchers. But it will be bad for current crossbenchers: Lambie, Lazarus, Madigan and Muir would all be out of a job.”

Senators Glenn Lazarus and Jacqui Lambie / Picture: Kym Smith

Double dissolutions explained

A double dissolution is when the Governor-General dissolves (or dismisses) both houses of Parliament ahead of elections for full membership of both the House of Representatives (the lower house) and the Senate (in a normal election only half of the upper house is up for re-election).
Legislation needs to be passed by both the Senate and House of Reps to become law but if the Government doesn't have a majority in the upper house then the Senate can block bills the government wishes to pass. A double dissolution is a way for the Government to break this deadlock.
The trigger is provided to the Government if the same piece of legislation is rejected twice in the same session of parliament, or approved with amendments unacceptable to the House of Representatives, in sittings at least three months apart.
If the same legislation is rejected after the new parliament resumes then the Prime Minister may request the Governor-General convene a joint sitting. 
As the House of Representatives has approximately twice as many members as the Senate, a joint sitting should give the Government the numbers to overcome the resistance of the Senate.
There have been six double dissolutions since Federation - 1914, 1951, 1974, 1975, 1983 and 1987.
Twice the move has backfired on the Government (1914 and 1983), which lost its majority in the lower house, and only once has a joint sitting been required.   

Originally published as Turnbull threatens double dissolution election if crossbench senators block crackdown on union corruption again