Australia to poll on July 2 after parliament rejects bill, giving PM Malcolm Turnbull ‘trigger’ to call for a general election
Hamstrung by a Senate dominated by minor parties and the main centre-left Labor party, Turnbull used the rare “double dissolution” manoeuvre – only possible after a bill has been rejected by the Senate twice – to clear both government houses and put the entire legislature to a poll
Australia’s parliament voted down a labour reform bill on Monday, handing conservative Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull the excuse he has sought to dissolve both houses and hold a general election in July.
In an outcome that was unexpected only in terms of how quickly it was reached, the Senate voted against the government’s proposal to reinstate a building industry regulator, 34 votes to 36.
Turnbull was expected to address the lower house later on Monday and formally dissolve parliament and call for an election on July 2, media reported.
Hamstrung by a Senate dominated by minor parties and the main centre-left Labor party, Turnbull used the rare “double dissolution” manoeuvre – only possible after a bill has been rejected by the Senate twice – to clear both government houses and put the entire legislature to a poll.
When Turnbull recalled parliament last month from a seven-week recess, it was only the fourth time in more than 50 years a government has used that measure.