Malcolm Turnbull issues crossbench ultimatum: pass industrial relations bills or face double dissolution poll

Updated

The Prime Minister has issued an ultimatum to the crossbench — vote for the Government's industrial relations bills or risk sending the nation to a double dissolution election.

Malcolm Turnbull said the industrial relations bills to reinstate the building and construction watchdog and to increase union transparency were both facing a second defeat in the Senate and were justifications to call a double dissolution poll.

He has criticised those who see the decision to dissolve both houses as a "political tactic", arguing the decision would only be made to resolve an impasse between the Lower House and the Upper House.

"The only reason to go to...a double dissolution is to resolve a deadlock," he said.

He said crossbenchers, Labor and the Greens had a clear choice.

"[If] they vote for those bills then there would be no question, we wouldn't even be talking about the possibility of a double dissolution," he said.

"But look, it is clearly an option, and it is something that the Government considers.

"The only reason that I would consider advising the Governor-General to effect a double dissolution would be in order to deal with bills that had been rejected."

He said an election in July was within the normal parameters for this year's expected poll.

"An election after June 30 would not be regarded as early," he said.

"Any election in the second half of this year could not reasonably be described as early because the last election was in the first week of September, as I recall."

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said the Government did not need to use industrial relations legislation as a double dissolution trigger.

"There is already a double dissolution trigger," Ms Bishop said.

"We have a constitutional option as all governments have if they have a double dissolution trigger, so it's always been an option and it will be up to the Prime Minister as to when he calls the election."

Shorten accuses PM of 'blackmail'

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has railed against the Government's approach to negotiations.

"I don't think anyone should give in to blackmail," Mr Shorten said.

He said Labor had a strong stance against corruption and the Government had a vendetta against unions.

"What I won't accept is somehow the Government's agenda to bash unions is a reason to have an early election," Mr Shorten said.

Labor has also questioned whether the Government was serious about asking for the Senate to reconsider its position, given the two bills were not listed on the notice paper.

"While this may seem a boring detail, it's one that's eluded Mr Turnbull," Mr Shorten said.

Topics: turnbull-malcolm, federal-government, federal-parliament, federal-elections, australia

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