The last day of Parliament was a day of doing nothing – and a perfect snapshot of the dysfunction in Australian politics.

The Coalition tried but failed to pass one reform it declared to be hugely urgent. After hours of debate, it could not get the numbers to legislate tougher laws for the energy industry.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison heads for his office on the final sitting day of the year. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

This was offset by a victory on encryption laws for national security, where the government got its way after Labor gave ground.

Labor, the Greens and a crossbench alliance tried but failed to pass laws to force the medical transfer of asylum seekers from Nauru and Manus Island. They passed the changes in the Senate but ran out of time in the lower house.