Things are bad when an early double-dissolution election offers the best chance for voters to get a reasonable standard of government. Things were bad under Tony Abbott and are still bad under Malcolm Turnbull: worse than anyone imagined, on policy, communication and personnel grounds.

The Herald believes governments should as a rule run to their full term so as to reflect the will of the people who elected them. In this case, though, we make an exception because this Prime Minister has not yet put his case to the electors. We cannot discern any cohesive economic and reform agenda from the Coalition. Nor can we see how Mr Turnbull can operate while being undermined by the Abbott camp.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

True, the logistics for a double-dissolution election on July 2 are difficult. Extra Senate sittings will be required to seek passage – or rather blockage – of the building watchdog legislation. But other triggers exist as well. Calling the early poll by May 11 also poses problems for money bills and the opposition's budget in reply speech. These can be overcome for the sake of better government.

Firstly, the opportunity beckons to have an upper house that reflects voter intention, rather than one elected by dodgy rules that benefited micro-parties. Now the rules are being changed with the support of the Greens and independent Nick Xenophon but notably not Labor. What a sad indictment it was on Saturday when the micro-parties met with so-called preference whisperer Glenn Druery in a self-professed "war room" to deal with the risk of democratic Senate elections. The new rules will strip Mr Druery and his ilk of much of their unearned power. If the micro-party candidates cannot campaign and argue for policy to attract votes, then they should not be elected. A double-dissolution election would also avoid the likelihood of three years of Senate wrecking by the micro-party senators who will remain should only half the Senate be up for election this year.