When Tony Abbott laid down his conservative manifesto last week, the immediate question was how this would affect the standing of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Less attention was paid to Abbott's alternative program for government. It includes a proposal for governments to bypass the Senate, which he described as the "mother of all reforms".

Abbott is obviously committed to this idea, having put it forward several times this year. Its origins lie with former prime minister John Howard, who proposed weakening the powers of the Senate in 2003. Howard had the reform examined by a hand-picked advisory committee, but it went nowhere after failing to gather political and community support.

Enhancing government power has been a key plank of Abbott's advocacy over many years. His vision is for a federal government that can pursue its policy agenda unfettered by the Senate or other constraints. He has opposed anything resembling a national Bill of Rights, and has suggested that the constitution be amended so the Commonwealth can pass laws on any topic.

Expanding federal power in this way would permit the federal Parliament to impose its will on areas under state control, and spell the end of the Australian Federation as we know it. Abbott's approach is anything but conservative, and resembles past policies of the Australian Labor Party that sought centralised power and the abolition of the Senate.