Risible rubbish. Name one party that has any prospect of winning a majority in the senate.

Electors vote one way for the reps and another for the senate. So, it goes without saying, that they need to bargain/wheel and deal, to get legislation passed.

The libs have already sold their soul and got into bed with the ultra-conservatives. So, the electorate will never give that motley crew a majority in the senate.

And expect more non-aligned independents (moderate libs) in the reps.
Alan B.

the electorate will never give that motley crew a majority in the senate.
Alan B,
You credit the electorate with much too much sense, no matter which side of politics.
I've done my own little surveys talking with everyday folk & more than half are drug abusers & the rest are just holding out their hands. The few who are actually willing to pull their weight as useful citizens with the common good in mind are so small in numbers they're now literally irrelevant ! Unless Australians agree to some common sense building scheme with a focus on responsibility, this Nation won't have the people to run even the basic services. We're seeing it already because of the hype regarding "education", no-one wants to work anymore in jobs for which their mentality is barely adequate. That's why a NMNS is a must asap !

Bad luck…move on!

The Howard government controlled the Senate 19 years ago.

Now, the major parties will have trouble gaining a majority in the lower house.

The Senate is gradually being taken over by minor parties and independents. Probably not a bad thing, as the Senate has ceased being worthy of being called 'states'house', with Senators all voting along party lines. The Senate is the way for the voices of those who don't like either of the major parties to be heard.

Nevertheless, it is wrong to assume that people prefer one party over another when they made no such indication on their ballot paper.

It is also wrong to force people to "prefer" one evil over another by stating on the bottom of their list whether they prefer Stalin or Hitler, then finding themselves guilty of one or the other being elected.

The change in the way the Senate is voted was therefore absolutely necessary, and the same partial preferencing ought to be allowed for the House of Representatives as well.

Some politicians could be hurt by this change all right, but previously it was the voters who were hurt.

"Tony if you want to get your legislation through the Senate you need a few more two percenters like Bob and me in the joint....failing that see if you can get some other far right radicals into the place."

Liberal Democrat Party, neither liberal or democratic, had to change its name to the Libertarian Party, hard to be at liberty when given the chance this mob would most likely lock up half the population.