But is it a political death wish? The governments much wanted trigger for a double dissolution election was granted by the Senate last night, with four cross bench Senators, Lambi, Lazarus, Muir and Madigan combining with Labor and the Greens to defeat the government’s anti worker legislation 36/34. The four independents seen this legislation for what it is unfair and Un-Australian. The four should be commended for the stance they have taken, willing to risk their Senate seats at an election, unlike a number of Liberals who put self interest before their convictions and voted Turnbull PM in the hope he would save their hides at the next election.
Could Turnbull turnout to be Australia’s shortest term Prime Minister, *under normal circumstances since John Watson in 1904. There is a possibility.

*Fadden, McEwen, Page and Forde were shorter term Prime Ministers, more or less in a caretaker role

Whats the bet he squibs the DD and waits till the end of the year for a normal election.
Give himself at least a few more months of power. Thats all the lieberals care about after all.

You forgot Rudd Paul, about three weeks from memory.

I think this election will be decided by a good old fashioned 'chocolate wheel' but my tip is Turnbull will win his seat but may well be replaced at the first libs meeting, my tip by Morrison, Bishop (worthy choice) or even Abbott who has a track record of taking the hard road, unlike this dud.

At least we should get to throw this useless senate out and start again.

BTW, if Turnbull doesn't call it, my tip is he will be replaced prior to the normal election.

Butch, "but my tip is Turnbull will win his seat" sticking your neck out there with all those reds in Double Bay and Vaucluse. I think Labor scored about 16% of the vote there last time. Only a brave man would make such a prediction! LOL

Paul, I think he will only win his seat because he is the sitting PM.

The Turnbull LNP government has a mandate for the legislation, which is sorely needed, to lower the cost of housing for example.

Labor and Greens were obstructive and got their wish, that is the real story.

Paul1405,

How are are Queensland Labor and Greens going with their sabotage of the High Court approved Vicious Lawless Association Disestablishment Act 2013 (VLAD), that was enacted to "severely punish members of criminal organisations that commit serious offenses"?

It is being alleged that Labor and Greens are protecting the CFMEU and other unions that apparently have a lot of members in outlaw motorcycle gangs and other criminal organisations. Nothing like protecting their voting demographic and sources (eg CFMEU) of campaign funds.

"Bikie turf war looms for Glitter Strip as [Palaszczuk Labor] State Government prepare to deliver review into tough gang laws"

http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/crime-court/bikie-turf-war-looms-for-glitter-strip-as-state-government-prepare-to-deliver-review-into-tough-gang-laws/news-story/a38b73e8e737f0b344b87ebf926399da

No surprise at all that federal Labor and Greens blocked Turnbull's legislation in the Senate to protect the big unions (eg CFMEU) that are so influential in Labor and Greens, the 'faceless men (and women!)' and donate campaign funds.

Peter Hartcher writing for the Sydney Morning Herald on
April 18 2016 tells us:

"Turnbull is still the Coalition's best electoral asset and
on any analysis, he is still likely to win the election.
But where the Turnbull of six months ago would have
devastated Labor in his image as a visionary leader with
the promise of social reform and economic rejuvenation, he
will now have to fight an election as just another
politician."

"If he wins it will be not because he is loved or admired.
He will win because he will force the electorate to
choose the least worst option."

to right foxy, I have said for a while now that the fait of Turnbull is out of his hands as it depends whether or not Shorten has the goods to convince voters to trust labor again. Huge ask!

Yep Turnbull got his wish. He's got his election before even more people wake up to his hopelessness.

Now we have to make sure he lives to regret he got that wish.

Rehctub "think this election will be decided by a good old fashioned 'chocolate wheel' but my tip is Turnbull will win his seat but may well be replaced at the first libs meeting, my tip by Morrison, Bishop (worthy choice) or even Abbott who has a track record of taking the hard road, unlike this dud."

You must surely jest Rehctub?
Even a diehard holy Abbott fan such as yourself must surely know that Abbott hasn't got a snowball's chance in hell of getting back into the top job again?
He was useless!

For all his faults, at least Turnbull can speak well on the world stage and not embarrass us all with his umming and ahhing while trying not to say something stupid.

Turnbull and Co will win the election, and the Nationals will ensure we get our Royalties For Regions funding here in country WA....and all will be well in my world :)

When Turnbull took over from The Onion Eater the Coalition had a 10 points lead in the polls making a double dissolution a good option: the Coalition could regain government handsomely and Turnbull would be secure in the top job.

But now they are neck and neck and could just win by a narrow margin (let's say one seat). The big problem here is that Turnbull needs to win by a comfortable margin otherwise he runs the risk of being dumped in another party coup. And I think we all know who he would be replaced by: The Onion Eater!

Suse,

"Turnbull and Co will win the election, and the Nationals will ensure we get our Royalties For Regions funding here in country WA....and all will be well in my world.."

What have the federal Nationals got to do with Royalties for Regions in WA?

Ans: Nothing at all.

It's a state Nationals imperative.

Shock horror! Is Hasbeen going to vote Labor, and turn traitor to the noble cause of conservatism? Never, never ever, to do so would be see the hasbeen betraying his class, being ejected holus-bolus from his beloved 'Melbourne Club', having to hand in his spoofy pair of white shoes, oh the pain of it all. Nah he'll vote for Pauline Hanson.

Butch, I know you are a Rudd hater from way back, but he did have some runs on the board before he got A holed in his second dig, has a score of 2 years, 9 months, 12 days. Turnball is looking at 9 months 17 days, which will put him just short of the fat old George Reid who scored 10 months, 18 days, but above the batting bunny Chris Watson with 3 months, 21 days. Fadden, McEwen, Page and Forde only went in as night watchmen so we wont count their innings. Surprise, surprise your man Abbott who 'Joe the Cameraman' said "Cant bat, cant bowl" scored 1 year, 11 months, 28 days. How did he do it?

Suse, Abbott had ability, what other politician do you know who could deliver a speech to a Pope or President whilst having both feet stuck firmly in ones gob? Now that takes talent.

Dear Poirot,

You have to keep in mind that Suseonline is in the pro-China camp and she sees Australia as a cash cow to be sold off to the Chinese.

Sorry Paul, but you are wrong. Rudd defeated Gillard in a challenge that saw him become PM for a few weeks from memory.

As for me hating Rudd, sorry, but I hate anyone who can cause so much damage, risk lives, even cost lives, then simply drift away into another huge paying job, while on public life support for life, and be completely and utterly unaccountable.

Now tell me if my hatred for him is unwarranted. If you dare!

If those elected to govern cannot get their legislation through then an election is the only call - win or loose. The Electorate must be made responsible for the Government of the day.

Poirot, do you think the State Nationals have nothing to do with Federal Coalition then?
Of course the State position on funding would be more secure if the Coalition retain power in the national election.
I thought that would be obvious.

Mr. Opinion, I couldn't care less about China, but I note your 'reds under the beds' paranoia about China is inserted in almost every post you write....

Josephus, it's not the only call; they could amend or abandon the legislation instead.

Suse,

The federal Nats had precisely zilch input in the implementation of Royalties For Regions. As you are aware, the WA Nats won the balance of power in that election and as such formed govt with the Libs depending on Royalties For Regions being implemented.

It was and is purely a state-based initiative.

Hi Poirot, I know the WA Nationals Party ARE affiliated with the Federal Nationals Party, but I would say neither of us knows exactly how much they do have with each other.
I know the WA Nationals did try to expand the Royalties For Regions initiative to the National level at one stage, so I guess they must have had some dealings then with the Federal National Party.

I have always voted for my local Nationals representative at State elections, and while Abbott was running the ship I always placed the Liberals candidate at the bottom of my voting card....just above The Family First Party, at any election!

I have to say that I remain torn re the coming Federal Election....

I applaud what these senators have done. Quite clearly, Turnbull wants a double dissolution although I don't know why but there is definitely a reason.

To get his double dissolution, he set the opposition and the independent senators up so they could not do anything else but knock it back. By submitting this legislation he has placed these senators in a no win situation. On the one hand if they passed it they would be thrown out at the election by the wrath of the electorate who do not want to have to put up with another election (some people don't want to be free.) By not passing it they would thrown out anyway.

Turnbull has pulled a master stoke because he and the other lot don't want independents or micro parties in the parliament. They want to force the Australian people to vote for tag team a or b. Evidence of this is the above and below the line voting. You can have it the easy or the hard way.

Labour and liberal or just the two wings of the same bird of prey. Guess who the prey is?