TWISTS AND TURNS OF THE TURNBULL/MORRISON GOVERNMENTS
There have been many highs and lows for the Liberal-National coalition since the 2016 federal election.
--
2016
JULY
* The coalition under Malcolm Turnbull scrapes back into power with a one-seat majority, scoring 50.4 per cent of the two-party vote.
NOVEMBER
* Proposed same-sex marriage plebiscite is defeated in the Senate.
* Government restores the building industry watchdog
DECEMBER
* Government passes controversial backpacker tax.
--
2017
JANUARY
* Turnbull reshuffles cabinet after an expenses scandal forces the resignation of health minister Sussan Ley.
FEBRUARY
* PM hoses down reports he was berated by US President Donald Trump over a refugee swap deal.
* Cory Bernardi quits the Liberals to start his own Australian Conservatives party
MARCH
* Small business tax cuts pass parliament, but broader plan stalls.
APRIL
* Turnbull unveils plans to make it harder to become an Australian citizen.
MAY
* Treasurer Scott Morrison hands down his second budget, announcing a gradual thaw of the Medicare rebate freeze that almost cost Turnbull the election.
JUNE
* New bank levy clears parliament.
* Turnbull responds to Chief Scientist Alan Finkel's review of the energy market with new rules to restrict gas exports and a plan to scrap a process that allows power companies to raise prices.
* Major school funding overhaul, aka Gonski 2.0, clears parliament with crossbench support.
JULY
* Citizenship debacle begins with Greens senator Scott Ludlam resigning. Coalition two-party position slips to 45 per cent.
AUGUST
* Pauline Hanson wears a burqa in parliament. Attorney-General George Brandis describes it as an "appalling thing to do".
SEPTEMBER
* Cabinet minister Fiona Nash and crossbencher Nick Xenophon referred to the High Court over their dual citizenship.
OCTOBER
* The High Court boots Barnaby Joyce from parliament because of his dual New Zealand citizenship, while federal minister Matt Canavan and Nick Xenophon can remain.
NOVEMBER
* 61.6 per cent of Australians say yes to same-sex marriage in a postal survey.
* Turnbull announces a royal commission into misconduct in the financial sector.
DECEMBER
* Barnaby Joyce wins by-election and tells parliament that he is separated from his wife.
* Same-sex marriage is legalised after new laws clear federal parliament.
* Labor senator Sam Dastyari quits parliament over his Chinese donor connections.
--
2018
JANUARY
* Turnbull pledges a year of "rewards" for Australians after two years of economic reforms.
FEBRUARY
* After news of his affair with a former staffer breaks in the media, Barnaby Joyce resigns as deputy prime minister and Nationals leader.
MARCH
* Turnbull says Liberal win in South Australian election is an endorsement of the government's energy plan.
APRIL
* Turnbull loses his 30th consecutive Newspoll and shrugs it off as ministers rally around him
MAY
* Katy Gallagher case in the High Court leads to more citizenship resignations, this time on the Labor side and crossbencher Rebekha Sharkie.
JUNE
* The government's $144 billion personal income tax cut plan passes parliament.
JULY
* A "super Saturday" of five by-elections brings no wins for the government, with four seats returning to Labor and one crossbench MP.
AUGUST
* Barnaby Joyce and Tony Abbott speak out over the direction of the government.
* Malcolm Turnbull defeats Peter Dutton 48-35 in a party room leadership ballot. Dutton resigns from front bench.
* Turnbull resigns, but Dutton loses to Scott Morrison 45-40.
* Female Liberals claim to have been bullied. Julia Banks decides to resign at next election over issue.
SEPTEMBER
* Morrison seeks to reset energy policy. Flags possible royal commission into energy.
* Morrison makes first overseas trip as PM, to Indonesia.
* Morrison announces a royal commission into aged care.
* Liberal MP Ann Sudmalis announces she's quitting parliament, blaming "bullying" branch stackers.
* Morrison strikes a $4.6 billion peace deal with Catholic and independent schools.
OCTOBER
* Morrison reveals he is considering moving Australia's embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
* Government makes an embarrassing backdown after senators voted in favour of Pauline Hanson's "it's OK to be white" motion.
* Liberals' Dave Sharma loses the Wentworth by-election to independent Kerryn Phelps.
* Government make a national apology to victims of institutional child sex abuse.
NOVEMBER
* Labor's Daniel Andrews decisively wins the Victorian state election. Federal Liberals blamed for loss.
* Julia Banks quits the Liberal Party to sit as an independent, bagging her party's right faction.
* Government announces an April 2 budget will be in surplus, with an election to follow in May.
--
DECEMBER
* Morrison says Australia would recognise West Jerusalem as Israel's capital but maintain its embassy in Tel Aviv.
* Nationals MP for Mallee Andrew Broad stands down as an assistant minister over the "sugar daddy" scandal, then decides not to stand at next election.
--
2019
JANUARY
* Minister Kelly O'Dwyer announces she is quitting to spend more time with her family, as does former minister Michael Keenan and NT frontbencher Nigel Scullion.
* Liberal candidate in Gilmore, Grant Schultz, is axed in favour of former Labor president Warren Mundine. Schultz decides to run as an independent, with the backing of disgruntled party members.
FEBRUARY
* Former Liberal deputy leader Julie Bishop says she is retiring, as does Defence Minister Christopher Pyne.
* Government holds longest-ever question time to delay defeat on a disability royal commission motion.
* Medevac laws pass parliament contrary to government's wishes, triggering reopening of Christmas Island facility.
MARCH
* Indonesia free trade deal signed.
* Nationals launched bid for coal-fired power, as Michael McCormack and Barnaby Joyce exchange fire.
* Former minister Craig Laundy retires.
* Debate over extremism after Christchurch mosque shooting.
* Liberals/National coalition re-elected in NSW election
APRIL
* Federal budget brought forward a month to deliver pre-election sweeteners and a surplus.