After remaining silent for several days, Malcolm Turnbull has laughed off the drama his government faces in the Senate.
Two crossbench senators - one who has already resigned - are facing questions over whether their elections were valid in this year’s election.
“Really? Seriously, there are two cross benchers whose eligibility will be considered by the High Court,” Mr Turnbull said when asked by reporters whether the senate was in chaos.
“The rest of the cross bench are unaffected. You assert the senate is in chaos, there is no chaos.”
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The government still plans to introduce its election trigger bills – the ABCC legislation – when it has the right support, the Prime Minister said.
“We will present them to the senate when we believe there is a majority that will support it and on terms that we will accept and that we will continue talking to the cross bench towards that end,” Mr Turnbull said.
With 30 Coalition votes in the senate, the government can easily be defeated if Labor and the Greens combine their 35 votes.
That is why the government must win the support of a number of the 10 crossbench senators to pass the ABCC bill and justify its double dissolution election.
South Australian Family First Senator Bob Day resigned this week over the collapse of his building company.
It emerged hours later the government would be referring his election to the High Court over allegations he may have had a pecuniary interest in the contract for this electorate office.
When parliament resumes next week, the senate will also be asked if West Australian One Nation Senator Rod Culleton should also be referred to the High Court.
Mr Culleton has an annulled larceny conviction which stood at the time of his election in July this year.
He has indicated he will continue to sit in the Senate but may not vote on legislation.
The Prime Minister said he’d like to see the legislation pass soon but the High Court should not be rushed.
“It will always be desirable for these matters to be dealt with as soon as possible but, again, we will be in the hands of the court,” he said.
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