The ALP’s Senate deputy leader, Senator Stephen Conroy, says that the proposed reforms to the Senate voting system would give the coalition a blocking majority in the event of a double dissolution election.
Conroy spoke after today’s public hearings by the Senate committee examining the legislation.
Quoting the ABC’s election expert, Antony Green, Conroy said the coalition could win six seats in each state at a double dissolution election, or three seats in a regular half-Senate election. With one senator in each of the territories, this would give the coalition 38 seats at a double dissolution.
An outright Senate majority is 39 votes.
Conroy’s concern stems in part from the declining Labor primary vote.
Press release from Senator Stephen Conroy.
