With a deadlock over the passage of two pieces of legislation,the government has grounds to dissolve both houses of parliament. But history has shown an election on such grounds hasn’t always turned out in the government’s favour A double dissolution is when the governor general – usually on the advice of the prime minister – dissolves both houses of parliament in preparation for an election. Senators are elected for six years, whereas MPs fill a three-year term, and so in normal elections only half the Senate faces the voters. The other half stay on regardless of who is elected in the House of Representatives. The drafters of the structure thought this would offer a degree of continuity in the governance of the country. In a double dissolution,all Senate spots are up for grabs.Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com