Coalition Looks Set to Control the Senate….
The Coalition’s sweep to a fourth term in government has brought with it an unexpected sweetener: possible, if not probable, control of the Senate. As the Greens failed to win the balance of power and all Democrats senators up for re-election were defeated, a Senate contender from the Christian right party Family First could be the future decider. Election analysts are saying that John Howard could get the 39 senators he needs, to push through any contentious legislation in the upper house, including electoral reform, industrial relations changes… and the sale of Telstra. What other implications will this have on Australia’s political landscape? Alma Mistry spoke to Dr David Burchell, Senior Lecturer in History and Politics at the School of Humanities at University of Western Sydney.