The Wire

The last 48 hours has not only seen the demise of the coalition government, but also the probable loss of the Liberal party’s control of the Senate. As of July 1 next year, the latest figures show neither Labor nor Liberal will hold the majority in the upper house. Although still weeks from being finalised, the balance of power is expected to be shared between five Greens senators, Family First representative Stephen Fielding, and newly elected South Australian independent Nick Xenophon. The Labor Government faces the tough task of negotiating with the minor parties and an independent, to push its agenda and pass legislation from mid next year. The Wire’s Roje Adaimy looks at the implications of this reshuffle of power.