Sorry Peter but I dispute that will happen, ever. It didn't happen when Howard won his mandate for the GST - and I don't believe it will happen this time if TA wins, even with a landslide.
I think you're right Aaron. The DD will be left hanging over the Labor and Green Senators as a big hammer over their heads if they don't play nicely. The Greens won't play nicely.....that is a given.
From what I read into the tea leaves, the coalition will have a thumping victory in the Lower House, and the really really interesting bit in the next Federal election will be how well the 40 odd Senators fair that are up for re-election.
Depending on how big the swing against Labor is, there is a slight possibility that the Liberals might just scrape through with a working majority in the Senate. If that is the case, they'll get through whatever they want.
.....but honestly, does anyone with half a brain really expect the Labor Senators to reject the Liberal / National coalition policies that would have been overwhelming endorsed and mandated by the people.
By tiddling around the edges, watering stuff down and generally p1ssing everyone off who is in power, they jeopardize their very position in the Senate. They won't do that.
No, I fully expect the Labor senators to roll over and play nice when the bills swing thru to abolish both the Carbon Tax and the Mining Tax.
Julia will retire after winning Lalor again, and the Unions will swing another one of their stooges in to replace her at the forced by-election, which Labor will easily win in that seat.
I reckon Wayne Swan won't be there, and I reckon both Anthony Albanese and Stephen Smith might have trouble hanging on with low margins.
The next Parliament is going to look soooo different compared to what it does now.
Don't be surprised if a swag of Labor old guard retire and don't even stand for re-election. The prospect of being out in the cold, stuck in opposition for at least 2, maybe three terms (9 years at least) wouldn't be too attractive I wouldn't of thought.
Expect wholesale change-out on the Labor benches. They'll have to back up the 22 seat Coaster bus, I reckon they'll have trouble filling it.