It has been a remarkable year for the Senate. Once-in-a-generation changes to the Senate voting system were followed by the nation's first double-dissolution federal election since 1987. The poll gave Australia one of its most diverse and divided Senates since Federation. at year's end, the confusion in the upper house continues, with the Senate's composition again in doubt.
Following the 2016 federal election, the Coalition had 30 senators, Labor increased theirs by one to 26, and the Greens lost one to fall to nine senators. The crossbench grew from eight to 11 senators.
That meant the Coalition needed nine extra votes to pass laws and motions.
At the time, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull acknowledged he needed the crossbench if he was going to get his agenda through the Senate.
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