The Canberra Times argues in its recent editorial that Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbulls hopes of recovering the initiative now rest almost entirely on the forthcoming budget.
The imperative to re-establish of the Australian Building and Construction Commission is not an election issue to make ordinary voters' hearts beat faster, and the long campaign duration (75 days) coupled with a mid-winter polling day could well contribute to voter ennui or a larger-than-normal protest vote.
History, too, suggests Mr Turnbull is playing with fire. Of the six double dissolution elections called to break political deadlocks between the Senate and House of Representatives, only two and perhaps three could be said to have been clear, unambiguous successes. On two occasions, the hoped-for Senate majorities failed to materialise, and on another two occasions, the prime ministers who used the double dissolution provision paid for their impetuosity with their jobs.
Mr Turnbull, who came to the job promising to address budget repair and other issues left untended by his predecessor, has disappointed both supporters and people yearning for responsible and competent government.
After having promised energy and drive, and then delivered up only policy vacillation and indecision, Mr Turnbull has allowed Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to make steady inroads into Coalition support. His hopes of recovering the initiative now rest almost entirely on the forthcoming budget.
As well as outlining a credible deficit-reduction strategy (one that shares the pain equitably and fairly), the budget will need to give substance to Mr Turnbull's claims to be a reformist prime minister.
