Prime Minister Tony Abbott is playing down reports his government could be headed to an early election.
The prospect of a double dissolution was raised at a Cabinet dinner on Monday night, it is understood.
But Mr Abbott has told AAP, through a spokesman, "the government intends to serve a full term".
According to reports, the early election idea was raised during the private meeting in the context of whether the government's higher education reforms could be used as a trigger.
The legislation went on to be defeated in the upper house on Tuesday night.
For the package to become a double dissolution trigger the same bill would have to be unsuccessful three months after the first defeat.
Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce dismissed the idea of an early election, saying it would cause the government even more problems.
"Let's dispense with that one," Mr Joyce told Sky News on Wednesday.
If the government is finding it difficult dealing with eight crossbench senators, how would it deal with 16 independents, he asked.
"We'll have someone from the Bully Bushwacker party and they'll end up having three seats and we will go mad.
"If you're on the journey to madness a double dissolution and a whole range of new independent senators from a whole crazy diaspora will send you completely around the twist."
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