Morrison seeks end to 'herding cats'

Liberal frontbenchers have warned of the prospect of a minority Senate and hung parliament as the election remains a tight race.

Treasurer Scott Morrison

Scott Morrison is hopeful a coalition government won't have to "herd cats" in the Senate anymore. (AAP)

Treasurer Scott Morrison is hopeful a coalition government won't have to "herd cats" in the Senate anymore.

The tight race ahead of the July 2 double-dissolution election has raised speculation of extra numbers being added to the Senate crossbench.

In the last parliament, the government needed to secure either six crossbench votes, the support of the 10 Greens or Labor's backing to pass motions and laws.

"The current situation we have got in the Senate, basically you are herding cats - you have got to get six out of eight and they are all going in completely different directions," Mr Morrison told 2GB radio on Monday.

"I would hope after this election that that risk is reduced."

Mr Morrison is hoping the coalition will win majorities in both houses, as John Howard did in 2004.

"But that's up to the Australian people," he said.

If no major party secures a majority in the lower house, it will mean the coalition or Labor will need to negotiate with independents to form government.

Labor earlier in the campaign ruled out a deal with the Greens, as Julia Gillard secured after the 2010 election.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said any post-election negotiations were hypothetical.

"It would depend very much on the circumstances," she said.

"We know that a Labor government would have to govern in coalition with the Greens, that's what we saw last time, that's what will happen next time."

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said the coalition was focused on winning a majority of seats.

"Bill Shorten has been taking the Labor party closer to the Greens ... (in) pursuing an anti-business, anti-success, anti-investment, anti-growth, anti-jobs agenda."


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Source: AAP


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